Ford E450 Tire Size
Has anyone here replaced the 16" wheels on their E450 chassis with 19.5" wheels ?
Forum Discussion
Don,
Below is a link to a 16 inch (I believe you stated you were staying with 16 inch rims?) chart of the superb Goodyear G947 all steel tire that at least shows maximum (all values @ 80psi) loading carrying capacity versus tire size for Load Range E. However you probably want a chart that shows load carrying capacity of 16 inch LR E tires at different pressures(?):
http://www.goodyear.com/cfmx/web/truck/line.cfm?prodline=160026
Regarding your desire to reduce pressures with a larger tire so you can maybe get a softer ride ... keep in mind that a larger Load Range E tire is probably getting it's additional load carrying capacity at a given pressure via stiffer sidewalls. Hence, your ride may remain just as stiff even with slightly lower running pressures because a given carrying capacity is going to require the same overall tire stiffness - from air pressure and sidewall strength in combination with each other.
gmctoyman,
As you are probably well aware, the "physics" of 19.5 inch rims - assuming a given, or close, overall tire diameter - means that the larger rims require tires of less-tall sidewalls and this means stiffer sidewalls because there is less sidewall rubber to flex up and down. Aren't 19.5 inch tires with a given pressure in them going to provide a stiffer ride because of the less forgiving sidewalls?
I realize that the big "pro" for less-tall sidewalls for a given overall tire diameter is that you get less squirm (that's why racing cars use them), but boy .... in my case my E450 is stiff enough riding as it is ... without going to lower profile tires on it.
However FWIW, I am running larger diameter Load Range E 16 inch tires on it to provide increased offroad clearance, which makes my ride slightly softer (because of taller sidewalls to flex) at the same 80 psi pressure in the duals that I was running with the stock tires.
Below is a link to a 16 inch (I believe you stated you were staying with 16 inch rims?) chart of the superb Goodyear G947 all steel tire that at least shows maximum (all values @ 80psi) loading carrying capacity versus tire size for Load Range E. However you probably want a chart that shows load carrying capacity of 16 inch LR E tires at different pressures(?):
http://www.goodyear.com/cfmx/web/truck/line.cfm?prodline=160026
Regarding your desire to reduce pressures with a larger tire so you can maybe get a softer ride ... keep in mind that a larger Load Range E tire is probably getting it's additional load carrying capacity at a given pressure via stiffer sidewalls. Hence, your ride may remain just as stiff even with slightly lower running pressures because a given carrying capacity is going to require the same overall tire stiffness - from air pressure and sidewall strength in combination with each other.
gmctoyman,
As you are probably well aware, the "physics" of 19.5 inch rims - assuming a given, or close, overall tire diameter - means that the larger rims require tires of less-tall sidewalls and this means stiffer sidewalls because there is less sidewall rubber to flex up and down. Aren't 19.5 inch tires with a given pressure in them going to provide a stiffer ride because of the less forgiving sidewalls?
I realize that the big "pro" for less-tall sidewalls for a given overall tire diameter is that you get less squirm (that's why racing cars use them), but boy .... in my case my E450 is stiff enough riding as it is ... without going to lower profile tires on it.
However FWIW, I am running larger diameter Load Range E 16 inch tires on it to provide increased offroad clearance, which makes my ride slightly softer (because of taller sidewalls to flex) at the same 80 psi pressure in the duals that I was running with the stock tires.
