Thats been my whole approach to with this width issue with the duallys. On one hand I need to maintain highway capability, so narrow helps, but I also need off road traction, for snowy, muddy, horrible dirt roads. Finding that balance, while keeping in mind that some of us will put two 1600lb round bales on the bed, LOL!

 

but the more tire width you have,the less traction you have MW.
that's why SRW trucks go so much better than duallies in the snow.
wider is not our friend.

tire width;
it hurts fuel economy.
it hurts performance.
it puts the tires close together.
it hurts traction.

payload,stability,appearance (matter of taste) and keeping us from sinking so much are our pro's.everything else is against us.

don't get me wrong,im with everyone who thinks wider,and or bigger tires looks best.but as far as performing,they just don't compete.
but don't get me wrong,i don't think there's anything wrong with running dual 235's if that's what you prefer.but just know your wheel offsets (there's also a max payload rating on the inner rim as well thats less than the tire rating) and or,just watch the spacing when your loaded up.if you see it's too close for comfort just hit up ebay for some spacers to put between 'em.it doesn't take much,and their fairly low cost.

 

I hope you dont mind me throwing this in. I am looking to lift my dually and will be running 315 75 16 on stock rims. I will need a set of spacers. These are the ones that I will be going with
WheelAdapter.com > Wheel Spacers
And possibly this tire too ( not 100% sure though)
FierceTires ATTITUDE M/T LT315/75R16 127 P E BSL
They are made by Dunlop

 

megawatt00, I have 265's on my stock rims and the centers wear twice as fast as the out side edges. If you consistently have weight on your truck almost every mile it is driven, you may get away with it. I have lowered my tire pressure to 35 to try and help. I am going back to a narrower tire next time.

 

I run the 235s on my truck and have no problems. Now I run a the Yokohamas Geolander ATS on my truck now for 4years. My truck is only 2wd and I go places I shouldn't. I like them a lot. I get about 55k on the tires.

 

14Spd,
Do you by chance have a picture of your truck you could post, maybe a side shot, that I could see? Our trucks a very similar and I would love to see what the 235's look like.

Thanks...

Mike

 

OK matt posted a picture of 235 tires, with what I am going to say is 1/2" between them, no load.

235 tire is 9.251" wide.
Then we see a set of 225 tires, 8.858" wide touching with a 3 tons load on them.

What I can't figure is 265 tires are 10.433" wide, how are they not so tight together that the wheels are not mating up?

A 265 tire is 1.182" wider than 235 tires are.

 

WOW!!! This thread has really gotten to be interesting, I may have to consider going back to 215's when I re-tire. If the weight limits are the same, that could help pay for tires with better mileage, and have better traction too!!!

 

The 215s just look rediculous on these trucks, instead why not go for a 78 series tire, they're narrower then the 85 series but have the highth to fill the wheel well and they come in the weight ratings we need.... Just a thought

 

my 265's with 35psi on stock rims are 9.75" wide. I have a 3" spacer inside, 2 spacers between wheels that are .25 or .375 and unloaded have app 1/8" space. any load and they are touching. If i am just hauling firewood home, i do not air up, but if i am going a long distance, i air them to 60-70 psi. i have hauled 3000 lbs air up long distance with out any issues. but i am still going to a narrower tire because of the uneven wear issue.

 

Hey Black350,

Are talking about going to a 235/75/16 instead of a 235/85/16? You mention a 78 series so I wasn't sure what you meant?

Mike

 

Yep.... With an aspect ratio of 75mm instead of 85mm the narrower width may be enough to give the required clearance between the tires without giving up the hight, I just don't think the stock 215 85R 16s look good and prefer the taller tire.

 

I thought of the same thing a bit ago but if you look at the table below from Americas Tire Calculator you can see the tire size of the 235/75/16 is quite a bit smaller almost back to a 215/85-16 size in fact the Circumference for a 235/75 is smaller than the original 215/85. From some of the above posts/picture either the rim size has something to do with the tires hitting each other in the rear or each tire brand is shaped a little difference perhaps making them touch or not?

