What are the opinions out there about tires based on the following:
Load Rating v.s. Size
Stock tires are E rated 265/75R16, anything larger than stock, & I see only D rating at best. Are D rated tire sidewalls to soft for these heavy trucks?

What is the tallest tire for a 16" stock width rim (I think it's 7" wide.)
Will 305/70R16 work on the stock rim and not rub on the truck?

I'm trying to find a tall-skinny tire that will work with the stock rims.
The best I could find so far is the BFG MT 295/75R16, same with the Goodyear MTR's.

Thanks for the input...

 

D rated tires should be fine for most applications, but it also depends on how much sidewall you have. I would call your local tire shop and have them give you a load rating in pounds for the particular tire you are looking for. Most Discount tires have a program that will give you this number.

Depending on the truck you have and the type of tred you run, you can fit up to 315/75's without rubbing with 4x4,stock suspension and All-terain tires.

Look for the tire to rub on the fender skirt on the back of the wheel well or the lower corner of the bumper. The skirts can be trimmed to allow the tire to pass. If there is no rub there, watch for it on the springs.

Most tire shops will let you test fit a set of tires, so follow them in the shop and have one of the techs turn the wheel while you look for rubbing.

as far as the tires you are looking at, the stock tires 265/75 are roughly 31.9"x10.6",
the 305/70's are 33.1"x12.2", and the 295/75's are 33.7"x11.8.

In all terain, they all should fit if you have 4x4. However, mud tires tend to have a more squared off sidewall and may grab further out.

I hope this helps.

 

Early on, I installed Ford's mudflaps (why they didn't come stock on a Lariat is beyond me).
Recently I went from the OEM 265/75/16s to a 285/75/16 and they rubbed on the mudflap.
I just modified the mudflap spacer.
The 285 D (8-ply) are supposed to be rated for as much weight as the 265 E (10-ply). Regardless, I like 'em (and they were cheaper).
Toyo, Open Country btw.
todd

 

Ha, you made me check again tho... but my DRW PSD took 235/85-16
Load Rating E.

 

The E range tire is a stiffer sidewall for handling a load.

285/75/16 is a tall tire that will fit the stock rim. It is the widest tire that comfortably fits accodring to the tire shops that I visisted.

Remember that when you get width, you usually get height. 285 is 285 mm wide and 75 is 75% of the width is the height. For a tip, if you use tire rack or anything similar, use a 350 SRW even if you have a 250. That will start you off with the 265/75/16 optional tire that comes on a 250.

The 285 is a great looking tire on 2wd or 4wd IMO.

 

i have 305/70/r16 on my stock rims and they look great i think. minor rubbing on the leaf spring at FULL lock

 

I'll have new wheels and tires coming soon. 325/60R18s on a 18x9 rim. I shouldn't have any rubbing issues, with a 4" lift.

 

Hey jtharvey, the offset is very important in choosing tires and wheels. The wrong offset and you will rub on the leaf springs. Offset is the spacing from the mounting holes to the back of the wheel. Deeper spacing will keep the tires closer in the wheel well and a shallow offset will put the tires at a wider stance. Thus putting more mud and road debry on the side of your truck. Just my .02 worth. IMO wider looks better!!!!

 

Yeah. I've had to deal with the offset thing before, trying to get wheels for vehicles in the past. But, I don't know what's reccomended for sure for these trucks. I'm not opposed to adding some fender flares if the tires stick out past the fender. Just don't want too much because of the extra stress it puts on the components. The wheels I'm looking at have a -12mm offset and 4.5" backspacing. Any idea on where that will locate them on the truck?

 

I agree, I use the 285 as well and really like them. Trailmark from Rural King of all places. Good price and good tire so far. My observation is that this is max for my stock suspension system. Any bigger and I'm gonna have to lift it and/or space it.

 

I'm not sure where that puts your tires. I have forgoten what mine is. I just took mine to Big-O and told them what I wanted and they delivered. I don't rub and I run 315/75/16's on a 4" lifted F350.

 

Anyone know what stock backspacing and offset is? I can probably figure out the rest from there.

 

Don't know the stock stuff, if no one else chimes in you could probably get that from your tire shop or pull the spare tire and see what it measures out at.

 

Thread moved to the Super Duty forum

 

Did some searching last night. Someone posted that the stock wheels have a 4.5" backspace. So, the new ones will probably stick out a little wider, but clear the suspension bits just fine. However, the confusing thing about the wheels I'm looking at states they're a 9" wide wheel, with 4.5" backspacing, and a -12mm offset. Offset and backspacing are related, and those measurements don't seem to go together. A 4.5" backspacing on a 9" wheel should have a 0 offset, correct? Here's a link I found to some wheel tech explainations:
http://www.rsracing.com/tech-wheel.html