All this work and now I start over... - Montana Owners Club

Art-n-Marge · 08-02-2009, 05:02 PM

.... almost.

Suspension, Tires and Wheels, oh my!!!

Some of you have followed and contributed to my help in upgrading my Ford F-250 suspension and providing tire information or cautions for things I was planning.

Following Ford specifications and recommended equipment, I will be able to update my suspension, but in order to support this, I will need to get larger tires and wheels. The increase in tire size will give me the same performance as other current owners' of F-350s, therefore I will not be affected by the ride angle of the RV, the tranny, diff, etc. Only a slight adjustment for the speedometer may be required.

The timing is good because many of you were aware that I was in the market for new tires. Now I will be adding larger wheels to go with them.

Now I need help finding tires and wheels that fit this solution. I have found tires on the internet, but they don't always have the load rating I need and I don't know how good/bad they are. The best sources have been the membership and experts in this forum who can help provide information and experience for recommendations.

Can I get some help with this?

Edited to correct tire size: The tires will be LT275/70R18-E (3640 lb rating).

Thanks all!

Glenn and Lorraine · 08-03-2009, 02:12 AM

All I can say is what I've been saying from the start...
"Use a REPUTABLE TIRE DEALER"
A reputable tire dealer is a dealer that first and foremost sells TIRES. All other products he handles are secondary to TIRES. Many of these same reputable tire dealers also have a ton of knowledge about wheels and in all probability also sells the wheels. You don't want the garage that does lube and oil changes, sells gasoline, has a convenience store and just happens to also sell a few tires every now and than. I also wouldn't buy my tires from my GM dealer. I do trust my GM dealer to service my TV but I wouldn't trust him to have the knowledge to sell tires.
AND personally, I would never buy over the InternetPERIOD
We have had many many discussions about the age of tires. How in the world will you know what the age of a tire is unless you can see it up close and personal. He&& those tires can be so old they are already starting to crack. The company selling over the Internet could also be using this as a clearing house to get rid of his old tires.

I could go on but I think you have gotten my gist of where to buy tires. If not let me repeat myself.....

"Use a REPUTABLE TIRE DEALER"

nunya · 08-03-2009, 03:34 AM

just go buy a new truck! Support the stimulus!

hookman · 08-03-2009, 03:54 AM

No matter what you do to the vehicle it will still be F250. If they every check you out for weight they use your door sticker weight not what you have built it up to. When will they check anyone who knows maybe never maybe tomorrow.

Delaine and Lindy · 08-03-2009, 04:41 AM

hookman, nunya I agree there is nothing you can do to change the factory weight rating. With all the re-bates that are being offered now is the best time I have ever seen to buy a new Truck. In doing so you could have a real F-350 or F-450. But again its your choice. I can recomend www.Southwestwheel.com I have used them in the past and they will assist you in what ever type wheel you need. I have only use my local Tire Shop and have had good luck, but he is also a good friend of mine. GBY....

Tom S. · 08-03-2009, 05:04 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by hookman

No matter what you do to the vehicle it will still be F250. If they every check you out for weight they use your door sticker weight not what you have built it up to. When will they check anyone who knows maybe never maybe tomorrow.

Generally speaking, you are correct. There are however upfitters who can (and do) modify trucks and legally change their weight ratings. Sometimes they increase them and believe it or not, sometimes they decrease them. In either case, I suspect it isn't cheap, and unless you are using it for a business (with the related tax write off) it's probably cheaper and easier to trade up to a heavier model.

hookman · 08-03-2009, 05:46 AM

I forgot to say that only an engineer can certify for increase in weight and they aren't cheap.

SlickWillie · 08-03-2009, 06:03 AM

I've heard they check weights in Canada, but never here in the USA (RVers that is). Now, I did see someone post somewhere that their wife's friend's uncle's brother-in-law's uncle got checked, but they couldn't remember where or when it was!

