Technical Information

1. What is the difference in a trailer specific tire and regular passenger tire?
2. My tires have the word "groovable" on the sidewall. What does this mean?

1. What is the difference in a trailer specific tire and regular passenger tire?

Trailer tires are considered a special category in the current global design standards of Tire and Rim. The major difference is that trailer tires are required to carry 10% more load than an equivalent P-metric size tire. LT type tires are actually on a lower formula and would require a significant size or load change to meet the trailer load requirements.

In the design process, we evaluate what works best under trailer applications/conditions. We typically find that a narrower tread width and a shallower non-skid (tread depth) provides a better overall performance in a free rolling position. This is one case where wider is not better. There are significant design differences with these tires and this explains why trailer tires are in a special category. In addition, that is why we recommend using trailer designed or trailer specific tires in trailer towable applications.

2. My tires have the word "groovable" on the sidewall. What does this mean?

Most commercial truck products (all brands) have sidewall stamping designating them as regroovable.

Regrooving is typically performed on tires used in metro bus service. When bus tires get worn, there is a regrooving machine which actually cuts grooves on the worn tread so that these bus tires can continue to run prior to retreading. Bus tires are designed with extra rubber under the crown area of the tire.

RV owners should not be concerned with regrooving their tires.