Options for Tire/Wheel Upgrade

[Grodyman]

Well, I am considering upgrading tires/wheels. I currently have 17's with LT245/75R17 rated at 3195 ea. I am sure that I am over with full water and want to be able to carry coolers/generator/chairs/firewood/bikes off the rear Titan extension, placing even more stress on the tires.

Option 1:
Keep the 17's and buy LT275/75R17 tires rated at 3950 lbs. ea. Not gaining any rim capacity, and these tires have a tall sidewall (Nitto Dura Grappler).

Option 2:
Upgrade to 18" wheels/tires and LT265/70R18 tires rated at 3640 lbs. ea. Most wheels are rated same. Net gain 890 lbs.

Option 3:
Vision 19.5's. specs not necessary, overkill.

I said I would never buy 19.5's again, I would just buy a dually, but here I am....don't want to buy a new truck just yet.

Opinions?

Gman

[Grodyman]

Bedlam wrote:

Grodyman wrote:
Plus I have the 6.2 and 3.73's, not exactly a barn burner...taller tires means reduction in effective gear ratio...even more of a dog:(

You have the 6R140 transmission? It just means you will spend more time in fifth instead of sixth gear when under load or climbing grade.

I will spend more time in 4th. My truck cannot hold 6th with any type of incline whatsoever, even empty. 5th on very short and shallow inclines before needing to drop to 4th, and 3rd on the 6% climbs.

I really need the 4.30's, but with tires/wheels, we are talking potentially $5k in upgrades.

[Vinsil]

I'd also recommend looking at 5 star tuning. The Ford gasser guys love it and it should help with the lost power some as well, amd more importantly...trans tuning.

[Bedlam]

Grodyman wrote:
Plus I have the 6.2 and 3.73's, not exactly a barn burner...taller tires means reduction in effective gear ratio...even more of a dog:(

You have the 6R140 transmission? It just means you will spend more time in fifth instead of sixth gear when under load or climbing grade.

[Buzzcut1]

19.5s I guesed, had a blow out almost rolled and that was with 285/75R16s at 3750 I was right at their limit with no margin carrying my 1055. Then I went with 19.5s in the 245/70 and had the limiting factor be my rims at 4500 each but I had 700 pounds of safety margin on each wheel and more on the tires

Now I have a dually with 17s and I am nowhere close to the tire, wheel or axel limits

[Vinsil]

It doesn't...back at you, Merry Christmas!

[Grodyman]

Vinsil wrote:
LOL.. I was afraid too.....and my fears were realized! You have an awesome camper (wish I had it), make it work man!!!

It never ends...Merry Xmas

[Vinsil]

LOL.. I was afraid too.....and my fears were realized! You have an awesome camper (wish I had it), make it work man!!!

[Grodyman]

Vinsil wrote:
If you haven't weighed in....you should. it was eye opening for me....seriously. I was almost 1500 lbs MORE than i guessed and what the sticker said. That should be the first thing you do...before spending money guessing.

Yes, this is true. I'm almost afraid to. This 830 is heavy, but I love it.

All these upgrades are what drove me to sell my 2011 830...I had no idea at the time I would miss it so much and buy an even heavier one:S

Plus I have the 6.2 and 3.73's, not exactly a barn burner...taller tires means reduction in effective gear ratio...even more of a dog:(

[Vinsil]

If you haven't weighed in....you should. it was eye opening for me....seriously. I was almost 1500 lbs MORE than i guessed and what the sticker said. That should be the first thing you do...before spending money guessing.

[Vinsil]

Yikes, 3195 lbs.

My aluminum wheels that I had were 3400 lbs.....and I couldn't find wheels that gave much more if any.

[Bedlam]

See page 23 of the 2011 specifications for your rim capacity:

https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/topics/2011/2011_SD_Pickup_specs.pdf

[Grodyman]

My current wheels are the XL steel 17" rims.

Gman

[Bedlam]

The Ford 17" rims are not rated for much more weight than your current tires. I also went with 19.5's. By going to 245/70R19.5 tires, you don't have to inflate them as hard compared to the 225's.

[Vinsil]

Just went through this myself. I think I even mentioned it in another of your posts as well. As you know, went 19.5's. Nothing else gave me the capacity and piece of mind. Would I have liked to avoid the 19.5's?Before I owned them...yes. After running them for the last few months....I LOVE THEM. Maybe it is the tall sidewalls that helps or the fact I can run them at 85psi which gives a decent ride as well as carries the weight without having a little 225 at 110 psi...I might hate them then.

I won't go back...and yes, my next truck will be a dually and most likely a 5500 series truck as I will only carry more weight and larger campers in the future.

That is my opinion..

[Kayteg1]

You are not saying what type of rims you have, but #1 looks like the option that will give you a lot without any investment (just new tires)
Steel rims can take overload, while mag factory rims will take a lot most of the time as well
Just make sure your rims are not the ones having troubles.
When I bought my camper with F250, the rims were overloaded by like 20%.
I made close to 4000 miles on them before buying dually.