The 14 Ply Trailer Tires: Load Range G Rated

You might have forgotten about them, but the tires on your trailer are very important for safety, perhaps even more than the tires on your truck or SUV.

The reason is very simple – when the trailer loses traction or grip, your vehicle will start to behave erratically and you probably won’t be able to do anything about it. Many trailer-related accidents are often caused by bad tires or tires that don’t have enough capacity for the weight you put on them.

Either way, the next time you purchase trailer tires, you will need to pay attention to many things, especially the load ratings. Also, the tires you purchase must be the same size as the existing ones, but you probably already know that.

What you can’t tell just by looking at the tires online is how they perform on the road. Trust us, there is a difference between various brands and models in terms of stability, durability, and also cost.

To make things even worse, you won’t find a lot of information on these tires like you would on car tires. The only thing you can rely on is the specifications given by the manufacturer, which often tell only half of the story.

Now, if you own a large trailer caravan or boat trailer, the safest thing to do is to purchase 14-ply tires. These tires are tougher than lower load ratings, which means that they will work better with more weight on them.

Moreover, trailer tires with higher load ratings usually last longer, especially if your trailer is largely stationary throughout the year. They have stiffer sidewalls, which won’t twist easily under immense pressure.

The best 14 ply trailer tires should give you a completely trouble-free driving experience on the highway. Furthermore, they should also be able to maintain the excellent performance even on very heavy trailers, and to be durable – nobody wants to replace their trailer tires every year.

In this article, we will try to uncover which 14 ply trailer tires deserve to be placed on your trailer. To make things super easy for you, we chose the best 14 ply trailer tires that you can purchase online. The curated list contains high-quality products from manufacturers that are already proven in the sector.

For those that don’t know much about trailer tires, we also prepared a detailed buying guide on trailer tires. In that buying guide you will learn everything there is to know about 14 ply trailer tires, including load ratings, construction (radial and bias-ply), and maintenance. We recommend reading through the guide – it holds some really valuable information.

Without further ado, here’s our list of the best 14 ply trailer tires on the market right now.

The 10 Best 14 Ply Trailer Tires Available in 2023

Best 14 Ply Radial Trailer Tires

1. Westlake ST Tire (Load Range G)

The Westlake ST is a radial trailer tire that works excellently for drivers that cover a lot of miles with their trailers. The radial construction improves the stability of the tire at higher speeds, while also offering high levels of grip.

Moreover, Westlake equipped this tire with Tread Wear Indicators, while also providing a 5-year warranty and roadside assistance, which is one of the best in this category. The Westlake ST is also super-tough thanks to the double steel belts and plies, so you don’t have to worry about leaving it stationary for longer.

Finally, the Westlake ST has a maximum load capacity of 4,400 lbs per tire and can sustain pressures up to 110 psi.

2. Provider ST Trailer Tire (Load Range G)

Provider’s ST trailer tire is closely matched to the Westlake in terms of performance. Thanks to the radial construction, this tire provides a stable and grippy ride on the highway.

Moreover, the double steel belts and double polyester cords help with durability and toughness. Like its competitor, the Provider ST has a maximum load capacity of 4,440 lbs and can sustain maximum pressures of up to 110 psi.

That said, Provider only provides a 2-year warranty on this tire, which is lower than the class average. Also, the manufacturer doesn’t provide any roadside assistance. On the positive side, the price of the Provider ST is also lower than its nearest competitor.

3. Gladiator Steel-Belted Reinforced Trailer Tire (Load Range G)

The Gladiator Steel-Belted trailer tire is as tough as its name suggests. Inside, this model is equipped with reinforced steel belts, which give it excellent durability.

The Gladiator trailer tire has a maximum load capacity of 4,000 lbs per tire and can sustain pressures of up to 110 psi. Thanks to the radial construction, this tire provides a very stable ride on the highway but isn’t suited for extreme off-road conditions.

Gladiator provides a 4-year nationwide manufacturer warranty, which is excellent for the price.

4. Taskmaster Premium Trailer Contender (Load Range G)

The Taskmaster Premium Trailer Contender tire is one of the toughest radial tires around, but sadly, the manufacturer only provides a 2-year warranty.

Still, this is one of the best tires for highway use – the 81mph speed rating is a testament to that. Moreover, the tire provides a stable and safe ride, even on heavier trailers. Moreover, sipes in the tire tread to channel water away from the tire to improve traction during wet, snowy, or icy conditions.

This model has a maximum load capacity of 4,400 lbs and can sustain maximum pressures of up to 110 psi.

5. Vanacc Trailer Tires (Load Range G)

The Vanacc trailer tires are an excellent choice for driving over wet pavement, thanks to the prominent tread pattern. The tire is also excellent at higher speeds – the stability is top-notch. Also, this tire has excellent treadlife.

That said, the maximum load capacity of this tire sits at 4,080 lbs, which is slightly lower than the competition. Also, Vanacc offers only a 2-year warranty, which is as low as it gets.

