When you’re choosing tires for your trailer or truck, you’ve likely heard of G-rated tires. While these tires are rather popular, you may or may not need them for your particular RV or trailer.
There are many different load ratings out there. Choosing the right one for your situation can be difficult. Below, I’ll discuss everything you need to know about these tires.
What Are G-Rated Tires?
Load-range G tires are designed to carry very high loads. However, the exact amount varies from company to company. Typically, it is around 4,000 per tire. In terms of speed ratings, G-rated rites can go up to 56 mph. As you might imagine, they are not terribly popular for this reason.
Whether or not you need a G-rated tire varies considerably based on your circumstances. Below, I’ll explain everything you need to know based on your circumstances.
What is the Difference Between E- and G-rated Tires?
Generally, there are several important differences between E-rated and G-rated tires.
By definition, G-rated tires are higher rated than E-rated tires. In other words, they’re stronger and can hold up more weight.
Furthermore, G-rated tires have a larger margin and can carry more weight. Specifically, most G-rated tires can carry a maximum of 6175 pounds each.
However, each tire needs to have 110 psi to hold that amount of weight. After all, it’s the air that holds up that weight, not the actual tires themselves.
Based on these metrics, you may assume that G-rated tires are always the better choice. However, this isn’t necessarily the case.
Generally, E-rated tires hardly qualify for bigger rigs. They are typically not used on trucks, but they are occasionally used on RVs and trailers. However, they still won’t work for heavier models.
With that said, some RVs and trailers are specifically made to use E-rated tires. G-rated tires may be too large for them, which makes them practically unusable on that particular vehicle.
Usually, we recommend looking at the owner manual to figure out what tire you’re supposed to be using on your RV or trailer. I don’t recommend moving away from this recommendation, as it may cause harm to your vehicle.
After all, they’re made to work with certain tires for a reason.
What is Load Range G on a Trailer Tire?
Load range G trailer tires are the toughest tires that you can purchase. They are 14-ply tires, which means that they can hold up a lot of weight. Generally, these tires tend to work best when they have a lot of weight on them.
Usually, they have a stiffer sidewall that helps them hold up these larger weights. Furthermore, they won’t twist under pressure. If your trailer is parked for much of the year, these thicker sidewalls can be particularly important.
Load-range G tires are also extremely durable, especially when compared to lower-rated tires. For this reason, they tend to need to be changed more often.
As you might imagine, no one wants to change their tires all the time. When you choose these tires, you won’t have to.
Specifically speaking, these tires can sustain a weight of over 4,000 per tire when blown up to 110 psi. Assuming that you have four wheels, that means they can carry a maximum of 16,000 pounds altogether.
With that said, you will need to keep your tire rating at about that amount. Otherwise, your tires will not function properly.
Of course, not all trailers need these tires. If you have a smaller trailer, you likely don’t need these larger wheels. In some cases, these wheels may be too large and too heavy.
When unloaded, they may bounce around dangerously if they are placed on a too-small trailer.
As usual, I recommend choosing trailer tires that match the load range of your trailer. If your trailer can’t hold up that much weight, there is little reason to purchase tires that can.
What Ply-Rating is G?
Today, the ply-rating is largely outdated. Most people use the load range rating nowadays, which would be indicated by a simple “G”.
Still, there is some line-up between the load rating and the ply-rating. Usually, G-rated tires are 14-ply. Therefore, if you need a G-rated tire, then you’ll need to get 14-ply tires.
Similarly, if your trailer calls for 14-ply tires, then purchasing G-rated tires would be the same thing.
Remember, it isn’t the rubber of the tire that holds up all the weight. Instead, it is the air inside the tire. Therefore, to hold up a larger load, you need a larger tire or one that can run at higher air pressure.
Both load-rating and ply-rating are ways to determine how much air a tire can hold. The more air a tire can hold, the more weight it can hold.
With that said, the load capacity can change slightly depending on the exact tire.
Therefore, you should look at the exact capacity of each tire before purchasing them. Different corporations have different capacities for their tires, even if they are similar to other tires.
What Is the Speed Rating on G-Rated Tires?
In actuality, G-rated tires can refer to many different things. If you’re discussing speed ratings, then a G-rated tire can go up to 56 mph.
Obviously, this is lower than the speed on most highways, so these tires aren’t terribly popular.
For that reason, more often than not, “G-rated” tires refer to their load and are usually in reference to trailers and trucks.
To find out more, you can also read our related articles on which tires wear faster, how long do trailer tires last, and how much does it cost to rotate tires.
Conclusion
Typically, G-rated tires refers to the stronger tires commonly used for trailers and RVs. The exact amount of weight these tires can hold varies. However, it is usually around 4,000 pounds each.
However, G-rated tires can also refer to the speed rating of the tire. These tires can go up to 56 mph, which typically isn’t enough for most drivers. Therefore, these tires aren’t terribly popular.