Date:         Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:31:43 -0500
Reply-To:     mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: Interesting Tire Info
Comments: To: David_Vickery <david_vickery@YAHOO.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <y32a82mbc62ak2am4b59c9x3.1335471447972@email.android.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

Well, I am not going to go to all the calling Kumho and so on that I did 3 years ago.  At that time, Kumho engineers told me (and evidently Karl M. also) that the Kumho Radial 857 sold in the U.S. is the same tire that is sold all over the world as a truck and van tire, and is quite suitable for trucks and vans here.  The tire is not marked as for trailers only because it is not for trailers only.  I was told that the tire is marketed in the U.S. for trailers because 14 inch tires for trucks are of so little demand here.  Interestingly, the tire is built on other rim sizes, but not imported here, so I am not sure what that is about.

But, it is not marked as "ST" or "For Trailer Use Only," because it is not.  It is certified for 95 mph, it is a D tire (8 ply rating in the older terminology).

If interested, call Kumho, their contact information is on their web page.

I'm sure you will get the same answer I did.  Oh, the engineer said that by the Kumho certification in the U.S., the tire is primarily a trailer tire, but the secondary application of truck, bus, or van is an "allowed" application.  That's why their web page focuses on trailer use, but does mention truck, bus, or van application.  I notice that some other web pages in other countries now mention the trailer application first as well, including Canada, but still point out the truck, bus, or van use.

Well, I thought I wouldn't bother with this any more, but I have wasted a good part of a day on it.  Good grief!!

mcneely

---- David_Vickery <david_vickery@YAHOO.COM> wrote:
> I thought they are required to mark them ST if it is only for trailer use?

mark drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET> wrote:

>It is not just TireRack saying they are for trailer use. The Discount
>Tire website now says it too, along with many others. I wonder how easy
>you would find it now if you went in again and tried to get some to put
>on a Westy. I can see some tire guys refusing to order them just on that
>basis. It might take some talking.
>
>Mark
>
>mcneely4@cox.net wrote:
>> Mark, what I can blame people for is not paying attention to legitimate information that describes the tire and its uses, including Kumho web pages and references to them by folks who have investigated the tire.  Karl was fine with the tire only after his conversation with his engineering buddy.  Fine.  Good for him for wanting to be sure.  But when the tire is marketed worldwide for van, bus, and truck applications, including in the U.S. though mentioned secondarily here to its trailer application because of size only, why would people be so silly as to rely only on Tire Rack?
>>
>>


--
David McNeely