6. Transeagle ST Radial Trailer Tires (Load Range G)

The Transeagle ST trailer tire is a cost-effective option for drivers that want a dependable highway solution. Thanks to the carefully-designed tread pattern, this tire provides excellent stability over dry and wet surfaces.

Moreover, the tire has a tough and durable construction, and excellent treadlife. However, the manufacturer doesn’t provide any warranty, at least not in the spec sheet.

7. Trailfinder Radial Trailer Tire (Load Range G)

The Trailfinder Radial trailer tire is one of the cheapest radial models intended for highway use. Despite the lower price point, this tire provides good highway stability and safe ride.

However, the maximum load capacity is only 4,000 lbs, while the maximum pressure is 95 psi. Also, the manufacturer offers only a 1-year warranty, which covers just manufacturer defects.

Still, despite the shortcomings, the Trailfinder might be a good option for budget-conscious buyers.

Best 14-Ply Bias-Ply Trailer Tires

8. Kenda Bias Trailer Tire (Load Range G)

Unlike the first two tires on this list, the Kenda Bias Trailer tire is designed for trailers with smaller wheels. Also, this tire has a bias-ply internal construction, which gives additional toughness. And, thanks to the bias-ply construction, the Kenda is much better suited for agricultural and off-road use.

The Kenda Bias Trailer tire has a maximum load capacity of 3,070 lbs per tire and can sustain pressures up to 116 psi. The manufacturer also provides an excellent 5-year warranty and a 1-year worry-free guarantee. In other words, if something happens to the tire in the first 12 months of usage, they will replace it for you.

With all that said, the Kenda trailer tire isn’t the best choice for highway driving.

9. Homaster V Trailer Tire (Load Range G)

The Homaster V is an excellent bias-ply trailer tire for drivers that often take their trailers off-road. Moreover, this tire is also very well suited for agricultural use.

The maximum load capacity of the Homaster is 3,100 lbs, while the maximum pressure is 115 psi. Both of these numbers are excellent for the size of the tire. Also, the Homaster V is one of the toughest and most durable trailer tires around.

That said, the Homaster V struggles at higher speeds on the highway when compared to radial tires. Also, the manufacturer provides only a 2-year warranty.

10. Trail America Bias-Ply Trailer Tires (Load Range G)

The Trail America bias-ply trailer tire is an inexpensive option that works very well for off-roading and agricultural use. The maximum load capacity of this tire is 3,100 lbs, while the maximum pressure is 115 psi.

Thanks to the bias-ply construction, this tire is very tough and durable – it will serve you well for several years. That said, the manufacturer doesn’t specify any warranty on this tire. Also, it will struggle with stability on the highway.

The 14 Ply Trailer Tires: Buying Guide in 2023

Trailer tires are different from tires designed for passenger cars and trucks. Instead of outright performance, handling, and braking, these tires are intended for carrying very heavy loads, while also delivering good stability.

Moreover, trailer tires should be very durable, but not in the same sense as passenger-car tires. Most people use the tires on their cars daily, but they use the trailer tires only a few times every year.

That’s why, passenger and truck tires are often lauded for the treadlife, which is impressive in newer models. Trailer tires, on the other hand, need to be super tough and strong. These tires spend the majority of their time stationary, which introduces warping.

Trailer tires that will stay intact even after being left stationary for months are regarded as durable. Of course, the treadlife is also important, but less so when compared to passenger tires.

14-ply rated trailer tires are a great starting point when it comes to durability. These tires have much stiffer sidewalls to combat heavy cargo, which also helps tremendously with toughness and longevity.

1. The Difference Between ST-Metric and LT-Metric Tires

We’ve seen many people installing LT-metric tires on their trailers and be completely satisfied with the performance they offer. However, we are still against installing tires that are used for applications they aren’t intended for.

LT-metric tires are designed to be used on light trucks and large SUVs. The “LT” abbreviation on these tires means “Light Truck”, and that’s the only application where you should use them. These tires offer excellent traction during hard acceleration, outstanding grip in the corners, and strong braking performance.

Nevertheless, these tires also come in lower load ratings, which will translate into worse durability. LT-metric tires are designed to be driven, not to be left stationary. And, if you leave them in one place for longer, expect to see warping on the tires. When that happens, the LT-metric tires become unsafe to drive, especially at higher speeds. In other words, they are useless.

For that reason, you should always put ST-metric tires on your trailer. In these products, the “ST” abbreviation stands for “Special Trailer”. These tires don’t have nearly the same handling and braking of LT-metric tires, but that’s completely fine. ST-metric tires don’t need to have excellent traction because they aren’t driven.

Where these tires shine is in the stability they offer. The sidewalls on ST-metric tires are much stiffer, which makes them much more stable on the highway, even with a lot of cargo in the trailer. Sure, the stiff sidewalls deteriorate the ride quality, but nobody rides in the trailer anyway.

More importantly, the stiff sidewalls immensely help with durability. ST-metric tires are much tougher and you can leave them stationary for longer, without worrying about warping.

