Tires, sizes, ratings...
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Tires, sizes, ratings...
I've got a '93 E-150 work truck with about 180,000mi. It needs at least two tires and a buddy gave me a couple that are like new. Only they're 225/75/15 102s and my truck calls for 235/75/15 xl (as per the door panel). Now I searched around and I get the difference but I'm wondering how dangerous/crazy/irresponsible it would be to put these on the truck.
I look at the worn out tires I have on the truck now and they're 235/75/15 108s and they've been fine for about 8 years. The ones on the rear are BF Goodrich and they say 235/75/15 104/1010 which I don't know how to interpret.
The truck is nothing I want to put any money into... it's getting pretty rough so I'd probably go for used tires to nurse it thru it's final year if these aren't feasible. I only drive the truck locally but that does involve 55mph at times.
Thanks,
John
I look at the worn out tires I have on the truck now and they're 235/75/15 108s and they've been fine for about 8 years. The ones on the rear are BF Goodrich and they say 235/75/15 104/1010 which I don't know how to interpret.
The truck is nothing I want to put any money into... it's getting pretty rough so I'd probably go for used tires to nurse it thru it's final year if these aren't feasible. I only drive the truck locally but that does involve 55mph at times.
Thanks,
John
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There is a world of difference between wheeling a work van around the surface streets with a few hundred pounds of tools in the back, and cruising down the freeway with a van full of kids. I say put them on and drive like you have two wrong sized tires on a hooptie.
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I had to look up "hooptie" but I think that's exactly what I have. The only two doors that open normally are the two front doors. The others all have some kind of special secret involving yanking on cables multiple times etc. I consider it my security system...
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Hahaha! Hooptie is a great word, isn't it.
The number of auto accidents caused by tire failures is microscopic. Almost non existent. A sober driver with eyes on the road and not on a cell phone keypad and not with three screaming kids in the back seat, and two bald snow tires on the front wheels is about 100 times safer than the opposites.
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From: Detroit
The 102 and 108 on the "new" tires and on the front tires are car ratings for P rated tires. I will bet that your 104/101 rear tires are C or 6-ply rated truck tires, which have a lower load rating by 10% to give an extra margin of safety. the 104 rating is for one tire on a side, the 101 for a dually setup with 2 tires on a side. The 104 rating on a truck tire means that it is probably more robust than an XL P rated tire with a 108 rating.
People have done more dangerous things than what you propose with the 225's, especially if you don't load it up super heavy. I would put the smaller tires on the front only because my esthetic sense says that is where the smaller tires should be, and run them at the max pressure allowed on the sidewall, which may be less than the recommended pressure on the door sticker. P rated tires used to hold a max of 35 lbs of air but most XL rated P tires take 41-44 lbs, and the 6 ply tires on the back of your van are probably rated up to 50 lbs.
Good luck, and keep the speed down....
George
People have done more dangerous things than what you propose with the 225's, especially if you don't load it up super heavy. I would put the smaller tires on the front only because my esthetic sense says that is where the smaller tires should be, and run them at the max pressure allowed on the sidewall, which may be less than the recommended pressure on the door sticker. P rated tires used to hold a max of 35 lbs of air but most XL rated P tires take 41-44 lbs, and the 6 ply tires on the back of your van are probably rated up to 50 lbs.
Good luck, and keep the speed down....
George
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i've mixed sizes plenty of times at a wide variety of speeds without a problem. it helps to have only one size on any given axle, so if the 225s are on the front and 235s on the rear, thats totally fine. even your big rigs are often seen with different axles in different tire sizes.
i would put them on and not even worry about it. just give them all a periodic inspection for abnormal wear or damage. of all the tires i've blown, only one was totally unexpected after my inspection every time i stop for fuel. and let me tell you, i used to drive a couple of hoopties, most of which had questionable tires on them
i would put them on and not even worry about it. just give them all a periodic inspection for abnormal wear or damage. of all the tires i've blown, only one was totally unexpected after my inspection every time i stop for fuel. and let me tell you, i used to drive a couple of hoopties, most of which had questionable tires on them
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YoGeorge, You're right... I wasnt' reading carefully enough. The rear tires actually say: LT 235 75/15 104/101 0 and they are rated for 50psi.
I'll have to find someone to mount these tires. The first place I went to said they wouldn't do it. That's what started my "research".
I'll be working tomorrow and I hope it doesn't rain cause that drip that lands right on the steering wheel has started again (needs more caulk). But I need to get these tires on. I'm afraid I'll have a flat and ever since that girl rear ended me at the stop light, the bumper has been folded up and covers the hole for the jack handle to release the spare. I just know that's gonna bite me one of these days...
Yep. It's a hooptie!
Thanks for the thoughts,
John
I'll have to find someone to mount these tires. The first place I went to said they wouldn't do it. That's what started my "research".
I'll be working tomorrow and I hope it doesn't rain cause that drip that lands right on the steering wheel has started again (needs more caulk). But I need to get these tires on. I'm afraid I'll have a flat and ever since that girl rear ended me at the stop light, the bumper has been folded up and covers the hole for the jack handle to release the spare. I just know that's gonna bite me one of these days...
Yep. It's a hooptie!
Thanks for the thoughts,
John
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there's an easy trick to get them on there if you have a second car. pull the wheels off the van, toss them in the back of the other car, then bring the tire shop the wheels with no vehicle included. they'll put together anything you want this way.
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From: Detroit
Good luck and stay safe... A few years ago, I remember reading a blog by a woman called "Hoopty Life" (with that spelling) I think--she was homeless and living in a van. That was the first I heard of that word, but it does fit a certain class of vehicle. (Lots of lawn crews use hooptie pickup trucks, for sure.)
And I was gonna suggest taking the wheels in separately if you can't find the proper hoopty repair place to mount the 225's... Again, I usually would not recommend undersized tires, but there are all those lowrider kids who put tiny little tires on their cars and jump 'em up and down. Just avoid 80 mph cruising and don't let them get too low on air--and keep an eye on them for stuff like tread separations.
George
And I was gonna suggest taking the wheels in separately if you can't find the proper hoopty repair place to mount the 225's... Again, I usually would not recommend undersized tires, but there are all those lowrider kids who put tiny little tires on their cars and jump 'em up and down. Just avoid 80 mph cruising and don't let them get too low on air--and keep an eye on them for stuff like tread separations.
George
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From: the old home place
I can't believe anyone else uses the word Hooptie, or Hoopty. I thought I was the only one that still used this word, but I do only occasionally anymore. More modern words for, ahem, cars like I might drive are "POS", or my favorite "steaming pile". Anyway, if it runs and it's paid for, drive it proudly!
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I can't believe anyone else uses the word Hooptie, or Hoopty. I thought I was the only one that still used this word, but I do only occasionally anymore. More modern words for, ahem, cars like I might drive are "POS", or my favorite "steaming pile". Anyway, if it runs and it's paid for, drive it proudly!
Gosh Scotty I first heard "hoopty" some years ago, just about the time rap music and its slang/lingo began creeping in. POS is relatively new, "beater" an oldie but goodie----its never ending, these affectionate names for our "$50 cars"!
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I can't believe anyone else uses the word Hooptie, or Hoopty. I thought I was the only one that still used this word, but I do only occasionally anymore. More modern words for, ahem, cars like I might drive are "POS", or my favorite "steaming pile". Anyway, if it runs and it's paid for, drive it proudly!
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