Alignment for towing heavy?
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 14,255
Likes: 2,181
my 2019 f-450 at 8k miles was the same.
never solved it.
bought some bushings to change the camber but was never able to pop out the old bushings.
no provable theroies that determine what is the idea toe to prevent / mini this.
hampered by the fact no one local does f-450 alignments.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 2,830
Likes: 1,187
From: Southeast MO
You need a solid shoulder steer tire. Both versions of the OEM Continentals are garbage. Michelin XZE's made a big difference on my 450. They are designed for high scrub applications. In fact I think all Continental tires are junk nowadays.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,094
Likes: 1,629
My dad (and FIL when he had one) ran into this same issue - and it's actually a Ford thing. MOST people want their tires to look the same at all (4) corners, so they put the same tires all the way around on the F450. They went for an 'all position' tire as mentioned above...but there's no substitute for a real steer tire.
See, most 19.5's and above are intended to be mounted NEXT TO ANOTHER TIRE which helps them fight lateral movement and 'rolling under.' Steer tires, however, are designed more like a regular tire, and can fight that same lateral movement and 'rolling under' by themselves. Super-Singles in the 22.5 size are built similarly.
Anyway, long story short, get those 'all position' tires (that are really just drive tires) off your front rims and put some actual steer tires on. You'll see a marked improvement.
See, most 19.5's and above are intended to be mounted NEXT TO ANOTHER TIRE which helps them fight lateral movement and 'rolling under.' Steer tires, however, are designed more like a regular tire, and can fight that same lateral movement and 'rolling under' by themselves. Super-Singles in the 22.5 size are built similarly.
Anyway, long story short, get those 'all position' tires (that are really just drive tires) off your front rims and put some actual steer tires on. You'll see a marked improvement.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 7,958
Likes: 4,039
Coupled with the tight steering angles and weak rubber, the issue is the tire more than anything. I myself am looking into replacing the steer tires on my newly acquired F-450 because with 38K on them, the tread is erratically worn, especially on the right front and noisy.
This thread is as good as any for steer tire recommendations for both the Op and guys like me who need new ones. That Roadmaster is from Cooper? I was thinking of putting the spare up front and getting a new tire, and taking one of the better as spare, keeping the other as a drive tire, but if I replace both fronts, I can keep both tires and swap them around the back.
This thread is as good as any for steer tire recommendations for both the Op and guys like me who need new ones. That Roadmaster is from Cooper? I was thinking of putting the spare up front and getting a new tire, and taking one of the better as spare, keeping the other as a drive tire, but if I replace both fronts, I can keep both tires and swap them around the back.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 209
Likes: 6
Thanks to everyone that has chimed in here, maybe I should change the post title to "F450 new tire recommendations."
I've known about the Toyo and Firestone offerings, and haven't been too impressed with the long-term feedback of users of those tires.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 2,830
Likes: 1,187
From: Southeast MO
I'd like a tire that also has decent snow performance, my current ones are useless even in a couple inches. I've always been a Michelin fan, any chance you've been able to test them in the snow?
Thanks to everyone that has chimed in here, maybe I should change the post title to "F450 new tire recommendations."
I've known about the Toyo and Firestone offerings, and haven't been too impressed with the long-term feedback of users of those tires.
Thanks to everyone that has chimed in here, maybe I should change the post title to "F450 new tire recommendations."
I've known about the Toyo and Firestone offerings, and haven't been too impressed with the long-term feedback of users of those tires.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2022
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I had Commercial T/A tires on a 99 F-350 years back, with similar tread pattern and they did OK in snow. Of course that particular tire is no longer made and has been replaced by a new design, and does not come in 19.5 size. The wide grooves in the tire might be good in snow, and the gaps between the blocks might be good for traction, but the solid outer ribs are questionable.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 209
Likes: 6
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 949
Likes: 330
From: Colorado Rockies
I think you did very well getting 50k out of the Contis. My '19 F-450 had 27k miles on it when I sold it. The fronts were in bad shape, as you described. I moved them to the rear inner; took a ton of weight to balance. Almost all my miles are towing.
Now that I have a '22 F-450 with the same Continental tires, I think I might buy a couple good steer tires for the front and save the Continentals for the rear. I can get the Roadmaster 170+ for $300ea or the Michelin XZE or $400ea.
Eventually, I also want to get rid of the Continentals on the rear and get something that is better in the snow. Looking at the Michelin XDS 2, but I will run the Continentals as long as I can stand them even though they are worthless in the snow.
Now that I have a '22 F-450 with the same Continental tires, I think I might buy a couple good steer tires for the front and save the Continentals for the rear. I can get the Roadmaster 170+ for $300ea or the Michelin XZE or $400ea.
Eventually, I also want to get rid of the Continentals on the rear and get something that is better in the snow. Looking at the Michelin XDS 2, but I will run the Continentals as long as I can stand them even though they are worthless in the snow.
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