Question about LTX vs. Agilis line of Michelin tires

 Read a question on an Airstream forum:  

 I am replacing Michelin LT225/75R/16/MS2 tire on my 28 Serenity. I am confused ? I am told by the tire dealer that the Agilis CrossClimate has a rough ride. I also read that the LTX tire in not enough for towing. Can anybody help staighten me out ?? Thanks

Load capacity is not a function of the tire "line" but of the type (P or ST vs LT) and Load Range LR-C  LR-D vs LR-E or just XL.

Do not get confused by the "LTX" line as there are both P and LT "types" and there are different Load Range tires in the LTX Line but no ST type which might be what came OE on your RV. Check your placard / certification label.

You should know your actual scale weight of the RV when fully loaded from getting the numbers on a truck scale. Your RV also has a Certification Label (Out side on Driver side, toward the front) that tells you the GAWR.

What ever tire you are looking at it should be capable of supporting AT LEAST 110% of the GAWR with 115% being better, and of course your scale weights should be below the GAWR.

Reports of "Rough Ride" on the Agilis might be from SUV owners with sizes you are not going to run. I would be surprised is you can feel any "rough ride" with a properly balanced set of Michelin tires.

You might want to read my post for a bit more information.

https://www.rvtiresafety.net/2021/08/my-first-recommendation-for-brand-size.html 

 

##RVT1036

Are you smarter than your tire salesperson? With Michelin LTX you may need to be.

As an RV owner, I believe that in most cases it is important for us to know as much as possible about our tires. Sometimes this means knowing more about our tires than the average salesperson.

Here is a real-life example:

An owner of an older Travel Trailer posted
"Please correct me if I'm wrong... The Michelin Defender LTX M/S 235/75R15 is a true LT tire and does not need to be derated?

Shopping for tires on my Airstream 2017 23FB. I'd love to just go with the 16" SenDel S02/Michelin combo but not sure if the clearance is there for them."

Just before the above post it had been pointed out  the correct designation is P235/75R15 XL
The "XL" is the tip-off as that stands for "Extra Load" which is only found in Passenger type tires.

LT tires have Load Range C, D, and E
P-type have Standard Load (no special marking)  and XL which is lower in inflation than an LT-C.

Your tire dealer should have made clear the type tire they are talking about.  Sometimes RV owners need to know more than the salesman if you want to get the tire you need or want.

I had also previously posted on that thread:
"Be sure you understand if your LTX tires are "LT" type or "P" type. If P you need to calculate the actual tire capacity when used on Trailer, SUV or PU-truck.

The adjustment is 
(Load molded on tire)/1.10 = Load capacity on the RV or truck or SUV application.

No load capacity adjustment is needed for LT type tires if placed on an RV, truck or SUV.The LT in "LTX" does not make a tire an actual "LT type tire."

I don't know if the marketing folks at Michelin realized the confusion they were spreading when they came up with the name "LTX" and put that designation on BOTH LT type and P-Type tires. I would not be surprised if there aren't a good number of RV owners who think they have an LT tire when what they were sold was actually a Passenger type tire.