Going to be getting new tires for a Ram 3500 that hauls a 3200lb hardside truck camper. The stock Firestone Transforce tire size is 275/70/18. I am going to be replacing these with Cooper AT3 tires and was wondering if I would notice a difference if I went with 295's since they are appx. 3/4" wider? The 295's are appx $50 more per tire plus I would need to order a spare if I changed sizes. Not sure it would be worth the extra $$.

More important is does the capacity change. I wouldn't change the tire size, but there is probably minimal difference other than tire clearance.

The new tire size will be 20mm wider and 28mm taller than your current tire. Overall truck height will only increase by 14mm.

Every tire has a capacity stamped on the side.You can goggle the exact tire to see what the load capacity is.While a tire with a larger capacity will not increase your overall payload, it will give greater assurance that tire failure is less likely.In my mind anyways.Have u weighed your rig at a weigh scale?

Tire capacity increases from 3640 to 4080, just wondering if I would see an increase in stability with an additional 1 1/2" on the ground. Doubt I would know the difference?

If you are not Canadian, 12 mm is close to 1/2 "

Tire size difference | Good Sam Community

20 Replies

jimh406
Explorer III
Oct 23, 2016
5 lbs of unsprung weigh isn't that bad. You could always upgrade your shocks. Keep in mind that many of us switched to 19.5s on SRWs which are way heavier.

For the record, my current truck a F450 came with 19.5s.
Cabman_850
Explorer
Oct 23, 2016
Cabman 850 wrote:
Tire capacity increases from 3640 to 4080, just wondering if I would see an increase in stability with an additional 1 1/2" on the ground. Doubt I would know the difference?

Never weighed the rig but camper is supposedly 2010 lbs. dry. Truck has just over 4k pound payload according to the sticker.
Cabman_850
Explorer
Oct 23, 2016
jimh425 wrote:
Reversing myself. Since they have more capacity, I'd do it.

That's what I'm thinking since my last truck had the same tires and they had a rating of 3750 in size 385/75/16.

The 295 tires are also 5 lbs. apiece heavier and that is quite a bit of unsprung weight I would think? The speedometer should only be off by 2 mph I am guessing.
Cabman_850
Explorer
Oct 23, 2016
WNYBob wrote:
If you are not Canadian, 12 mm is close to 1/2 "

Not Canadian, but if my math is right and I am going from a 275 to a 295 that is supposedly a 20mm difference x 2 tires which is roughly
1.5" Not being a smart alec, just want to make sure I am not missing something?
jimh406
Explorer III
Oct 23, 2016
Reversing myself. Since they have more capacity, I'd do it.
WNYBob
Explorer
Oct 23, 2016
If you are not Canadian, 12 mm is close to 1/2 "
Cabman_850
Explorer
Oct 23, 2016
Tire capacity increases from 3640 to 4080, just wondering if I would see an increase in stability with an additional 1 1/2" on the ground. Doubt I would know the difference?
cooldavidt
Explorer
Oct 23, 2016
Every tire has a capacity stamped on the side.
You can goggle the exact tire to see what the load capacity is.
While a tire with a larger capacity will not increase your overall payload, it will give greater assurance that tire failure is less likely.
In my mind anyways.
Have u weighed your rig at a weigh scale?
Bedlam
Moderator
Oct 23, 2016
The new tire size will be 20mm wider and 28mm taller than your current tire. Overall truck height will only increase by 14mm.
jimh406
Explorer III
Oct 23, 2016
More important is does the capacity change. I wouldn't change the tire size, but there is probably minimal difference other than tire clearance.

Forum Discussion

Tire size difference

20 Replies

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

Original Tire Size On 1960 Mercury 15` Camp trailer

Tire size

Tire Size

Two different size quick connects on my trailer?

Different Sizes Tires