Subsitute tire sizes
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Elder User
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Subsitute tire sizes
My 1983 F250HD diesel turned 30 last month. Its tires are too old to be trustworthy & I would like to get some used tires, recent vintage, with some usable tread,not all that much tread either. I use it occasionally for hauling really heavy items to fix up my house. It used to haul a truck camper far & wide, but have given that up due to $4 a gallon diesel and 13 mpg doing this. On my last trip to the Colorado mountains in 2005 I discovered its IP just can't handle the elevations like the OEM IP once did in its early days.
The OEM tires on this model were LT235-85R16, load range E, on standard Ford steel rims.
Even on Craiglist & at the local used tire places, this size is hard to find.
Are there other sizes I might substitute that would fit my rims, hold the same load & handle decently?
Are there other rims that would work?
The OEM tires on this model were LT235-85R16, load range E, on standard Ford steel rims.
Even on Craiglist & at the local used tire places, this size is hard to find.
Are there other sizes I might substitute that would fit my rims, hold the same load & handle decently?
Are there other rims that would work?
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Joined: May 2005
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Height & diameter isn't that critical for me, I only travel paved roads, so I could stand the truck a little lower than it is. I've found my TomTom GPS reads the speed pretty darn accurately. I've calibrated it using cruise control over 5 mile stretches of an interstate at constant, that is about as accurate as I can measure it without getting more high-tech. If the speedometer reading is off because the diameter is wrong, I can compensate.
Any towing I would do is 4000 lb or less with an unloaded truck. truck weighs 5000 lb empty & GVWR is 8600.
IIRC, Load range E is for 3042 lb/tire at 80 psi, way beyond what I intend to run it at.
My local Craigslist has a set of 4 lightly used Michelin P235/70/R16, load rating 104 for $125. Could I use these to do what I'm looking to do?
I've found this website to compare one size tire to others in its class: http://ejelta.com/tiresize/index.htm...l=&maxdelta=15
Any towing I would do is 4000 lb or less with an unloaded truck. truck weighs 5000 lb empty & GVWR is 8600.
IIRC, Load range E is for 3042 lb/tire at 80 psi, way beyond what I intend to run it at.
My local Craigslist has a set of 4 lightly used Michelin P235/70/R16, load rating 104 for $125. Could I use these to do what I'm looking to do?
I've found this website to compare one size tire to others in its class: http://ejelta.com/tiresize/index.htm...l=&maxdelta=15
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Elder User
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I guess as long as the TPMS is getting reports from 4 tires, it is happy.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Victor, MT
If your wanting tires.... www.treadwright.com. they are a retread company but I ran them before and it worked oy great.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
215/85R16, 235/85R6, 245/75R16, 265/75R6 are all really popular sizes used on these trucks.
If you go with the 245's your speedo will be off somewhat. With the 215's as well, but not enough to be noticed.
265's are the same height as your 235/85's just wider.
If you go with the 245's your speedo will be off somewhat. With the 215's as well, but not enough to be noticed.
265's are the same height as your 235/85's just wider.
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If your wanting tires.... www.treadwright.com. they are a retread company but I ran them before and it worked oy great.
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Tuned
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From: Topeka,Ks.
My 87 calls for 225/75/16 but it says somewhere you can also use 235/85/16. I think there a little taller. That's what it had on it when I bought it.
Last edited by airdale94; Jun 7, 2013 at 07:34 PM. Reason: edit
Lead Driver
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To add to johns list, 285/75 and 255/85 will work as well, theyre just taller. The 285s are wider, 255s are pizza cutters
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
The 215/85's and 235/85's have very little difference hairybox.
I put my vans 235/85's beside my motorhomes 215/85's and there wasn't even an inch of difference in height, and just a tad skinnier.
I put my vans 235/85's beside my motorhomes 215/85's and there wasn't even an inch of difference in height, and just a tad skinnier.
Lead Driver
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Interesting, i was basing that off of: Had 235/75/15 on my buick, when i had them replaced they put 215/75/15s on and theyre ALOT smaller. went from like a 29" tire to 27
Post Fiend
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
I think 285's would look abit to big on a stock height truck.
265's are biggest I'd go on a stock height Ford. Even that I find big, but I love tall skinny tires!
Had 265's on my F250, but going back to 235's when I put new tires on it.
Nothing like 235's on a 4x4 F350 eh?
265's are biggest I'd go on a stock height Ford. Even that I find big, but I love tall skinny tires!
Had 265's on my F250, but going back to 235's when I put new tires on it.
Nothing like 235's on a 4x4 F350 eh?
