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Old 05-05-2012, 05:04 PM   #2
smiller
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Full-timing
Posts: 447
Most consumer tires (including most used on RV trailers) utilize synthetic materials (rayon, nylon, polyester, etc.) in the sidewall belts. This is true even if steel belts are used in the tread area. Some commercial tires (such as the Michelin XPS rib) also utilize steel belts in the sidewall carcass making them somewhat stronger in that area. One generally would consider that superior construction and I suppose the feature might provide (at least theoretically) 'less chance' of a blowout, although if the tire is otherwise well-designed and constructed it's pretty hard to say whether or not having an all-steel carcass could really be considered a weakness. The main issue is whether a given tire model has a habit of going to its normal end-of-life (age or tread wear) without incident, and if it does then the design is obviously adequate irrespective of construction details. IOW all-steel construction is usually considered a desirable trait but it's also just one of many factors to consider as there is no single item that determines a tire design's reliability.
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