For my new to me F450, I'm looking into different tires because it has steering tires on the front and it is a 4x4. According to the sticker/info I've found http://www.goodyearrvtires.com/pdfs/rv_inflation.pdf, it had 225R70/19.5 G rated tires from the factory and also has G rated tires now.Inside the driver's door, the tag says Front GAWR 6000, Rear GAWR 9500 with air pressure of 80 front and 75 rear. It has 6 in rims.Either G or F rated tires will exceed the rated GAWR with some margin. The F rated have max pressure of 95 and the G rated has a max pressure of 110. The G rated tires have 2 more plys, but I pressume will be somewhat stiffer. The outside dimensions of the G and F tires are the same. I expect the G rated tires will be slightly stiffer and so will handle the 4000 lbs or so better than a F.I plan to stay with 225s since the rims are so thin. I also bought a F-450 because it will usually have a camper on it. I don't plan to drive it a lot unloaded but that is possible.The question is, should I get G rated or F rated tires? Why?

Having driven on both G and F tires, on a F350, I did not notice a large difference in ride, so personally I'd opt for the G for best capacity, and matches factory. Also, I'd opt for either 245 or 265 as they will both work with your wheels, and will gain you a bit of clearance if using 4x4 for off road. I am running 265 70 19.5 on my SRW F350 with only a Leveling kit on Vision rims. That's my opinion....Good luck with the new truck!Garry in Kodiak

Stick with G rated tires, we drive an F450 for a reason. Our rims are only 6 inches wide and a 245section width is not recommended, and with wider tires you need to fool around with spacers. Never play around with tires or brakes, if they malfunction it is far more than an inconvenience. The pizza cutter look is not my favorite either, but when I am loaded up with camper and trailer passing other rv's on the hills of the rockies I think I look just fine.

garryk6 wrote:Having driven on both G and F tires, on a F350, I did not notice a large difference in ride, so personally I'd opt for the G for best capacity, and matches factory. Also, I'd opt for either 245 or 265 as they will both work with your wheels, and will gain you a bit of clearance if using 4x4 for off road. I am running 265 70 19.5 on my SRW F350 with only a Leveling kit on Vision rims. That's my opinion....Good luck with the new truck!Garry in KodiakVision wheels are 19.5 x 7.5 and factory F450 alcoa wheels are only 19.5 x 6.245 tires have a minimum rim size of 19.5 x 6.75 and 265 section width requires a minimum rim size of 19.5 x 7.5. So with the narrow rim width on the O.E. of the F450 we are stuck with 225 sizing.

If you look at a load/PSI table you'll find that the load capacity for either tire rating is the same at the same pressure, so it really doesn't matter which you choose. The G rated tire gains it's higher load rating only when inflated to it's higher pressure. I would pick a tire with a traction tread I thought would be good and run them at pressures that were suitable for actual axle loads, that will give the best life and ride. Lower pressures will also be useful if you do get into a high traction off-road situation.Brian

You don't want to mess with going to a wider width as this puts the rear tires to close together. I would go with the G rated as the only for the higher capacity. You might never use it but it is nice to have it.

Too much load capability with G rated tires? | Good Sam Community

jimh406
Explorer III
Feb 20, 2014
I took it out for a ride last night after they were mounted since they have Equal and because it's still new to me. I don't feel much difference between steer and nonsteer tires. My DW thought it rode better. I'm not sure about that, but it was ok up to 75 or so on the interstate near here. It will be a few days and as much as a week or two before I can load the camper. It was definitely better in the rain with standing water on the roadway.

I drove my F350 SRW with 245 DH01s all around since 2006, so I don't think it will be a problem. I do think I'll have to spend some time to work out the tire pressure that's best for front. Current pressure in front is 80 with 75 in rear that seems a little high, but of course, way high hauling nothing. :)
rickeoni
Explorer
Feb 20, 2014
jimh425 wrote:
Yes, I bought six.

i am looking to replace my front tires. the steer tires are some cheap Linglong tires, looking for your impressions of having traction tires on the steer axle.

Thanks

Rick
jimh406
Explorer III
Feb 20, 2014
Yes, I bought six.
rickeoni
Explorer
Feb 20, 2014
Good choice, I looked at those as well as the yokohamas, but they are real pain to get up here in Canada.

Did you go for all 4 corners?
jefe_4x4
Explorer
Feb 20, 2014
Jim, good show, old man. Someone above talked about lowering the pressure on 19.5's. There is no lowering the pressure on 19.5's, at least not to improve traction on sand, snow, or mud. My instinct would tell me that the F''s would ride slightly softer than the G's. But, I am no expert on 19.5's. Several posters above are.
Also, Butch50 mentioned about not going wider of wheel. If you are NEVER going to lower the pressure, the chance of the sidewall rubbing or getting a big stone stuck in there because of wider wheels is low. If you are doing a lot of off-roading, wider wheels would help there even without lowering the pressure, IMHO.
regards, as always, jefe
jimh406
Explorer III
Feb 20, 2014
Thanks for all of the input. I'm having Hankook DH01s put on now. Ultimately, I wanted the more aggressive tread of the DH01s. Yes, they are Fs instead of Gs, but I expect even on the front I'll never have more than the truck decal recommended 80 lbs and less in the rear. That gives a 15 lb cushion which is less than the 30 lb cushion of the Gs, but I think still plenty.
Butch50
Explorer
Feb 19, 2014
You don't want to mess with going to a wider width as this puts the rear tires to close together. I would go with the G rated as the only for the higher capacity. You might never use it but it is nice to have it.
VintageRacer
Explorer
Feb 19, 2014
If you look at a load/PSI table you'll find that the load capacity for either tire rating is the same at the same pressure, so it really doesn't matter which you choose. The G rated tire gains it's higher load rating only when inflated to it's higher pressure. I would pick a tire with a traction tread I thought would be good and run them at pressures that were suitable for actual axle loads, that will give the best life and ride. Lower pressures will also be useful if you do get into a high traction off-road situation.

Brian
rickeoni
Explorer
Feb 19, 2014
garryk6 wrote:
Having driven on both G and F tires, on a F350, I did not notice a large difference in ride, so personally I'd opt for the G for best capacity, and matches factory. Also, I'd opt for either 245 or 265 as they will both work with your wheels, and will gain you a bit of clearance if using 4x4 for off road. I am running 265 70 19.5 on my SRW F350 with only a Leveling kit on Vision rims. That's my opinion....
Good luck with the new truck!
Garry in Kodiak

Vision wheels are 19.5 x 7.5 and factory F450 alcoa wheels are only 19.5 x 6.
245 tires have a minimum rim size of 19.5 x 6.75 and 265 section width requires a minimum rim size of 19.5 x 7.5. So with the narrow rim width on the O.E. of the F450 we are stuck with 225 sizing.
rickeoni
Explorer
Feb 19, 2014
Stick with G rated tires, we drive an F450 for a reason. Our rims are only 6 inches wide and a 245section width is not recommended, and with wider tires you need to fool around with spacers.

Never play around with tires or brakes, if they malfunction it is far more than an inconvenience.

The pizza cutter look is not my favorite either, but when I am loaded up with camper and trailer passing other rv's on the hills of the rockies I think I look just fine.