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Old 04-08-2007, 04:39 AM   #1
sreigle
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20-inch tires, pros and cons?

I am reading/hearing conflicting reports about 20-inch tires, when compared to 18 inchers.

In some reports I hear the 20's ride harder because of less air cushion between rim and pavement. In others I hear the 20's ride better. Anybody know for sure?

Other pros and cons? Cost might be one. Brand options? Other pros or cons?

I read RichFAA's report about the 20's making the truck higher and that alone will likely cause me to avoid them.

Thanks.
 
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Old 04-08-2007, 06:01 AM   #2
richfaa
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My 05 F-350 with the standard 17 inch wheels , at least IMO, rides hard anyhow after all is is a big ole truck. It rides a lot better when the 3400 is attached. The 08 F-350 that we drove fot two days was a SWD with the 20 inch tires.. We drove it on the same roads we drive the 05 on and we did not notice any difference in ride...It rode hard..like the 05...after all they are both big ole trucks. The truck riding higher was a concern to me and I don't think I liked that although that was the first impression and would need a bit more research. Having had a couple of Chevy TV's( both excellent TV''s) and having friends that presently tow with the big ole Chevy. I can say that the Chevy's have a much better and softer ride.. However..We purchased our Honda Accord for a smooth , soft ride...We purchased the F-350 to pull a big ole heavy 3400 Montana..Don't much care about how soft the ride is or if it is color co-ordinated with the camper..I want that sucker to pull.
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Old 04-08-2007, 07:05 AM   #3
LonnieB
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Steve,

Rich is right, there isn't really a noticeable difference in ride characteristics between the 18 and 20 inch truck tires. With the rubber compounds used today, and the sophisticated suspension systems, even the low profile tires you see on some of the youngsters cars don't ride too bad. Mfgrs., cost, and availability, are also comparable to the 18 inch tires. This doesn't mean I like the 20's (or the 18's either).

As a tire dealer, in order to compete with the big boys downtown, I have to stock more sizes, by more mfgrs. (if you don't have them, the other guy gets the customer). This means more dollars tied up in a larger inventory, and a more congested warehouse. On the up-side, I sell more new tires for trailers, as the used tires from TV will not fit the trailers.

As a tire consumer, it irritates me, because I'm one of those that likes to finish wearing out my LT's on trailers.

Shoot, I get dinged on both ends, LOL.
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Old 04-08-2007, 09:47 AM   #4
sreigle
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Thanks, Lonnie and Rich. I'll likely avoid the 20's just because of the height issue. Even if my hitch would adjust, that would just bring the bedrails that much closer to the Montana. I like to have sufficient clearance to not worry much about bedrails crashing the underside of the overhang. Even with the 2003 F350 I had good clearance and yet in this site look how close we were. I had just hitched up on an very, very unlevel site. When level I had over 9 inches clearance.




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Old 04-08-2007, 10:31 AM   #5
Montana Sky
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Steve,
My dad's 07 Tahoe has 20's on it. The ride on it is just as good as my Silverado (empty of course). Another issue besides the bedrail height is availability of replacement tires. I remember reading awhile back that Bill and Helen were having a very hard time finding 18" replacement tires for their Ford. Finding an E rated LT tire in a 20" for the new Ford could be awhole seperate issue. Just another thought...
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Old 04-09-2007, 02:31 PM   #6
sreigle
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I've heard there are either two or maybe three mfrs who make the 18 inchers for the Ford. That's not very many but I expect that to change. Continental is what I see on the new ones, so far. But I'm also hearing they're not getting very good mileage out of them.
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Old 04-09-2007, 03:12 PM   #7
ggranch
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Steve, That's just about close! Did you have to use 4x4 to back in there? I bet that put the swivels on the hitch all the way to the stops.
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Old 04-09-2007, 03:23 PM   #8
sailer
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I have a 06 F250 King Ranch with 20 tires and looked at the same truck with 18" tires and its not the same , its low and not neat but i still have 8 1/2" between truck and 5th . go the 20 its better and neater
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Old 04-10-2007, 09:11 AM   #9
Wrenchtraveller
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Sailer, what is the load rating of the 20s. Are they 3640 Pounds like the 18s?

When I sold my 1974 Wilderness Fiver 22 years ago, the nice old girl that bought it asked me to deliver it as she did not own a TV yet. She had a level pad on the top of a steep driveway and I dented the rear top corners of my 81 F250 4x4 which was a fairly new truck at the time. I too had 9" of clearance but it was not enough. I have a long box now but my hitch is a slider and if I find myself in a similar situation, I will slide the hitch back to reduce the angle and give more clearance.
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Old 04-10-2007, 10:15 AM   #10
sreigle
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by ggranch

Steve, That's just about close! Did you have to use 4x4 to back in there? I bet that put the swivels on the hitch all the way to the stops.
Ggranch, there was not enough travel in the swivel of the hitch. If you look real close you can see boards under the left rear wheel. This was the most difficult hitch up I've ever had, I think.

Yes, I was in 4x4 but what was toughest is that when one side of the truck has to climb a few inches of boards, it makes it very difficult to align the hitch with the pin. As the truck climbs the boards on one side, the hitch moves upward. But not straight up. It moves in an arc, so the hitch center moves away from the pin. I had to get close, see how far it was off, bring the truck back down, move the boards, try again. And again. And again. By that time I was concentrating on the pin and not on the bedrails so was a bit shocked when I exited the truck and saw how close the bedrail was to the trailer.

I cropped and enlarged the picture, which destroyed the quality, but at least here you can see the boards. The Montana is also on boards on that side, making it more difficult to hitch up.
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