F 250 Tire load rating.

[Dave_H_M]

I am looking for numbers on load rating of 17 vs 18 LR E tires on the F 250.

What would i grain, if any, by going from 17" to 18" tires?

[Dave_H_M]

got it choo choo, thnx

[ChooChooMan74]

Dave H M wrote:
good info choo choo. Do you know of a site that gives the load rating with the different sizes. If that is possible, that info plus the skinny provided on sizes and speed would be a great tool.

Locally, i have broached the subject to the Firestone shop and the owner gave me the deer in the headlight look. :S

Sorry for the delay.

I just go to tirerack and just look up different size tires and their load rating and diameters. I also like the tire size comparison tool on discounttiredirect website.

[Dave_H_M]

Thanks all for your input. I think i got s lot more to work with now.

If i gave n indication of modding my truck, i did not men to.

As alluded to if I had not missed it from the get go, my truck would have came off the delivery truck with 18's.

Simply a sock ford item.

I am leaving for the winter pilgrimage right behind this incoming weather mess, but will take the info you all provided me and be running 18's next winter god willing and the creek don't rise. :C

[JIMNLIN]

Agree a much larger diameter tire can reduce braking performance mostly on our older trucks with weak brake systems. Todays trucks have much better braking systems.

Ford shows a OEM LT245/75-17 which is around 30.5 " diameter.

And a optional LT275-/65-20" at around 34.2" diameter..... both for the F250 truck.

I wouldn't think Ford would put anyone's safety at risk with these two different tire diameters.

[NinerBikes]

Larger diameter tires also slightly reduce your braking efficiency also.

Leave your tires diameter and size stock, especially if you can't figure out all the effects it will have on the whole tow package and your safety, as well as others on the road.

[JIMNLIN]

Also consider Fords OEM wheel capacity if your using them. According to Ford body service specs their OEM wheels ...
17" = 3195 lbs capacity
18" = 3590 lbs capacity.

The tirerack.com is a good/fast source for finding tire capacities for a certain brand.

[Lorne_Lorraine]

Goodyear load ratings: Goodyear

[Dave_H_M]

BLF, i am aware of that quagmire, that is why I haven't jumped in yet.

[BFL13]

A few years ago on the tow or 5er forum here, a guy changed his tires to taller ones because he thought the smaller OEM tires looked silly. Then he could hardly pull his trailer anymore 🙂

It all came out that the 16" tires and 4.10 gave him the combined weight pulling he needed, but the taller tires lost him 2000 lbs of pulling same as if he had 3.6 instead of 4.10.

So much for looking "kewl" 🙂

[Dave_H_M]

good info choo choo. Do you know of a site that gives the load rating with the different sizes. If that is possible, that info plus the skinny provided on sizes and speed would be a great tool.

Locally, i have broached the subject to the Firestone shop and the owner gave me the deer in the headlight look. :S

[ChooChooMan74]

You have to go size by size to determine. I am going to go with 265/70R17 vs 265/70R18, and then 265/70R17 vs 265/65R18. All numbers are from BF Goodrich KO2 Tires.

Going from 17 to 18, you go from 3195lb (17") to 3525lb (18") but you also gain 1 inch in overall tire height, effectively reducing your gear ratio slightly.

Now, keeping it even sizes, comparing 265/70R17 and 265/65R18, you go from 3195lb (17") to 3305lb (18"), and you lose (not loose, that refers to lug nuts that are not tight) .1" of overall tire height.

[Second_Chance]

Load rating has to do more with the sidewall profile and width than it does wheel diameter. With smaller diameter wheels, you can get a higher profile tire in the wheel well - that's all. As a general rule, you will LOOSE load capacity as you increase the wheel diameter because you have to use a lower profile tire to keep the outside diameter the same. Also, different manufacturers may have a slightly different rating for the same size tire in the same load range. Here's a good place to look at different options and then see what tires are available in the size you choose:

Tire size calculator

Note that, as you change wheel sizes and tire profiles, the outside diameter of the tire will change, causing changes in final gear ratios and height of the vehicle - very important when towing.

Rob

[Fulltimer50]

I have seen that there can be different load ratings for the same letter rating.
I see no indication that the size of the wheel has any bearing on the load rating of the tire.