Forum Discussion

jstar's avatar
jstar
Explorer
May 05, 2018

aftermarket wheels and new tires on my truck question

I have an 03 F250 club cab Lariat with long bed and the infamous 7.3L diesel with 85k original miles on it. I just purchased a 2017 Dutchmen Denali that weighs about 10k dry. My truck has the original 16 inch wheels and older dry rotted tires. I purchased some Mayhem aftermarket wheels in 18 inch as the 16 just seem too dang small. The tires I have now are 265 75 16 and I want to go with 305 65 18 tires which will be exactly the same size sidewall but a little wider by an inch and since the wheels are 2 inches taller so will the whole wheel/tire setup giveing my truck a 1 inch lift. My question is I know I need an E rated tire for the heavy towing I will be doing but what experience do any of you have running an all terrain tire. Will they overheat etc? Should I not get an all terrain tire? I would love some experienced input. Thanks for any help.
  • jstar's avatar
    jstar
    Explorer
    May 05, 2018
    BarneyS wrote:
    jstar wrote:
    I have an 03 F250 club cab Lariat with long bed and the infamous 7.3L diesel with 85k original miles on it. Snip...

    Why do you say "infamous"? That engine is probably the best one Ford ever made! I had one in a '02 F250 that took us over 350,000 miles with no problems whatsoever and was still running great when I traded it in two years ago.
    I even had it running with a tuner for increased HP and torque for half of its' life. I would call it the "famous" 7.3L diesel! :)
    Barney


    I guess I miss used the term. I didn't mean it in a bad way. I really meant Well loved and surely missed. It's so simple and reliable its crazy for sure. I bought it just for this reason.
  • souraider's avatar
    souraider
    Explorer
    May 05, 2018
    Actually based on the sizes you state you are actually increasing tire diameter by 2" that might make a difference in truck performance. Use this calculator it allows you to determine gear ratio and other sundry items. It might help you make a decision.

    Tire size calculator
  • BarneyS's avatar
    BarneyS
    Explorer III
    May 05, 2018
    jstar wrote:
    I have an 03 F250 club cab Lariat with long bed and the infamous 7.3L diesel with 85k original miles on it. Snip...

    Why do you say "infamous"? That engine is probably the best one Ford ever made! I had one in a '02 F250 that took us over 350,000 miles with no problems whatsoever and was still running great when I traded it in two years ago.
    I even had it running with a tuner for increased HP and torque for half of its' life. I would call it the "famous" 7.3L diesel! :)
    Barney
  • ppine's avatar
    ppine
    Explorer II
    May 05, 2018
    Changing the diameter of your tires does matter, even one inch. If you go larger you are effectively lowering the rear end ratio and losing power.

    Tread design has improved a lot in the last ten years. Consider the type of driving you do. It is mostly on the highway and gravel roads, then you need a less aggressive tread. There are plenty of all-terrain tires that are quiet and perform well in rain and snow. You don't need Cepek mud tires with loud aggressive tread unless you are pounding the bush all the time.
  • jstar's avatar
    jstar
    Explorer
    May 05, 2018
    JIMNLIN wrote:
    No problems with a AT tire on the truck but for towing and hauling duties those 1" taller tire may be a power killer for a stock 7.3.....tires weight and diameter. And much depends on your expectations from the 7.3 PSD.


    You really think 1 inch will make that much difference? I kind of wondered about that. Hum.
  • jstar's avatar
    jstar
    Explorer
    May 05, 2018
    Toolguy5 wrote:
    I ran Goodyear Wranglers All Terrain on my 2006 towing a Chaparral a little heavier then your Ditchmen. Never a problem.


    ****, I did say that, lol. OK Lariat.
  • JIMNLIN's avatar
    JIMNLIN
    Explorer III
    May 05, 2018
    No problems with a AT tire on the truck but for towing and hauling duties those 1" taller tire may be a power killer for a stock 7.3.....tires weight and diameter. And much depends on your expectations from the 7.3 PSD.
  • spud1957's avatar
    spud1957
    Explorer
    May 05, 2018
    jstar wrote:
    I have an 03 F250 club cab Laramie with long bed and the infamous 7.3L diesel with 85k original miles on it. I just purchased a 2017 Dutchmen Denali that weighs about 10k dry. My truck has the original 16 inch wheels and older dry rotted tires. I purchased some Mayhem aftermarket wheels in 18 inch as the 16 just seem too dang small. The tires I have now are 265 75 16 and I want to go with 305 65 18 tires which will be exactly the same size sidewall but a little wider by an inch and since the wheels are 2 inches taller so will the whole wheel/tire setup giveing my truck a 1 inch lift. My question is I know I need an E rated tire for the heavy towing I will be doing but what experience do any of you have running an all terrain tire. Will they overheat etc? Should I not get an all terrain tire? I would love some experienced input. Thanks for any help.


    Laramie?
  • Toolguy5's avatar
    Toolguy5
    Explorer III
    May 05, 2018
    I ran Goodyear Wranglers All Terrain on my 2006 towing a Chaparral a little heavier then your Ditchmen. Never a problem.
  • Busdriver's avatar
    Busdriver
    Explorer II
    May 05, 2018
    Most truck tires now are all terrain. That are all I have used for the last 20 years.

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