Towing with 37in Tires
#1
09-17-2018, 08:18 AM
Towing with 37in Tires
I didn't see this question answered when I was searching. My new to me 2012 F250 6.2 3.73 crew cab has 37x12.50 Toyo tires mounted on 20in Fuel wheels. I am wondering how much towing ability I lose with this combo. I will occasionally locally tow a 10K boat on triple axle trailer with EOH disc brakes on all six wheels. Will this tire/wheel work? Can I wait till the 37 Toyo need replacement to move down in diameter? Keeping two sets of mounted tires/wheels is my least favorite choice.
I have the original 17 rims and could mount 35 or 33, maybe 35 on the 20in rims and 33in on the 17in rims ? Not sure of how this would look with the very mild lift it has now to clear everything. I think it is by ReadyLift.
I lock out 6 & 5 diving locally with the usual slow, heavy traffic around here. Anyone towing around 5 ton with 37in & 3.73 gear?
Chuck
I have the original 17 rims and could mount 35 or 33, maybe 35 on the 20in rims and 33in on the 17in rims ? Not sure of how this would look with the very mild lift it has now to clear everything. I think it is by ReadyLift.
I lock out 6 & 5 diving locally with the usual slow, heavy traffic around here. Anyone towing around 5 ton with 37in & 3.73 gear?
Chuck
#2
09-17-2018, 10:12 AM
You aren't going to actively cause any problems with the set up, it'll be more of your perception of does it tow well.
If it works fine for your use and you like how it looks, just leave it. If it's fine daily, but you maybe feel a bit slow when you're pulling but you can deal with it, don't change anything.
If it doesn't work fine for your use and you don't like the look, drop to a smaller tire size, change the lift, do what you want to where you're happy with the truck.
If you want a performance change but you want to keep the look, I personally think you shouldn't have less than 4.30s in the truck anyways from the factory, so I'd be looking at a re-gear and keeping the tire size. ~35" tires are almost the factory standard now, 37s really aren't that large anymore comparatively speaking. YIf you chose to get rid of the 3.73s, you aren't limited to 4.30s - you could get 4.56s for basically the same cost and be closer to a factory truck with 4.30s.
With the transmission you have, I like the regear option because with the double OD you really aren't losing much on the top end on the highway but you gain significantly down at the low end. All the time too, not just towing - the deeper gears IMO makes the gas engine drive better. Two sets of tires would be a needless PITA, and there's nothing wring with running a little leveling kit and 37s on your year, it actually should work great once you gear the truck where it should have been.
If it works fine for your use and you like how it looks, just leave it. If it's fine daily, but you maybe feel a bit slow when you're pulling but you can deal with it, don't change anything.
If it doesn't work fine for your use and you don't like the look, drop to a smaller tire size, change the lift, do what you want to where you're happy with the truck.
If you want a performance change but you want to keep the look, I personally think you shouldn't have less than 4.30s in the truck anyways from the factory, so I'd be looking at a re-gear and keeping the tire size. ~35" tires are almost the factory standard now, 37s really aren't that large anymore comparatively speaking. YIf you chose to get rid of the 3.73s, you aren't limited to 4.30s - you could get 4.56s for basically the same cost and be closer to a factory truck with 4.30s.
With the transmission you have, I like the regear option because with the double OD you really aren't losing much on the top end on the highway but you gain significantly down at the low end. All the time too, not just towing - the deeper gears IMO makes the gas engine drive better. Two sets of tires would be a needless PITA, and there's nothing wring with running a little leveling kit and 37s on your year, it actually should work great once you gear the truck where it should have been.
#3
09-17-2018, 04:35 PM
Thanks for your thoughts on this. I have only had the truck a week, so still feeling my way around. I think I will save up for 4.30 or lower gears. I will probably drop down to a 35in tire as well.
Now the tires on the Fuel 20in rims extend out past the fender line around an inch or so, and it is not a look I really care for.
Chuck
Now the tires on the Fuel 20in rims extend out past the fender line around an inch or so, and it is not a look I really care for.
Chuck
#5
09-20-2018, 09:29 AM
I prefer more sidewall so I like to use the smallest rim possible. You'll get a higher load index with the 20s, 125 or better is common. 17s will top out around 121.
18's are still the best compromise size on the market IMO. Sell both sets of rims and get some 18x8s wearing something in the 295/70R18 to 285/75R18 range. ~35", high load index, stable, and large enough to not look like 1970s Forest Service pizza cutters.
18's are still the best compromise size on the market IMO. Sell both sets of rims and get some 18x8s wearing something in the 295/70R18 to 285/75R18 range. ~35", high load index, stable, and large enough to not look like 1970s Forest Service pizza cutters.
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