Replacing TV Tires

Tires have many other responsibilities other than just weight carry...and the PSI is also NOT just for weight carry...it more to hold the tire's shape during its duties

The vehicle door label tire listing is the MINIMUM tire specification to meet that vehicle specifications

Also, the letter designation is only for its "ply rating" and not even how many actual plys it has

When re-engineering the OEM tire with different size/rating, more than just its weight carry rating must be taken into consideration. Of course within the same class tire. Going to the next higher, say commercial, will have an 'E' with way higher ratings

At least the OP is staying in the same class tire (LT) and not dropping down in class (P) rated.

Suggest reading up on how tires are rated and what those ratings mean.

It would be illegal in other countries who enforce ratings of vehicles & their components...to go lower in rating


Ditto wheels...the new re-engineered wheel must have equal to or more spec vs OEM

rhagfo wrote:
Bad idea to take a HD TV down to "D" rated tires!!!
Far better to put minumn size from the VIN door sticker, and run a lower pressure unloaded.
The TPS system should be able to be changed, might need to go to a good dealer or a crafty independent.

Good Ol LesSchwab convinced a friend that the big "D" rated Wild Country tires would be just fine since they had the same CARRYING capacity as the Michelin "E" tires that came on his Ford 3500 SB 4x4. I told him they were wrong and it was unsafe. He said "you just don't like LS" and proceeded to head to SoCal towing his new 40' Alpha Toy Hauler.

He came back a few months later and apologized to me saying "I know you were concerned for my safety". He said they were VERY scared many times since the truck was VERY bouncy. The tires were nearly worn out with less than 10K on them. He went directly to LS and ripped them a new one and they gave him a complete new set. He had them mounted to different wheels so he could use his "E" tires when towing and his fatty WildCountry's when running solo.

Bad idea to take a HD TV down to "D" rated tires!!!
Far better to put minumn size from the VIN door sticker, and run a lower pressure unloaded.
The TPS system should be able to be changed, might need to go to a good dealer or a crafty independent.

BAD idea, you will get a lot of bouncing. Know your weights and inflate your tires based on their load/inflation chart and add 5psi to what is called for.

Have you weighted the rear axle when hitched up? If not your just guessing at the proper inflation pressure for your tires. I would weigh the rear axle and look up the tire inflation chart for your tires, then inflate appropriately. You could also look up a chart for the same tires in a D rating. If they are sufficient to carry your weight (plus some margin I would hope) then I don't see anything wrong with switching to them. But, I don't think you'll gain much. An E or D properly inflated for the weight they are carrying would likely ride fairly similarly.

Optimal tire pressure does depend upon load. More weight = higher pressure.

buzzard616 wrote:
Signature TV has had load range 'E' tires on it for the last five or six years and even with 8200 lb TT on the hook I never liked the ride at the 80 / 65 PSI pressures the TPMS wants. Last season I ingnored the annoying little light and ran 65 / 50 PSI with no bad handling habits or tire wear and a considerably nicer ride.
Now that I need new rubber I am thinking I might as well switch to load range 'D' tires.
Any thoughts from anybody who has actually done this?

Stu

If you were running around at 80/65 w/o towing then right there is your problem. Those pressures are WAY TOO HIGH for the non towing configuration and your 65/50 is much closer to what is needed for non towing. Unfortunately your TPMS is non adjustable and is based on the max load as per the FMVSS door jam label.

Larry

Check the load ratings on the LR D tires and know your empty rear axle weight on the truck and the tongue weight on the trailer (plus hitch, etc.). Having towed with a '13 2500HD (diesel), I would advise against it. I think it would get squirrely with LR D tires when towing. Personally, I wouldn't do it.

Rob