Now, we know that there are still some trailer owners that are convinced that LT-metric tires are better. And, honestly, everybody is entitled to an opinion. However, all test results show that ST-metric tires perform better than LT-metric tires when installed on trailers.

Of course, if you put some very cheap Chinese trailer tires you might get worse results, but we are talking about comparable products here. Between tires of comparable quality, ST-metric models are always the better choice.

2. Load Range Capacity and Ply Ratings

The single most important thing when purchasing ST-metric tires is to get the load range or ply rating right. The load rating signifies how much weight can the tire carry, or how much pressure it can sustain without deterioration in performance.

This article focuses on 14 ply trailer tires (load range G), which is the highest capacity you can get. 14-ply rated trailer tires can sustain pressures of up to 110 psi (760 kPa), and weight of over 4,000 lbs per tire. This means that if your trailer has two axles and four wheels, the tires can carry over 16,000 lbs overall.

Now, if you have a smaller and lighter trailer, it’s probably not recommended to go for 14-ply or load range G tires. These models are more expensive and heavier and might be bouncy when unloaded. You must always choose trailer tires that will closely match the weight of your loaded trailer.

Today, tire manufacturers mostly use the new “Load Range” scheme – the ply scheme is already outdated. Here is a list of the maximum load pressures of ST-metric trailer tires with various load ratings and their “Ply” counterparts.

• Load Range B (4-Ply Tires) – maximum load pressure of 35 psi (240 kPa)
• Load Range C (6-Ply Tires) – maximum load pressure of 50 psi (350 kPa)
• Load Range D (8-Ply Tires) – maximum load pressure of 65 psi (450 kPa)
• Load Range E (10-Ply tires) – maximum load pressure of 80 psi (550 kPa)
• Load Range F (12-Ply tires) – maximum load pressure of 95 psi (655 kPa)
• Load Range G (14-Ply tires) – maximum load pressure of 110 psi (760 kPa)

3. Radial Trailer Tires vs. Bias-Ply Trailer Tires

Now that you decided on the load range and maximum load pressure, it’s time to talk about the tire construction. Today, trailer tires are divided into two categories when it comes to the structure – radial and bias-ply.

Radial trailer tires are a newer design with plies that are positioned radially. These tires are much lighter than bias-ply tires, but also more responsive in the corners. Generally, they also offer better highway stability and improve fuel consumption. Moreover, radial tires have better treadlife than bias-ply tires.

However, radial tires aren’t very tough. Sure, today you can find 14-ply radial trailer tires, but even then, they aren’t the best choice for owners that leave their trailers stationary for longer periods. Also, radial tires usually fare worse with a lot of weight on them.

Bias-ply tires have plies that are positioned at a 45-degree angle. This gives much better structural rigidity and subsequently, makes the tires tougher. Bias-ply tires are a much better choice for drivers that often leave their trailers stationary. Also, these tires work much better for off-road driving, and agricultural use.

However, if you cover a lot of miles with your trailer and only use it on the highway, it’s probably best to stick to radial tires. Bias-ply tires have worse treadlife and performance. Moreover, they will also increase the fuel consumption of your truck due to the heavier construction.

4. ST-Metric Trailer Tires Maintenance

Even the best 14-ply trailer tires won’t last very long if you don’t maintain them properly. Don’t worry, you will not spend much time maintaining trailer tires – it’s just a few simple tips that need to be followed.

• Always keep the tires inflated to the pressure specified by the tire manufacturer, even when the trailer is stationary for longer periods. Underinflated tires will perform poorly on the road, especially when it comes to stability. Also, underinflated tires can easily warp and even completely disintegrate. It’s the same with overinflated tires – stability will be worsened, and cracks might appear on the tread.
• Never expose the tires to the sun when you leave the trailer stationary for longer. The photons from the sun, especially the UV rays, can oxidize the rubber and make it much less pliable. Tires that have been left on the sun for long won’t have the same properties as before. Fortunately, you can easily mitigate this by putting covers over the tires – even simple cardboard will work fine.
• Check the tread depth after each drive. You can do this with a Lincoln penny – turn the penny upside down and put it into the tread grooves. If the full head of Lincoln is visible, then you need to replace the tires. Without sufficiently deep tread, the tires will perform poorly over wet terrains.
• Replace the tires after 4-5 years, even if you haven’t used them a lot. Over time, the rubber compound on the tires becomes harder and loses the ability to grip the road better. Even if the tires look good on the outside, they won’t perform well after half a decade spent on your trailer. Replace them immediately – it’s crucial for safety!

Final Words

We hope that you learned some valuable things about 14 ply trailer tires and that we helped you choose a set that suits your needs well. Whichever model you choose, be sure that you always drive carefully, especially with a large trailer attached to your truck. Adhering to the speed limits is a no-brainer! Also, be sure that you always take care of the tires as they are the most important part when it comes to safety. And, of course, enjoy every minute you spend on the road!