Help with tire decision
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,322
Likes: 20
From: Rhode Island
Sounds like a set of BFG A/T LT285/75R16 E tires would work well for you. They are fairly aggressive for an A/T tire but still ride smooth without a lot of noise. My dad has been putting 285 BF A/Ts on his SDs since 99'. I've been running more of a cross between an A/T and M/T tire in the 285 size on my truck, which of course are louder and ride rougher than the BFG A/Ts.
I run those on my truck now. Been 20k plus miles and have at least half the tread left on tires. They have a growl to them but not so bad that you can hear it when the windows are up! Tires work great in the snow as well as drive fine at speed. I will run them again on another rig.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 6,648
Likes: 1
From: CT
My truck is 12,000 lbs every day and I tow a dump trailer often with a gross of 10,000.
I put on a set of the Nitto Dura Grapplers and all I can say is I noticad a HUGE improvement the moment that I dove out of the shop I had them mounted at.
I got their Durabelt heavy hauling tires.
I put on a set of the Nitto Dura Grapplers and all I can say is I noticad a HUGE improvement the moment that I dove out of the shop I had them mounted at.
I got their Durabelt heavy hauling tires.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,543
Likes: 0
My truck is 12,000 lbs every day and I tow a dump trailer often with a gross of 10,000.
I put on a set of the Nitto Dura Grapplers and all I can say is I noticad a HUGE improvement the moment that I dove out of the shop I had them mounted at.
I got their Durabelt heavy hauling tires.
I put on a set of the Nitto Dura Grapplers and all I can say is I noticad a HUGE improvement the moment that I dove out of the shop I had them mounted at.
I got their Durabelt heavy hauling tires.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 6,648
Likes: 1
From: CT
If you go to the bottom of the size chart that is where the durabelt sizes are.
I have the 245/75-17
Nitto Tire - High Performance Tires for Car and Truck Enthusiasts
I have the 245/75-17
Nitto Tire - High Performance Tires for Car and Truck Enthusiasts
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,543
Likes: 0
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,319
Likes: 10
From: Mid Atlantic
I run a construction company and I have found only one tire that works out in the long run for us.
I run the Michelin LTX's on every truck we can.
Yes, they cost more up front but they will outlast just about anything out there. They're also quiet and handle great.
Going to be ordering another set next month for one of our trucks that came with the crappy Conti's on it.
BTW, You'd be crazy to go with a D load tire on an F-350 and tow 10K unless your wife has a good insurance policy on you...Don't even think about it.
I run the Michelin LTX's on every truck we can.
Yes, they cost more up front but they will outlast just about anything out there. They're also quiet and handle great.
Going to be ordering another set next month for one of our trucks that came with the crappy Conti's on it.
BTW, You'd be crazy to go with a D load tire on an F-350 and tow 10K unless your wife has a good insurance policy on you...Don't even think about it.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 560
Likes: 3
From: 92592
We get too hung up on load ratings and forget to look at load capacity.
An 'E' rated LT235/85R16 has a load capacity of 3042 at 80psi wheras a 'D' rated LT315/70R17 has a load capacity of 3195 at only 50psi with much more traction and floatation.
It's all about how much air you can put in the tire, the primary reason for more plys in the carcass it to retain more pressure in a smaller area.
Lateral stability can helped by a stiffer sidewall, all things being equal, but a shorter sidewall has more effect on lateral stability and slip angle at the expense of bump absorbtion and volume capacity.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 225
Likes: 0
From: dodge, north dakota
The tires that we have on our 2007 psd is a set of cooper discover m/t and all we use that pickup is for pullin. They are a really good tire and a guy feels safe with them everywhere we use them. We pull calltle trailer out of some of the ****tiest spots and they hook up good and always get us out, then when when you get on the highway they fell really good(no side wall walk). The only down fall is that there expensive, the pickup we have them on has 245/75r18 and there just over 300 a tire. But commin from a person who works his pickups, these are the only tires that have stood up to the constant mud and hot highways, and big loads. Hope i made your decision a little easier.
Lane
Lane
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 225
Likes: 0
From: dodge, north dakota
The tires that we have on our 2007 psd is a set of cooper discover m/t and all we use that pickup is for pullin. They are a really good tire and a guy feels safe with them everywhere we use them. We pull calltle trailer out of some of the ****tiest spots and they hook up good and always get us out, then when when you get on the highway they fell really good(no side wall walk). The only down fall is that there expensive, the pickup we have them on has 245/75r18 and there just over 300 a tire. But commin from a person who works his pickups, these are the only tires that have stood up to the constant mud and hot highways, and big loads. Hope i made your decision a little easier.
Lane
Lane
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,319
Likes: 10
From: Mid Atlantic
What size?
We get too hung up on load ratings and forget to look at load capacity.
An 'E' rated LT235/85R16 has a load capacity of 3042 at 80psi wheras a 'D' rated LT315/70R17 has a load capacity of 3195 at only 50psi with much more traction and floatation.
It's all about how much air you can put in the tire, the primary reason for more plys in the carcass it to retain more pressure in a smaller area.
Lateral stability can helped by a stiffer sidewall, all things being equal, but a shorter sidewall has more effect on lateral stability and slip angle at the expense of bump absorbtion and volume capacity.
We get too hung up on load ratings and forget to look at load capacity.
An 'E' rated LT235/85R16 has a load capacity of 3042 at 80psi wheras a 'D' rated LT315/70R17 has a load capacity of 3195 at only 50psi with much more traction and floatation.
It's all about how much air you can put in the tire, the primary reason for more plys in the carcass it to retain more pressure in a smaller area.
Lateral stability can helped by a stiffer sidewall, all things being equal, but a shorter sidewall has more effect on lateral stability and slip angle at the expense of bump absorbtion and volume capacity.
It would help the discussion if you quoted the same size...an apples to apples comparison...
BTW the Michelin LTX A/S on my truck have a capacity of 3760#...
<TABLE class=spectable border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><THEAD><TR class=tab><TD width=190>Currently Selected Tire Size(s)</TD><TD colSpan=12></TD></TR><TR><TD align=left>Size
Service Description
Load Range
</TD><TD>UTQG</TD><TD>Max
Load
</TD><TD>Max.
Inflation
Press.
</TD><TD>Tread
Depth
</TD><TD>Tire
Weight
</TD><TD>Rim
Width
Range
</TD><TD>Meas.
Rim
Width
</TD><TD>Sect.
Width
</TD><TD>Tread
Width
</TD><TD>Overall
Diam.
</TD><TD>Revs
Per
Mile
</TD><TD>
</TD></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR><TD width=190>275/65R20
Load Index 126 = lbs (kg) per tire
Load Index 123 = 3472lbs ( 1578kg) per tire
Speed Rating “R” = 106mph (170kph) 126/123R E
</TD><TD align=middle>Not required for
this tire.None
</TD><TD align=middle>3760 lbs.
</TD><TD align=middle>80 psi
</TD><TD align=middle>17/32"
</TD><TD align=middle>60lbs. </TD><TD align=middle>7.5-9.5"
</TD><TD align=middle>8"
</TD><TD align=middle>11"
</TD><TD align=middle>NA
</TD><TD align=middle>4.1"
</TD><TD align=middle>610
</TD><TD align=middle></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>