WDH and New Tires

[Bonezie]

Good Morning professional campers and glampers.

I have searched the forums to no avail, and have a question that I need some validation and help on.

No comments about the size of truck vs the trailer please, as its what I can afford and I never feel unsafe to have my family in the vahicle...

I have a 2010 Silverado 1500 z71 CC w/ 5.3L 3.42 Diff, and tow a 2015 Jayco 267BHSW. It tows/towed great. I had factory squishy tires on there, and after reading these forums for years and years, I decided to heed you all's advice and got E-Rated tires. I went from 265-65-R18s (old P rated tires) to 265-70-R18s (new E rated tires). Ive towed on the new ones a couple of times, but they were shorter 70 mile round trips, and it felt fine.

My question is regarding the WDH Setup. I noticed a bit more sway and porpoising this last trip that wasn't noticed the last couple of times, as it was a bit longer at about 90 miles one way, but isn't the first longer trip with this trailer just the first longer trip with these tires. With these new tires having firmer sidewalls and about a half an inch taller, would this affect my WDH setup that much?

I don't really have a good flat place to drop the trailer and do the measurements as well as pull the hitch apart to reset it. I can drag it somewhere to take the measurements, but I'd have to take it back to my house to take the hitch apart. It's quite an ordeal to do this, so I wanted to get y'alls opinion before starting down this road.

Thanks again, I appreciate it in advance.

[Bonezie]

First, to answer the questions about the Tires. I went from MICHELIN LTX M/S2's to MICHELIN DEFENDER LTX M/S, because I liked my originals ALOT. Running around town I keep them at about 45 to 50 psi all around, depending on the heat of the day. Towing I set the front to 64 and the rears to about 74 psi.

For you guys with E rated tires, what do you run non-towing and towing? I dont want to under-inflate them while running around, nor do I want to needlessly over inflate them while towing.

Our trailer loaded for an extended weekend is right abound 6800lbs, and I don't carry water in the tanks. I have no idea what it is coming home, but i do know it feels lighter because we are running with no food, though it couldn't be that much lighter.

I appreciate the feedback and advice, and will take it out this weekend to get the measurements again, and start over. It's also interesting about the mileage to break in the tires, but I've had them for almost five thousand miles (~500 miles towing).

[demiles]

Yes start at the beginning and do the whole process again. I had to do the same thing when I replaced my tires even with the same exact size. The new ones were just a bit taller and it changed the setup required for the WD.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

There "might" be nothing wrong.

"Some" new tires depending on how they are made will squirm when new. I bought some new Bridgstones and they were bad when brand new. Like really bad! After about a 1000 miles they towed super nice for about 60,000 miles. It felt like the trailer had a lot of sway in it. It was just the tires braking in.

I just bought some Michelins and they had no squirm at all when new.

I would just put a few miles on them and see how they do.

[mooky_stinks]

What pressure are the new tires set at? I don't see that mentioned.

[RedRocket204]

Any difference in TT loading as that is something that could also throw things off? Tanks full or not, less items in the trailer, less forward loading or more rear trailer loading?

Balanced loading is also key to a nice TT tow. However, slight adjustments in TT loading might expose your current WDH setup as not being tuned properly and that could have been the situation from before the tire replacement, different loading and slightly taller tires could have contributed to exposed it.

[ScottG]

Bonezie wrote:
I appreciate the response. The new tires are only a half of an inch taller, but with that I would assume that the rear of the truck would sit higher when hitched because the new tires are firmer than the old ones. I'll definitely have to take it out this weekend, as you do bring up a great point that being a little nose high could/will cause sway. I just didn't think it would have affected it that much.

Also, with the rear potentially being that much higher, when I validate it and lower the head to level the trailer, would you think that I would also need to adjust the tension on the bars or the washers on the head again?

You might but it might be fine without any adjustment since it was fine before and you'd be putting it back where it was - sort of.
I would just give it a try and see if it feels a lot tighter.

[Bonezie]

I appreciate the response. The new tires are only a half of an inch taller, but with that I would assume that the rear of the truck would sit higher when hitched because the new tires are firmer than the old ones. I'll definitely have to take it out this weekend, as you do bring up a great point that being a little nose high could/will cause sway. I just didn't think it would have affected it that much.

Also, with the rear potentially being that much higher, when I validate it and lower the head to level the trailer, would you think that I would also need to adjust the tension on the bars or the washers on the head again?

[ScottG]

It could effect it because of the taller tires. When hitched up, is the front of the trailer higher than the back now?
It doesn't take very much of that to cause sway. You may want to adjust the hitch down one hole.
I learned all about this the hard way!