put my 19.5s on today

reflections after 2200 miles, 1600 with the TC on, 400 towing a horse trailer without a TC and 200 miles without a tc or horse trailer.

I keep hearing about a bone jarring ride on 19.5s. I have yet to have one. It rides like a truck not a car. It is firm but it doesn't beat you up. Loaded 85/100, towing and unloaded 80/90. I like the ride, the ranchos are set at 9 all the way around, the antisway bars and the wheels and tires are a nice match. My wife says the ride is much smoother than the one we got with the 16's

I just have to wonder if some folks have their trucks set up to ride like a 60s caddy or something

anyways I can't see going back to non 19.5s with our heavy truck and camper combo and with a rig this size: 26 feet long, 12'2" tall and 12,500 pounds deep sand and rock crawling are never going to be an option no matter what tire I run.

rkortes wrote:

billtex wrote:

rkortes wrote:
I ran the Vision/Toyo setup from 2006 to 2013 with about 60,0000 miles ...... camper loaded. No catastrophes, blowouts or a single flat tire during that time frame. I really enjoyed the stress free relationship that I enjoyed with that set-up.

Prior to the 19.5s, I was always a bit freaked out about the prospect of a blowout with the camper. I don't feel nearly as vulnerable with the fiver because in the event of tire failure, I feel I can safely stop the trailer.

Did you ever have a blowout with the OE tires and TC on or were you just concerned about have a blowout with OE tires?

Tx, B

Never did... I was pro-active and put the 19.5s on quite early. When I saw how much squat and heat the stockers generated I new I had to do something.

What temps did you measure with oe wheels and what temps did y o u measure with 19.5's?
Tx,bill

my truck feels absolutely nekked on the "pizza cutters" today. Going two hours out and two hours back to bring my wifes 4 year old horse from the young horse facillity to the main dressage competition barn where she trains. The empty trailer doesn't add enough weight to the truck to get the stable loads anywhere near the overload leafs

:-)

dadwolf2 wrote:
Driving on the beach or in deep sand is the only area where I believe there is a legitimate complaint with 19.5's. Yes, you can't air down 19.5's. Pizza cutters? The 245/70-19.5's are about the same width as my stock 265/70-17's. Offroading in terrain that requires "offroad" tires? How many truck campers that are this heavy are really going to the extreme 4x4 conditions that a slightly softer tread compound is going to save their bacon?? Any forest service road or gravel road will certainly be fine with the 19.5.

Finally, I want the safety margin. I could be careful with my camper load and be at 99% capacity of the load E rated tire without a lot of effort. This is also a lot cheaper than getting rid of my low mileage 5.9 Cummins and get a a new dually.

Good point! X2

pjay9 wrote:
I want to know what all these nay sayer's have against PIZZA???? :)


You sand guys should tell us how you air back up when hitting the road...show us your systems and hoses and where you hang the tank and all that cool stuff, I want to know as I want to put one in for my airhorns...

I've always carried a 110v compressor in my rig. I just turn on the genny, start compressor, fill em up.... drive away. Easy as pizza.. or something like that.;)

dadwolf2 wrote:
Driving on the beach or in deep sand is the only area where I believe there is a legitimate complaint with 19.5's. Yes, you can't air down 19.5's. Pizza cutters? The 245/70-19.5's are about the same width as my stock 265/70-17's. Offroading in terrain that requires "offroad" tires? How many truck campers that are this heavy are really going to the extreme 4x4 conditions that a slightly softer tread compound is going to save their bacon?? Any forest service road or gravel road will certainly be fine with the 19.5.

Finally, I want the safety margin. I could be careful with my camper load and be at 99% capacity of the load E rated tire without a lot of effort. This is also a lot cheaper than getting rid of my low mileage 5.9 Cummins and get a a new dually.

From my nearly 8 years of driving with them I can tell you that they 1) Have a more rough (stiff) ride... especially when unloaded. 2) More tire spin on wet surface.... especially (or only) when unloaded. 3) Poor traction in the snow. 4) Super crappy in sand. Now, that is what I personally experienced in 8 years of tire use. Maybe folks have different results.

The primary advantage is strength, durability, and SAFETY with a load which is huge with a 3500+ pound camper.

I want to know what all these nay sayer's have against PIZZA???? Did I miss something???????

Let it be...There are 2 or 3 or 4 camps and each has valid points...accept that each of us does different things. Anyway the way I look at it, if I saw a fellow TCer or even an RVer at the side of the road with an OEM flat/blow out or any issue, I'd stop to lend a hand. POINT IS we all like what we do...doesn't mean we are right and it is the only way...so you sand guys carry on with your air down and I'll be happy doing what I do.

You sand guys should tell us how you air back up when hitting the road...show us your systems and hoses and where you hang the tank and all that cool stuff, I want to know as I want to put one in for my airhorns...

I like thin crust really don't need a cutter, but I have 6 of them. :>)

Driving on the beach or in deep sand is the only area where I believe there is a legitimate complaint with 19.5's. Yes, you can't air down 19.5's. Pizza cutters? The 245/70-19.5's are about the same width as my stock 265/70-17's. Offroading in terrain that requires "offroad" tires? How many truck campers that are this heavy are really going to the extreme 4x4 conditions that a slightly softer tread compound is going to save their bacon?? Any forest service road or gravel road will certainly be fine with the 19.5.

Finally, I want the safety margin. I could be careful with my camper load and be at 99% capacity of the load E rated tire without a lot of effort. This is also a lot cheaper than getting rid of my low mileage 5.9 Cummins and get a a new dually.

My bigger point is my 245s were almost exactly the same width as the stock tires.

Yeah, I know there is a difference in sand, but when you air down you also go way over the carrying capacity of the tire. Pick your poison. I have had lunch on the beach many times here in WA. Yep, I use my head.

I also know people who regularly get stuck with all types of vehicles.

jimh425 wrote:
I'm not sure how 10 inch wide tires are pizza cutters, but oh well.

Yeah not sure i agree with pizza cutter term. I find my unloaded ride better than my stock 17" with the 285/ 75r/ 17 Nitto Durra high load index when nittos were air downed. Call me crazy...