Should I purchase F-rated tires?

[driftwood1]

I need to replace my tires, and planned to go with the Goodyear Endurance but they are on back-order. My tire shop (auto shop, not a trailer specialty shop) recommended the Hercules H-901 ST, an F-rated load bias-ply tire (not a radial) due to its superior strength. Link here: https://www.herculestire.com/tire-de...cules/H-901-ST

I know tire option discussions are a worn-out subject, but I could find nothing on the Forum related to F-rated tires, so am throwing it out there for advice.

I have a 2005 double axle 25 ft Safari with 15-inch wheels, loaded weight around 6,000 lbs. I take 4-6 short trips per year (500 miles or less), and one 5,000 mile trip every other year. Mostly all highway, but may be going on a 10,000 mile Alaska trip next summer. Tire cost is not an issue, I want the best.

Since weight is not a big issue, I am not sure I need the F-rated tire. And I read that bias tires do not get as good as gas mileage as a radial, do not ride as well, and do not last as long mileage-wise. It seems that they might be a better option for trailer usage on shorter, rough roads than highways.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

[n2916s]

TireRack.Com has the Goodyears. They ship from Atlanta.

[Action]

Goldilocks can apply here.

Too much can be as bad as too little.

Action

[mikeinca]

I'd go with the Goodyear radials for their superior ride characteristics and wear over the stiff sidewall Hercules. As mentioned above go to Tire Rack. Their listing for the Endurance tires says "limited stock" so if you're going to go that way you might want to order soon.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...tnum=275NR5END

[moosetags]

If you are sticking with 15" ST tires, these Hercules look pretty cool and strong. Maybe they are worth a try. There price also looks good.

Brian

[JCWDCW]

I wouldn't run Bias Ply. Radial side walls flex which is why the ST designation is on trailer rated tires

Consider Carlisle E rated RadialTrail HD. Rated 81 mph
Luv mine!!
JCW

[TLBIJOU]

F rating is the speed rating and an F rating is 50mph max speed. When I get out West, I like to boogie down the street and I run Maxxis 8008 with an S speed rating which is 112 mph. Now I would never run that fast pulling a TT nor would I run 80mph on an L rated tire(max75). When it comes to load ratings that depends on your laden weight to know which tires to buy and always buy tires above your maximum weight requirement.

[jrwayne]

FYI, I went to Discount Tire and they installed Endurance tires on our 26. Lifted correctly, installed and balanced. While out of state, Discount Tires rotated my tires for me at no charge. We were getting a little of an uneven wear pattern. (axle probelm that has been taken care of) I let them know they were the airstream original tires. Since I had bought tires for other vehicles, they said no charge. Great place to do business with.

[Ken G]

I just purchased Mastertrack 10 ply radials at a local truck stop, they have a steel belt sidewall as well as tread. - Much heavier than GY Marathons they replaced with thicker tread. Load rating F, speed rating M (81mph). Not tested on a roadtrip yet.

[thewarden]

Originally Posted by TLBIJOU

F rating is the speed rating and an F rating is 50mph max speed. When I get out West, I like to boogie down the street and I run Maxxis 8008 with an S speed rating which is 112 mph. Now I would never run that fast pulling a TT nor would I run 80mph on an L rated tire(max75). When it comes to load ratings that depends on your laden weight to know which tires to buy and always buy tires above your maximum weight requirement.

F rating is not the speed rating it is the load rating. These tires have an L speed rating of 75 MPH.

[thewarden]

Originally Posted by JCWDCW

I wouldn't run Bias Ply. Radial side walls flex which is why the ST designation is on trailer rated tires

JCW

Hercules tires are a trailer tire with the ST designation. There were ST rated bias ply trailer tires long before there were radial tires.

[amxpress]

Stay away from bias ply tires, there’s no comparison to radial ply trailer tires. An excellent alternative to the famous Endurance tires are Maxxis M8008 ST. They’ve been around a long time and are a proven ST tire.
Radial tires will wear better, ride better, last longer, and tow better.

[mikeinca]

Originally Posted by thewarden

Hercules tires are a trailer tire with the ST designation. There were ST rated bias ply trailer tires long before there were radial tires.

There were also bias ply tires for automobiles long before there were radials, but that doesn't mean they were better.

As long as there are radial ply tires which meet the specifications for TT use....and there are....radials are a better choice than bias ply for the reasons already stated.

[thewarden]

Originally Posted by mikeinca

There were also bias ply tires for automobiles long before there were radials, but that doesn't mean they were better.

As long as there are radial ply tires which meet the specifications for TT use....and there are....radials are a better choice than bias ply for the reasons already stated.

Agreed. I was just commenting on JCWDCW post that appeared to suggest that the Hercules was not an ST tire.

[mikeinca]

Originally Posted by thewarden

Agreed. I was just commenting on JCWDCW post that appeared to suggest that the Hercules was not an ST tire.

Got it.

[aswell]

Originally Posted by driftwood1

I know tire option discussions are a worn-out subject, but I could find nothing on the Forum related to F-rated tires, so am throwing it out there for advice.

Was in a similar situation 2 years ago, and we bought 6 for our 34' and haven't regretted it. They are overkill even for our trailer at something like 3300# max weight per tire, however, when cruising thru Nevada last month at ~70mph in over 100 degree heat and water in the tank, I wasn't the least bit concerned of a blowout.

Last year when heading to Montana we stopped at a Chevron station in Wells, NV. The owner came over to look at our Airstream, but when he noticed our tires he asked me to come take a look at the tire pile on the side of his station. There were a huge mound of tires, over 8' tall, most from trailers who had a blowout along the local highways. He said the Hercules are what he replaces most of them with, because they are commercial trailer tires and therefore more durable than standard trailer tires. I heard something similar from the dealer where I bought them.

Proper weight distribution also plays a part, so having an over-rated tire may not be a bad thing: https://www.airforums.com/forums/f23...ml#post2233366

[Fair_Enough]

Hercules makes a ST radial in D and E rated. They call the radial ply, Power ST2. I've owned Hercules and they were good tires. Unusually heavy, but held up well and got 80K miles out of them.

I join the crowd advising against bias, and especially F rated.

FE

[RivetED]

Another 'ditto' re: Bias ply tires, not a good idea to use bias on a radial tire designed suspension. Just keep it simple and call TR to get the GYE load range E..

[aswell]

Just went to check, the 901ST are a radial tire. See attached pic, just taken...

https://www.herculestire.com/tire-de...cules/H-901-ST

[featherbedder]

AS installed bias tires well into 70s or later. I don't no when changed to radials but suspension has not changed since went from spring to rubber style axles. Bias tires were used on split rims early AS. then solid rims to present time