19.5 wheel upgrade questions?

billtex wrote:

hertfordnc wrote:

do the tires really last 100,000 miles?

thanks

Apparently not 19.5 thread

Might want to reread the thread. Most were replaced for age with plenty of tread.

I run H rated 245-70-19.5's Had them for 2 years about 25K miles.
Running steers front and rear. Quieter. They did wonder a bit when new but got over it after a few thousand miles. Remains to be seen if I get 150,000 miles. Thinking I will be replacing for age rather than miles.

skipro3 wrote:

06Fargo wrote:
Another option to consider on your Gen 2 truck is the newer 18 inch tire sizes, available in capacities up to 3800 lbs / tire.

Tires are rated at 3800 pounds, but what about the rims? Are they rated that high?

That is a good question... wheel capacity rating for all the go-fast aftermarket wheels seems to be quite the secret...

I did write to Goodyear through their website to ask why weight ratings over 3500lbs exist in 16in and 18in wheels, but not 17in wheels. Here is the answer I received from their customer service:

The tires do fine on packed or wet sand but have limited flotation on the soft sand. I have also aired my 19.5's down on my F250 to 50 PSI to get through some soft sand, but they didn't even squat and I'm not sure how much it helped me. Mine did well in mud and snow, but most of the time I kept the camper on the truck which helped too. I haven't bothered to air down the tires on my 5500, but limit where I go with it since it weighs 10,000 lbs before I even start loading it. This past weekend, I was at 22K lbs GCW and the trailer was only carrying 6000 lbs on its axles...

hertfordnc wrote:
So my questions about this upgrade are; is it considerably more bone rattling when running empty and do the tires really last 100,000 miles?

My Michelin's have 76,775 miles on them and more than 40K of those are with the TC on-board. The tread is now at 9/32's (exactly one-half worn), so there is no doubt that I could get 100K mi. out of 'em. However, they just turned 8 years old and as a result I'm currently shopping for new tires.

When empty I run my tires at ~65psi and I think the ride is fine. Just make sure that your wheels are round and well-balanced.

As for airing down; I've been out on Pismo beach many many times with my 19.5's and I have aired-down as low as 50psi and never de-beaded a tire. But what you have heard about these tires in the sand is 100% true, they are terrible!! I've gotten stuck with just a couple of bikes in the bed :M I know that some people do it, but I would never ever go out on the beach with my 19.5's and the TC on.

Cheers
-Mark

06Fargo wrote:
Another option to consider on your Gen 2 truck is the newer 18 inch tire sizes, available in capacities up to 3800 lbs / tire.

Tires are rated at 3800 pounds, but what about the rims? Are they rated that high?

My 19.5's on a 06 3500 Dodge 4x4 work really nice hauling up to 11,500 - 12,000lbs GVW. Very stable.

At somewhere around 35,000 miles since new the tread 32nds are 1/3 gone.

The front axle ride is harsher than I like because one 19.5 tire almost has load capacity for the whole steer axle rating... we run the front 65psi and the rear 45 psi empty and whatever needed for loaded.

Another option to consider on your Gen 2 truck is the newer 18 inch tire sizes, available in capacities up to 3800 lbs / tire.

They ride like my LTs did unloaded if I remember to drop them to 80psi all around. If I leave them at 95/110 empty it rides like a bone shaker. I was burning though LT tires in less than 3 years, after 9 months of use (all with the TC on and a couple of 1000 mils towing the horses they still look new tread wise. I am running more of a highway tread pattern on all 4 in the Toyo M143s vs the agressive lugged M608s. If I can get 5 years out of them I will be more than happy but the load safety is the only reason I bought them, if they last a long time that will just be bonus points. After one freeway speed blow out on the LTs I had zero confidence driving the rig, Paranoia was always riding shotgun. Since I switched to 19.5s driving the rig is fun again.

As for airing down. commercial tires have a smaller bead area than passenger tires so the are prone to losing the bead to the rim at low pressure. The design is for heavy loads at high pressure.

Hi,

Because of the stiff steel sidewalls, I would not recommend running a pressure less than about 65 PSI, while on the beach. They will still be very wide, and offer a large footprint.

As for the tire lasting 70,000 + miles, does it really matter in a RV? By the time they are 7 years old, will you have 70,000 + miles on them? I could see it in a shuttle van or something like that though.

Good luck!

Fred.

gitpicker2009 wrote:
another question: Does anyone know how much you can safely air the 19.5s down?
I've got them on my 4500 and have been thinking of taking it out on the beach.

I have Rickson wheels and Firestone 245/70R-19.5's, they are a great combination with a truck camper but going to the beach is not a 19.5 area where they excel. What I've read/been told is that if you try to air down a 19.5 besides potential for losing the bead, there is a very good possibility of damaging the steel sidewalls. Personally my 19.5's are as smooth or smoother than my 285/70-17's were (except for severe washboard roads).

I don't think you can air them down much either...I believe you can roll the bead.

I am sure someone with 19.5's can explain why.