F250 tire brand/model recs

Frank, I think you'll find you can't get new 17" tires in any higher than a 121 load index, save for maybe 37s or bigger. Been this way for a few years now. It's like the tire industry discontinued an entire class of tires for one of the most popular rim sizes.

Frank- if you are looking for a higher capacity weight carrying 17" tire, consider the Nitto brand. It might require stepping up to a 285/17 with a Load index of 126 for E rating pressure (make sure your rim will accept this width.) Also make sure your rims can handle that weight rating.

I did this for my Dodge to fit my application. There are not many option for the 17" rim size, but with diligent research, a good tire-to-rim-rating-to LI is possible depending on how heavy a load you are carrying.

I researched the sheet out of the options for my truck/camper combo and was able to run the numbers to make it work for me.

-frank.

Frank, stop for a second.
First, I agreed with you regarding skinny tires having better traction in snow, apples to apples of course.
Second, you have the same popular misconception regarding vehicle load carrying capacity as many. De-rated door sticker ratings yes. Actual real world load carrying capacity? NO

Think about it this way. How much weight does a 4wd front axle (or heavier engine) put on the rear wheels? How much weight does a TC put on the front wheels?
Now compare the rest of the components of a 3/4T and a 1T and report back to the class please.

Btw, no fiber needed. This response is being typed while executing my very regular morning constitutional....

Uh ohh, somebody needs a hug!! Oh contraire, couch prophet! Width means a lot on dry or wet pavement, but on snow, oh no, I can't get up the hill! Yeah, the 350 is for the 4wd, since the weight of the drivetrain reduces the load capacity for tc's. I was asking about peoples experience with brands, and not asking for a snarky lecture when the bran obviously did not work today! Oh, and by the way, I use Uncle Ben's rice! Ha

I've been happy with my Les Schwab TOYOs and my brother is happy with his Costco Michelins. We both got the load range E with the just over 3400 pound rating.

Yo mic drop....
Wheel size has zilch to do with traction. Width of the TIRES have alot to do with traction, so by way of relationship of wheel width to tire width, if tires fit properly then a narrower rim will have a narrower tire, in general, thus getting theoretically better traction, given all apples to apples.

You're getting a 350 "for the 4wd" (option?)?
And I never said you were dangerously overloading your tires, only that you could get a set of much heavier rated tires for cheap if you bought the wheels with them. Espeically since you're weighing everything including the Minute Rice and 1/2 tank of water, lol.

And FYI, you couldn't even buy a stock truck with 17s until the early 2000s and somehow, a few years ago the mfgs quit making 17" truck tires with a greater rating than 3195lbs.

I'm not typing this to inform you of it, as you already seem to know all you need to know. This is for the next guy wondering why he can't get heavy duty tires for 17" rims.

Where to begin.........Wheel size in snow does make a difference when you have 2wd. Probably with a 4wd too. You get more penetration to the pavement with a smaller footprint. I found that out with my original 99' F250. Put a wider tire on, thinking that might help in the snow, and had worse traction for the drive wheels than with the original tires. I put 4-5 tube sand bags in my bed in the winter.

The OP, me, is certainly open to hearing what everybody posts. I just don't have to agree with the nay sayers say about 17" wheels. I have driven about 400,000 miles with 17" tires in the last 20 years, and if you drive conservatively, which I do, you will not have a blowout unless you have a crappy tire. Would it be better to have a 12-14 ply for potholes, yup, can't argue there. When I have my next truck in 2 years, I will be getting a 350, for the 4wd, and it will probably have 18" on it. I won't refuse them!

I have an aggressive tread with my winters, with the rears studded. But the aggressive tread is pretty much what the tires were when I bought all 3 of my F250's.

At 80 lbs., my 17" rear tires have never felt mushy or with noticeable sway, and visibly have never seemed overloaded. I check tire temperature about once a day when I have the camper on, and it has seemed fine.

Thanks for all the input about tire sizing and especially about comparing brands. I am NOT dangerously overloading my tires, I am at or just under the load limit when I bring EVERYTHING, clubs, bikes, 1/2 water tank, and as long as I check pressure, replace when the tread wears or sides crack, don't drive like I am on a track, I will stick with the 17", which have all worked well for me.

The mike is dropped!

^ Correct. OP doesn't want to hear that though.
About the smallest tires you can put on 18s or 20s and have that 3500lb ish load rating are 33" - 34" tall. 18s are a tad shorter and narrower in the standard 275-70-18 than the standard 285-60-20 or 275-65-20. I'm pretty sure they came from the factory with at least 18s in the upper trim levels 2wd.

I am also a fan of the Michelin M/S as my 16" wheels on my 03 F-250, I do jump a couple sizes for a wider foot print. My Ford dealer price matches, and I love the price of road hazard with the phone number I call is the same as Ford's road side assistance. And a Mileage warranty.

I don't think 20s are bigger diameter than 18s unless you want them to be. I also don’t think either size with studs will be much different than 17s. If you are trying to save money and keep the 17s, they could still be overloaded.

For brands, I worry more about capacity needed and tread pattern than brand. I’ve had good luck with every brand.