Back to the tires. I notice Michelin has the tires in the size you mention. Now I didn't do a lot of research, but maybe you might find a tire in a 16" or 17" size that would be more economical since you have to buy wheels anyway. Just an idea. I'm sure not a tire expert, but I see no advantage of 18" over 16" other than the "look pretty" factor.

Art-n-Marge · 08-03-2009, 08:19 AM

Thanks so far!

- I only use the internet for research and buy only SELECT items over the internet. I would never buy tires or wheels sight unseen especially over the internet. I plan to use experts/specialists from a local tire/wheel store.

- Michelin has the LTX A/T2 LT275/70R18E that satisfies the load range, but I would like to know from members about other brands and their experiences. For example, I've heard Bridgestone, BF Goodrich and Goodyear also have offerings but I would prefer to hear from their owners.

- I currently have 17" wheels. I have not found 16" or 17" tires that meet the minimum 3500 lb load range requirement I am trying to meet. The load range for the tire size is E and specifies 3640 lb max load on an 18" wheel!

- From my research I have discovered it is possible to upgrade your vehicle's suspension and get it recertified. That's why I am using genuine Ford parts. I don't plan to recertify because I am upgrading my vehicle for MY own safety, comfort and compliance reasons and choose not to incur the extra cost unless I have a commercial or legal concern in the future. Yes, Canada does check weights sometimes AND I wish the U.S. would! Until then, my plan is good!

- For me, parts of my portfolio have taken enough of a beating that the only stimulus I could use is a 100% free truck. What I am doing is FAR less expensive that a NEW truck. In fact, with the price I got for my F-250 in 2006, it's still less than what it would have cost me for an F-350. I continue to stimulate the economy with the multitude of improvements to my current vehicle and at this time it's new wheels and tires.

I really appreciate your thoughts on the extra points since this project might be new to some but this topic is about tires and wheels because everything else was already covered in other topics. I do plan to provide all the information at completion of the project on a future post which I hope we can all benefit from in helping others who might have a similar need.

Learning can be fun!

Glenn and Lorraine · 08-03-2009, 08:46 AM

Will just said something that I 100% agree with and I

Quote:

quote:I see no advantage of 18" over 16" other than the "look pretty" factor.

The larger the diameter the wheel the harsher the ride.
When you take away the sidewall you also take away a lot of the built in shock absorbing. A friend of mine once said "The advantage of 18" is that now I can tell the quality of the freeways and which one needs repair!"
Some folks argue that the greater the wheel diameter the greater the load capacity and that's why all the big rigs use 20" or 22.5" tires. While this may or may not be true the one thing that didn't change is the sidewall to tread ratio. There is still plenty of sidewall to absorb shocks.
As far as the "look pretty" factor. Well that's in the eye of the beholder and my eye's disagree.

SlickWillie · 08-03-2009, 08:53 AM

Michelin LT285/75R16/E is rated at 3750 lbs at 80psi. A little smaller diameter (32.83") than the 18" you are looking at.

LonnieB · 08-03-2009, 11:38 AM

I'm not 100% certain, but I don't think a 16 inch wheel will clear the brake calipers on Art's truck. It is my understanding that the 17, 18, and 20 inch wheels came into play so they could add bigger brakes to increase the GVWR.

I don't like the way they look either and it sure limits the brands and styles of tires.

Art-n-Marge · 08-03-2009, 02:37 PM

Thanks, Will but my stock wheels are 17". Can anyone point me to a 17" tire that meets the load rating? If I can find a GREAT 17" tire then I don't need new wheels!

LOL Glenn, my old soft body appreciates the way you think. I don't care as much about looks and prefer more rubber than metal for ride comfort, too. I am more about function than looks these days. I think about looks, but it the function isn't met, then it's good-bye looks.

Thanks for the help

Art-n-Marge · 08-03-2009, 02:48 PM

Whoops, missed Lonnie's post. Yes Lonnie, You are correct. The 2006 F-250 come stock with 17" wheels, and the F350 with 18" (for heavier loads).

