So, how fast do you drive towing?

[HABBERDABBER]

Eric,

Tucson is a favorite winter spot. I'd suggest a visit to the Biosphere 2 north of town. Impressive domes.....and big, impressive, expensive but ultimately loony facility. Catalina S.P. near there is sweet. I could go on, but enjoy the escape from tundra wasteland Wisconsin winter.

[Losangeles]

Originally Posted by thoer

Jim are Marathon's really rated at 75 mph? I thought all ST tires were 65 mph rated.

The tires on my Casita clearly say 65 mph max

!

[gbaglo]

From Carlisle:

How fast can I travel on Carlisle trailer tires?

In the past, most trailer tires were rated at 62 or 65 mph. Today, some of our tires are "rated" (speed symbols) at 87 mph (N), some at 75 mph (L), some at 65 mph (J: ST tires) and some at 62 mph (J: non-metric tires).

Please remember that speed ratings are test speeds and not recommended driving speeds. The ratings apply only to the tire itself, and not a particular vehicle. The speed rating does not mean that the vehicle can be safely operated at the tire's rated speed.

We recommend driving no more than 60 mph when towing a trailer. Please always drive at a safe speed and abide by the posted speed limit.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by JohnB

Pulling over onto the shoulder, at postsed highway speeds, to allow others to pass was something I first encountered in Alberta in the mid 70's driving from Calgary to Medicine Hat, the Trans Canada HIghway. This was well before my trailer pulling days. Back then, being in my mid 20's, I thought it was such a great idea.
...

As John later realized, this is a terrible idea, but it was common here and is still done occasionally. I have never done it and will never do it, and I will not pass anyone who is driving down the shoulder unless I can safely and legally use the other lane - I just wait for them to clue in and get back on the road.

[Brian B-P]

Oh no... the ST speed rating nightmare. Be prepared for controversy...

Originally Posted by thoer

Jim are Marathon's really rated at 75 mph? I thought all ST tires were 65 mph rated.

Yes, Marathons are rated for 75 mph under specific conditions, but yes, the basic ST speed rating is 65 mph.

In addition to explicit speed ratings (as explained in the Carlisle material quoted), even an ST tire with no speed rating can be allowed over 65 mph under specific conditions. Goodyear (but not Carlisle) publishes the inflation and loading conditions under which higher speeds are allowed, and what the higher allowed speed is. All Escapes have large enough tires (compared to the trailer weight) that they can meet the load and inflation conditions for higher speed while staying within the rated maximum inflation pressure.

I think the Goodyear versus Carlisle difference is in what they choose to publish, rather than the actual tires, which are designed to meet TRA's Special Trailer standards in either case.

[OneOleMan]

Originally Posted by bdornbush

The 55 MPH when towing speed limit in CA applies to both trailer towing and trucks, and we all usually settle around 60 MPH. There are, of course, exceptions.

Yep, tell that to the CHP officer who followed me off the freeway and happily gave me a $30 ticket for speeding. I was doing 60 mph towing a U-Haul. This was back in the mid 60's when $30 was a heck of a lot of money.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by thoer

Jim are Marathon's really rated at 75 mph? I thought all ST tires were 65 mph rated.

If you can increase the tire pressure 10 lbs beyond the minimum required pressure for your trailer weight, these ST tires are rated for 75 mph. I know with my 19 this was no problem. I have always kept the tires on any trailer I own, or have owned, at the maximum pressure.

https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=h...plications.pdf

[thoer]

Thanks Jim. I had never seen that. Apparently it only applies to Goodyear tires as I can find nothing similar about Carlisle's

[Marky]

According to Discount Tires Carlisle tires are rated N. N designates 85 mph.

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/fin...=TXRINT&cs=205

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Marky

According to Discount Tires Carlisle tires are rated N. N designates 85 mph.

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/fin...=TXRINT&cs=205

Different models and sizes of tires have different speed ratings. It is common for even tires in the same model line to have different speed ratings... but if you check them all you might find they all happen to be the same. I wouldn't trust Discount Tire, though - they previously showed many Carlisle tires as speed index "R", because their broken web site extracted the "R" for "radial" from the tire spec instead of the actual index. Carlisle doesn't seem to like to publish comprehensive specifications tables (like major manufacturers of car and truck tires all do).

That one has a designation of "ST205/75R14 100N" (the spaces and "C1 BSW" shown on the end are added by Discount Tire); the 100N on the end means a Load Index of 100 (1764 pounds or 800 kg) and a Speed Index of N (87 mph or 140 km/h).

[thoer]

Carlisle site is very confusing on speed rating. They state one place that ST tires are 65 mph rated but then also talk about N rated. Aside from Discount Tire listing that tire as an N I don't see any information that our Escape size Carlisles are anything but "regular " ST's. I looked on my fairly new ones and there is nothing to say it is otherwise

[steve dunham]

I recently bought a set of Carlisle radial trailer tires . I too was confused about their speed rating . I called Carlisle and they recommended that I keep my maximum speed to 60 MPH.

[Losangeles]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

I recently bought a set of Carlisle radial trailer tires . I too was confused about their speed rating . I called Carlisle and they recommended that I keep my maximum speed to 60 MPH.

well there you have it.

just what i do when towing. 60 mph max, period.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by thoer

... Aside from Discount Tire listing that tire as an N I don't see any information that our Escape size Carlisles are anything but "regular " ST's. I looked on my fairly new ones and there is nothing to say it is otherwise

If the tire designation moulded into the sidewall doesn't have a load and speed index on the end (after the ST205/75R15), then you have default ST specs: 65 mph, or more with reduced load.

The Discount listing for the Carlisle Radial Trail RH in ST205/75R15 (the Escape size) has the same speed rating of "N" (and the higher load index of 107 which goes with the larger size). I have no idea where Discount gets their specs: off the sidewall, from a spec sheet...