I am answering this before I read any of the other responses...so I will not have any outside factors influencening my comments.
I have 3500 2WD DRW TCD with Lance 1161. I experienced a little rougher ride in the beginning of owning the tires, then that disaapeared...maybe due to break-in (not my explaination) but do to the fact that the rest of the ride capabilities had improved so much I didn't even notice the slight change in stiffness. The tracking you refer to is super, even in highways with truck ruts...I don't get the rapid sickening wander feeling as with the smaller tires and having to use bothhands, wonder which way it will go...yes you feel the ruts but the controli s now one handed and does scare me when it starts unexpectedly.
Tha stability was my main reason with all the weight and pulling a boat...it goes where I point it and with out delay of the softer side wall LT tires. I have steers on front...didn't think I would like them and the GY folks told me if I did noyt like them they would allow me credit and can switch to another type tire...no need...the lugs I chose fo rthe back are a bit agressive and sing on hte highway, but they have never let me down since I am a 2WD 3500.
Now for the underlying driving reason to get them...COST! By that I mean, the cost of replacing LT tires around 45000 miles was nuts and needed to be done in the most unreasonable times...I looked at my tires and determined I can do this trip and get back home before having to buy tires...wrong while in NC I had to buy one tire and bring out the spare for the fronts...the 4 backs made it home but I was not a HAPPY CAMPER. So new 19.5's came to pass...the new LT tire is the spare and the other one is sitting in the backyard on a wheel with the other 17" rims. Yes the LT tire is my spare as it has the same stance/profile as the 19.5...so if needed it will get me to the next tire place (Another discussion).
Conclusion: as for safety it is SOOOOO MUCH BETTER. Ride a bit of harshness, stability no issues at all (no airbags or special shocks just Stabil-loads), tracking no issues much better.
It may seem a large investment, but do the calcs on buying wheels and tires that will most likely get you 3 tinmes the miles against buy 3 sets of LT tires...it works and my projected miles is showing that I will be well ahead of the curve in cost effectiveness. Hope this helps! Now I will read the rest and may come back and edit if anything pops inot my mind that needs to be explored.
EDIT: Pressure fronts 85...rears loaded 95 to 100 unloaded not often 85. Projection for miles based on tread depth and mile already gone simple math proportion problem. Front:157250 Back DWR: 167210 ( I figured that if I got 125 to 130K I would be very happy with costs)...so far no tire issues except a steel shard on one rear tire caused very slow leak,between lugs, easy to fix with inside patch, told by Schaub tire folks if it had been a LT tire it would have caused major damage and maybe even a loss of control...VERY HAPPY with my 19.5's
