Rickson Wheels Rear only?

Bedlam wrote:

bka0721 wrote:
When this topic came up before, and confirmed by Rickson, mixing tire sizes for use other than getting to town with a flat, is not recommended for trucks with 4X4. If you are running 4X2 this would not be an issue. But you have listed your 3500 as a 4X4. Hopefully someone will remember why this is an issue with 4X4 and can further explain.

My Rickson Wheels and Tires were delivered a month earlier than I had requested and perfect right off the pallet (I ordered 7 tires and wheels). With continued use for more than 2 1/2 years they have been trouble free and never in need of an alignment. I have Continental HSR 245 steer tires on the front axle and drive HSR tires on the rear and spare.

b

My Ram 5500 came with the Continental HSR front and HDR rear 225R70R19.5 tires. There is less traction up front with the HSR, but it is quieter than running the HDR up front. My Ford F250 ran traction/drive 245/70R19.5 tires on all four corners but road noise did increase due to the open shoulder tires up front.

BTW: The Ram can be configured with my mixed tire configuration, HSR on all four corners or HDR on all four corners.

O.K. So you are running different tread types on different axles, as I am too.

Not running different size; 16.5 on front and 19.5 on rear axle or 225 on front and 245 on rear axle on 4X4 trucks, as I stated this is not recommended except in exigent circumstances.

b

Does this mean you will carry two different spares for the road? I can't see how this is a good idea. My first call was to Rickson. At the time delivery was going to be 6-8 weeks. My local Les Schwab had Vision wheels in 2 days. If you want to save some coin find a decent used 19.5" tire only to carry as a spare. If necessary the local roadside assistance should be able to swap alongside the road.

My first 19.5's were 245/70/R19.5 Toyo 608z. They were a nice tire. Too agressive for street use only. I'm now running 19.5 BFG's with street tread. They roll really nice down the road. Very happy with the BFG's. I think they use the same casing as Michelins.

There is no differential between the front and rear axles of a typical 4x4 pickup. If the tires are different sizes front-to-rear they will turn at different rates on a hard dry surface. You won't go very far before the whole driveline will bind up, and if you try to force it, something WILL break.

Even if you have four identical tires, a 4x4 will eventually bind up on dry pavement, but sane people don't use 4x4 on dry pavement under normal circumstances.

In the mud or snow, or on wet grass, where the tires can slip, it's a non-issue.

So, as long as you NEVER engage 4x4 on a hard dry surface, a slight difference in tire diameter is not a problem.

It will, however, look a bit too "Beverly Hillbillies" if you ask me. May as well strap Grandma's rocking chair to the roof of the camper and have her come along for the trip!

Alright. I got it. I'll buy four and swap the spare to the front in a pinch. I'll use the 245's since I've confirmed they fit from a post above (thank you).

Thanks for all the insight.

J

Shop the different 245's - Some have greater rating than others. You will be able to run lower pressure on a higher rated tire making the ride more comfortable.

Noted. Thank you!

d3500am, sorry mist typed. the spare is a 16". Talking about 19.5's and my fingers did not work with my brain.

gbopp wrote:
I don't think different size wheels on the front and rear axle of a 4x4 is a good idea.

DITTO.

4x4s need to run same tires and wheels front and rear.

This issue comes up occasionally. Having driven 2 million miles in some kind of 4WD I can report that only the loaded radius is important in using different size wheels, and differing widths. Get all wheels/tires with the same loaded radius and you are good. The main thing to remember is that the diameter of the tires must be within 2-3% of each other. It doesn't matter what size the wheel is or how wide or narrow the tires/wheels. I'm using 12" wide wheels on the rear with 375x55r16 tires. They are within 2-3% of each other. Rears: 32.8" tall. Fronts: 33.1" tall. Loaded, they get even closer. No one has mentioned the culprit in using different diameter wheels/tires with a part-time transfer case. (A full time t. case is more forgiving as it has a center differential which allows front and rear drive axles to turn a different speeds) If the axles with a part time t. case are turning at a rate more than 2-3% different, it puts a tremendous strain on the transfer case which is trying like mad to put the same revolutions out to front and rear. The flash point, in a chain driven t. case, is the chain, the front/rear output bearings, and the drive shaft U-joints. The chain can stretch or even break under different diameter wheels/tires. You know you've done some damage when you cannot get out of 4WD. In college, I had a student trombone player whose parents owned a 1967 Land Rover 109 and drove it to Mammoth Lakes Ski Resort on its maiden voyage. Still my all time fave body style. It was snowing and when they ran out of snow they couldn't get it out of 4WD so they drove it the 275 miles back to L.A. They said it started making a tremendous howling noise. Scratch one transfer case.
O.K. let's review: as long as the wheel/tire combo loaded radius is the same all around, you are good to go.
jefe