If only I can find a 17" tire that would save having to buy new wheels.

I won't go into why I don't like the look of LARGE wheels.

SlickWillie · 08-03-2009, 03:20 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Art-n-Marge

I won't go into why I don't like the look of LARGE wheels.

Can I guess? Better not, I might get booted!

As you probably know, I don't drive a Ford, so I don't know about wheel size requirements for caliper clearance, just trying to toss an idea or two out. I remember when 16" tires were in limited sizes; best I recall there were lots of 16.5" ones back then. Glad mine has the 16s.

Farmhawk · 08-03-2009, 05:01 PM

My 2006 F250 came with the 18" wheels from the factory. I put a set of Michelin's on it back in June and have since put 4000 towing miles on them, 3000 with the Monte and 1000 with my Studebaker Hawk on a trailer at 80 PSI. Yeah it can get a little rough but so far I am very pleased with them. They are the LT275/70R18 LTX rated at 3640 lbs.

Trailer Trash 2 · 08-03-2009, 06:22 PM

I changed the tire size on my 96 F350 7.3, up two tire sizes and it turned out to be a mistake, hopeing to split my gears, my mileage went down the truck was always pulling, hardly ever just crusing at that certain no labor speed at that certain RPM. I spent a gazillion $$$ on Banks equiptment put on air bags and it still wanted more. it could handle the weight very well after all that I went back to the original tire size and got my milage back to where it used to be.
the bigger rims do look nice but, I dont know if this is true "hear say" will the original brakes be able to hamdle the bigger tires and over heat.
Thats why I went and bought a new truck, I dont have to add nothing to the motor or suspention, and it pulls much better than my prevous
truck.
Good luck on your decision Art

Art-n-Marge · 08-03-2009, 06:32 PM

Trailer Trash, when you upgrumped your tires, did you recalibrate your speedometer? If you didn't the mileage will be short when you calculate your mileage. I am not sure how this translates if you kept the RPMs of the engine the same, and how it affects calculating gas mileage.

As long as you stay within the weight ratings of your truck I don't think larger tires will affect brakes negatively. I would think with larger tires they aren't turning as fast over the same distance when braking so the may not get hotter. And the brakes are rated to brake that much weight, too. I hope I am right.

Farmhawk. THAT would be nice if I had 18" wheels, but I have 17" so it's hard to find tires, unless I spend $$$ for new rims, too.

I have confidence that I will solve this problem, especially with help from the MOC. We shall overcome!

mgdg · 08-04-2009, 02:41 AM

I've heard they check weights in Canada, but never here in the USA (RVers that is). Now, I did see someone post somewhere that their wife's friend's uncle's brother-in-law's uncle got checked, but they couldn't remember where or when it was!

I`ve been pulling a trailer since `77 and I have never been pulled over or heard of a friend or relative being checked for weight here in Canada but it doesn`t mean it hasn`t happened!! And when it comes to tires listen to Glen, He`s an expert and I trust His opinion on tires 100%

Art-n-Marge · 08-04-2009, 09:15 AM

Thanks for the humor Mark, but your first paragraph is the same as SlickWillie's (see page 1) and as long as we keep copying and forwarding that bit of text, we can all help continue to propogate that story for some giggles.

I do like to hear from Lonnie and Glenn (I don't know a Glen - is that the Canadian spelling?) and others who provided help to my question about tires. I am following everyone's lead and information because it just happens to match what I am finding.

I am at a point that I have decided to get 18x8" rims and seek the Michelin LTX A/T2 LT275/70R18-E with the 3,640 load rating and I also found Bridgestone and Goodyear have offerings. There are 16" tires that meet the load rating but I can't use that size rim because of my truck and, I have not found a 17" tire that meets the load rating just like Lonnie warned in another post. The suspension parts are already ordered and will be installed by me sometime after they arrive and the weather cools down a bit. I will buy the wheels and tires after that.

Thanks, everyone.

You may also like: