Trailer tires might look a lot like an all-season light truck or automotive tires, but they have some significant differences. Typically, they have thicker sidewalls to support the weight of a trailer and different internal construction to handle different kinds of stresses by comparison to an automotive tire. Also, since trailer tires are designed to mainly move in a straight line, the shoulders and center of the tread area are designed quite a bit differently from automotive tires which are designed more for cornering and steering response. The Thunderer ST Radial R501 is a great example of what a trailer tire should be about and how it should perform.

The ST Radial R501 is available in a range of sizes and ply ratings and is a great fit for everything from lighter trailering duties (motorcycle or equipment trailers) to heavier trailers (livestock transport, campers, boat trailers). Featuring a durable radial design, you can depend on this tire to obtain years of safe and consistent service. But don’t just take our word on that, let’s go in for a closer look at the Thunderer ST Radial R501 tire review:

Features and Benefits

Here are just a few of the great features that make the Thunderer ST Radial R501 a great choice for your trailer needs:

• Durable, long-wearing tread formulation resists weathering ozone
• Great stability, and traction with minimal wander or trailer sway
• 5-rib all-season tread design
• Circumferential grooves route water away from the tire’s contact patch to mitigate hydroplaning
• Solid center rib improves straight-line stability at highway speed
• Radial construction with polyester carcass, high-tensile steel belt package and double jointless spiral-wound nylon cap ply delivers enhanced load capacity
• Sizes range from 13” to 16”
• 6, 8, 10 or 12-ply rated

Pros and Cons

PROS:

• Dependable design with long-wearing tread formulation
• Consistent year-round traction
• Versatile for a variety of towing duties
• Deep grooves remove water to resist aquaplaning
• Steel belted construction increases strength and durability

CONS:

• Not suitable for vehicle use
• No warranty is on offer

SimpleTire’s view on Thunderer ST Radial R501 tires

If you’ve got any kind of trailer ranging from a small utility trailer to a bigger horse transport or RV/camper, there’s a size and weight rating of the Thunderer ST Radial R501 that would be a great fit for your needs. The tread formulation of the Thunderer ST Radial R501 is designed for long service and resistance to ozone and weathering (a nice perk when you consider how much time trailers often spend outdoors and idle). Straight-line tracking is consistent for easy towing at highway speeds and minimal wander. Its radial construction and up to a 12-ply rating make it a great choice for a variety of trailer duties. The tread depth and a system of circumferential and angled grooves help this tire with enhanced wet-weather performance and resistance to hydroplaning.

While the Thunderer ST Radial R501 is DOT approved for trailer use, this tire (like all trailer tires) should never be used for passenger vehicles as it could lead to dangerous handling problems and possible tire failure.

Vehicles the Thunderer ST Radial R501 is a good replacement tire for

• Airstream
• Backtrack trailers
• Bunk trailers
• Bear Trailer Manufacturing
• Coachmen
• Crossroads RV
• Karavan trailers LLC
• Polar tank trailers