GuestView: New Tire Technology Raises the Bar for RVs – RVBusiness – Breaking RV Industry News
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following GuestView column was written by Ryan Fuller, a product manager for Nashville-based Titan International Inc., the parent company of Carlstar Group LLC.
By Ryan Fuller, Titan HST Product Manager
As RVs and trailers become heavier and faster, the demand for high-performance tires is rising across the industry. For OEMs, dealers, and service professionals, understanding the technology behind these tires and how it supports customer expectations is key to staying competitive. Much like the trailers themselves, high-speed trailer (HST) tire technology has advanced swiftly to keep pace with the demands of today’s consumers. The trends shaping high-speed trailer tires are more than just numbers and specifications — they represent a blend of engineering innovation and consumer-driven design.
Increasing speed ratings and load capacities
One of the most notable shifts in the market is the growing demand for higher speed ratings and higher load capacities for tires. Historically, trailer tires might have been rated for speeds around 55 mph. Today, we’re seeing tires designed to handle speeds upwards of 87 mph or even more.
This shift reflects the changing habits of drivers that are towing utility, specialty, or livestock trailers and RVs, who often travel long distances at increasingly higher speeds.
Load capacity is another critical factor. Consumers are increasingly moving from semi-steel to all-steel tires and are also “plying up.” In industry terms, this means upgrading from, for example, a load range E (10-ply, 2830 pounds) tire to a load range F (12-ply, 3,080 pounds) or even G (14-ply, 4,080-4400 pounds). At Titan, we’ve expanded our offerings to include load ranges that go as high as J (18-ply, 4800-6000 pounds). These enhancements allow for greater carrying capacities, meeting the needs of RV owners and commercial operators alike.
The technology behind tires
Tires are more than just rubber — they’re highly-engineered pieces of technology. The speed rating of a tire is not just about velocity, it’s about how efficiently the tire can dissipate heat. Heat is both a creator and destroyer of tires, so the right compound is essential to manage heat buildup and ensure durability.
Load range and load index often work hand in hand. While load range defines the tire’s ply rating and general strength, load index provides a more specific measurement of the tire’s maximum carrying capacity. Together, these metrics help consumers select the right tire for their needs.
Addressing modern trailer tire demands
High-speed trailer tire technology has evolved to meet the increasing demands of lifestyle RV users and heavy-load haulers, including mitigating blowouts for high-speed, high-load travel. One example of these advancements is the Carlstar CSL 16, a tire designed with an all-steel body ply to enhance strength and longevity. With a load capacity ranging from 3,000 to 4,400 pounds, it offers reliable performance with reduced blowout risks.
Trends in trailer tire distribution and reliability
To meet the strong demand for high-speed trailer tires, it’s essential for manufacturers to prioritize investments in domestic inventory strategies to improve product availability.
Companies like Carlstar have adopted these trends, ensuring that North American consumers benefit from reduced lead times and enhanced accessibility. With distribution centers strategically located throughout the United States and Canada, these efforts reflect a broader shift toward improving supply chain efficiency and meeting consumer expectations.
Advances in trailer tire design
The ongoing innovation in trailer tires underscores an industry commitment to driver safety and convenience. By leveraging durable materials and incorporating cutting-edge technologies, manufacturers continue to deliver products that allow drivers to focus on their journey, not their tires.
For RV owners and trailer operators, these trends represent an exciting time. By staying informed and asking the right questions, you can ensure that your tires are up to the task — whether you’re traveling 50 or 85 mph, carrying a light load or thousands of pounds.
The CSL 16: meeting modern needs
The CSL 16 is a product that represents the evolution of high-speed trailer tire technology. Designed to address the limitations of traditional semi-steel trailer tires, it features an all-steel body ply for enhanced strength and longevity. With a load capacity of 3,000 to 4,400 pounds, the CSL 16 meets the demands of lifestyle RV users and others who need reliable performance.
One of the key benefits of the CSL 16 is its ability to mitigate the risk of blowouts — a common issue for overloaded RVs and trailers. By combining consumer insights with rigorous testing by Titan, we’ve developed a tire that stands up to the challenges of high-speed, high-load travel.
The Titan and Carlstar advantage
As a brand with deep roots in the RV industry, Carlstar — now under Titan’s leadership — continues to innovate while maintaining a strong reputation for reliability. Since launching the CSL 16 in 2017, we’ve prioritized domestic inventory, ensuring that consumers across North America have access to our products. With several distribution centers strategically located in the United States and Canada, availability is rarely an issue.
Ultimately, the advancements in high-speed trailer tires are about delivering peace of mind. Drivers want to focus on their journey, not their tires. At Titan, we’re proud to contribute to this goal by engineering tires that combine durability, reliability, and cutting-edge technology.
For RV owners and trailer operators, these trends represent an exciting time. By staying informed and asking the right questions, you can ensure that your tires are up to the task—whether you’re traveling 50 or 85 mph, carrying a light load or thousands of pounds.
