State vehicle inspection, tire specific

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moparbob71.2

moparbob71.2

Socialist State of Maryland
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Hi All, does anyone know if tire type and size are looked at in a state inspection? I know they look at condition and tread wear but here my situation. Just bought a 2500 truck that was Maryland State inspected by the dealer. It has P265/70/17s. Ordered new ones from Costco, went today to get them installed and the guy said I had the wrong tires. We went out to the truck and sure enough, on the door tag it calls for LT265's. Truck is only a year old so someone must have jacked the LT's and put on the P's? So the question is..............
If the door tag says it has LT's and it doesn't, does that pass a state inspection?
Thanks in advance, Bob
 
Regardless of state requirements, I would sure as 'ell not want passenger tires on a 3/4 or 1 Ton
 
Every state's laws are different. However, you can safely put "P" tires on in place of "LT" tires provided you do not exceed the tire's maximum load capacity. Your state may or may not agree. Most state inspections are quite rudimentary and when I lived in states that had inspections, they only looked at whether or not the tires had legal depth of tread on them, if they looked at the tires at all.
 
69_340_GTS said:
safely put "P" tires on in place of "LT" tires provided you do not exceed the tire's maximum load capacity. Y.
Click to expand...

This might be true of a lightly loaded 1/2 ton used "as a car" but for 3/4 T especially, or even "heavy 1/2" that get loaded a lot, it's foolish.
 
I agree, the whole point of getting a 3/4 ton truck was not to kill myself towing( close call last year). I'll see if I can get a direct answer from the State Police. I'll update if I have good info. Thanks for the replies, see you at Carlisle.
Bob
 
It would help to know what state you're talking about.

And don't waste your time calling the cops on the matter. I've had a few arguments with cops who think they know inspection law. As they wanted to argue with me I pulled out my inspection license and they shut up real quick. Call a licensed inspection station and ask.

Here in NY tire size and rating doesn't matter for inspection, just the general condition of the tire. Tread can't be worn down to less than 2/32" on adjacent tread, no "foreign objects" in the tire, no cord showing.

Personally, I won't run P-rated tires on a pick up. Even my half tons get C-rated LT's and a 3/4 ton damned sure should get E-rated LT's. Something that's rated for towing and hauling. Every 3/4 ton comes out of the factory with E-rated. If you overload P-rated tires, as people have a tendency to do with trucks, you'll have a side wall flex that will make taking curves feel like the *** in on ice.
 
Even a cheap P265/70-17 tire has a load rating of 2300 lbs. Well, if you plan on exceeding 9200 lbs GVW, then yeah you need the LT tires. (The LT is around 3100 lbs each).
 
69_340_GTS said:
Even a cheap P265/70-17 tire has a load rating of 2300 lbs. Well, if you plan on exceeding 9200 lbs GVW, then yeah you need the LT tires. (The LT is around 3100 lbs each).
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My 4x4 Chebby 2500 tips the scales at 7250 pounds or so. Why anyone would buy a truck that can pull/carry like one of these things can and put car tires on it :wack:

Last I got tires on my truck Discount would not mount car tires on HD trucks....
 
inkjunkie said:
My 4x4 Chebby 2500 tips the scales at 7250 pounds or so. Why anyone would buy a truck that can pull/carry like one of these things can and put car tires on it :wack:

Last I got tires on my truck Discount would not mount car tires on HD trucks....
Click to expand...

Exactly.

The reason Discount wouldn't put P-rated on your truck is because of liability. Like I said, overload a P-rated on the *** and the sidewall flex will make it feel like you're on ice. Loose it in cornering, spill your contents, have the truck come around on you and into oncoming traffic, and someone is going to sue the tire shop not educating the customer on what his truck really should have.

Like I said: there's a reason the factory puts E-rated on the truck from the factory. You buy a 3/4 or 1 ton truck, chances are you're gonna work it. Even half tons come with C-rated tires.

In the case of a heavy truck like yours those 8 plies make a difference, even from suspension weight. Throw a full load in it or pull a trailer and having 80# of air pressure make a huge difference over 4 plies and 35#-40#.
 
some one could of switched them after there inspected ,the inspector will have the dot numbers on his inspection sheet, this is why theyrecorded on the inspection form
 
This thread reminded me of my recent troubles with my car trailer. Wanted tires with certificates, only tires that fit the bill at Discount were radial trailer tires. Trailer is rated at 7500 pounds. Had 8000 pounds of pellets on it. Stopped to get a bite to eat. When I went to leave the exit that I lined myself up with was blocked. Had to go around the back. Curb was protruding out a ways. Backed up 6 times trying to minimize the hit. Was a glancing shot, at about 3 mph. Few weeks later I had 6k pounds of pellets on it. Two pallets were as centered over the axle as possible. Third one was more towards the tail. Had my equalizer hitch. Coming home, 50 mph and had a blowout. Course the spare was at home...Fast forward a few months. Cruising down 231 at 60mph and the trailer started shaking violently. Other tire on that side went out. Tore up the wiring on that side, mangled the fender some as well. Keep in mind that prior to me hitting the road with the trailer I always check tire pressures.
Sorry for the hi-jack. While the "p" series tires may satisfy state inspection I would peel them off. You are a few curb shots, sharp pot holes away from a potential disaster...
 
OK, here's what I got from a shop that did some state inspections for me last year. As long as they are 4 of the same tire ( all P's) and have tread and no visible damage they can go even if the tag says LT's. Just got off the phone w/ the gas station up the street, Monday I'm getting 4- Cooper Discoverer AT3's, E rated. Thanks for all your input and stories. I'll be good to tow to Carlisle now. See you there!
Bob M-164
 
Missouri has state inspections> good thing here they don't look at tire. most don't even check the front end or brakes. just give them their $12 !!! LOL
 
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