235/85/16 | 235/75/16 | Diff

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=474 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=bodyText width=150>Sidewall Height:</TD><TD width=80><INPUT size=7 value=7.86 name=OINSideWall {95919BE0-C436-4eab-8083-096E94826667}="7.86"></TD><TD width=80><INPUT size=7 value=6.94 name=AINSideWall {95919BE0-C436-4eab-8083-096E94826667}="6.94"></TD><TD width=164><INPUT size=7 value=-0.92 name=DIFFside {95919BE0-C436-4eab-8083-096E94826667}="-0.92"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodyText width=150>Section Width:</TD><TD width=80><INPUT size=7 value=9.25 name=OINTireWidth {95919BE0-C436-4eab-8083-096E94826667}="9.25"></TD><TD width=80><INPUT size=7 value=9.25 name=AINTireWidth {95919BE0-C436-4eab-8083-096E94826667}="9.25"></TD><TD width=164><INPUT size=7 value=00 name=DIFFsect {95919BE0-C436-4eab-8083-096E94826667}="00"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodyText width=150>Overall Diameter:</TD><TD width=80><INPUT size=7 value=31.73 name=OINTireDia {95919BE0-C436-4eab-8083-096E94826667}="31.73"></TD><TD width=80><INPUT size=7 value=29.88 name=AINTireDia {95919BE0-C436-4eab-8083-096E94826667}="29.88"></TD><TD width=164><INPUT size=7 value=-1.85 name=DIFFdia {95919BE0-C436-4eab-8083-096E94826667}="-1.85"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodyText width=150>Circumference:</TD><TD width=80><INPUT size=7 value=99.68 name=OINTireCir {95919BE0-C436-4eab-8083-096E94826667}="99.68"></TD><TD width=80><INPUT size=7 value=93.86 name=AINTireCir {95919BE0-C436-4eab-8083-096E94826667}="93.86"></TD><TD width=164><INPUT size=7 value=-5.82 name=DIFFcir {95919BE0-C436-4eab-8083-096E94826667}="-5.82"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodyText width=150>Revs per mile:</TD><TD width=80><INPUT size=7 value=635.65 name=OREVMile {95919BE0-C436-4eab-8083-096E94826667}="635.65"></TD><TD width=80><INPUT size=7 value=675.02 name=AREVMile {95919BE0-C436-4eab-8083-096E94826667}="675.02"></TD><TD width=164><INPUT size=7 value=39.37 name=DIFFrev {95919BE0-C436-4eab-8083-096E94826667}="39.37"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=474 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=bodyText width=474 colSpan=4></TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodyText width=150></TD><TD class=bodyText width=80>235/75-16</TD><TD class=bodyText width=80>|215/85/16 </TD><TD class=bodyText width=164>Difference</TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodyText width=150>Sidewall Height:</TD><TD width=80><INPUT size=7 value=6.94 name=OINSideWall {95919BE0-C436-4eab-8083-096E94826667}="6.94"></TD><TD width=80><INPUT size=7 value=7.19 name=AINSideWall {95919BE0-C436-4eab-8083-096E94826667}="7.19"></TD><TD width=164><INPUT size=7 value=0.25 name=DIFFside {95919BE0-C436-4eab-8083-096E94826667}="0.25"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodyText width=150>Section Width:</TD><TD width=80><INPUT size=7 value=9.25 name=OINTireWidth {95919BE0-C436-4eab-8083-096E94826667}="9.25"></TD><TD width=80><INPUT size=7 value=8.46 name=AINTireWidth {95919BE0-C436-4eab-8083-096E94826667}="8.46"></TD><TD width=164><INPUT size=7 value=-0.79 name=DIFFsect {95919BE0-C436-4eab-8083-096E94826667}="-0.79"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodyText width=150>Overall Diameter:</TD><TD width=80><INPUT size=7 value=29.88 name=OINTireDia {95919BE0-C436-4eab-8083-096E94826667}="29.88"></TD><TD width=80><INPUT size=7 value=30.39 name=AINTireDia {95919BE0-C436-4eab-8083-096E94826667}="30.39"></TD><TD width=164><INPUT size=7 value=0.51 name=DIFFdia {95919BE0-C436-4eab-8083-096E94826667}="0.51"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodyText width=150>Circumference:</TD><TD width=80><INPUT size=7 value=93.86 name=OINTireCir {95919BE0-C436-4eab-8083-096E94826667}="93.86"></TD><TD width=80><INPUT size=7 value=95.47 name=AINTireCir {95919BE0-C436-4eab-8083-096E94826667}="95.47"></TD><TD width=164><INPUT size=7 value=1.61 name=DIFFcir {95919BE0-C436-4eab-8083-096E94826667}="1.61"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodyText width=150>Revs per mile:</TD><TD width=80><INPUT size=7 value=675.02 name=OREVMile {95919BE0-C436-4eab-8083-096E94826667}="675.02"></TD><TD width=80><INPUT size=7 value=663.65 name=AREVMile {95919BE0-C436-4eab-8083-096E94826667}="663.65"></TD><TD width=164><INPUT size=7 value=-11.37 name=DIFFrev {95919BE0-C436-4eab-8083-096E94826667}="-11.37"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

First number in tire size, say 235 is the width in milimeters.
Convert to inches by dividing by 25.4 = 9.251"

Second number, aspect ratio in percent.
So an 85 series tire has a distance from the rim to the ground that is 85% of the tire width.

235*.85 = 199.75 mm
199.75 / 25.4 = 7.864"

Last number, 16 is the rim diameter.

So the rim to tread height*2+16 would equal the tire height with no weight on it.
7.864+7.864+16= 31.728" tall

 

Great Conversion tables!