The time has come to upgrade to Rickson Wheels.

My situation. Mostly I just drive around the city w/ 1-2 trips up North w/ a 3,000 lb trailer hauling quads. 4-5 time per year I load up the 40' 5th wheel and head out for an extended trip. Grossing out around 22,000 lbs. I am simply tired of worrying about overloading the stock tires and rims. I need a dually for those few times per year but this truck is also my daily driver. Daily driving around metro Detroit, Michigan would not be a fun deal. Bad enough as it is!!!

I would like to know what can I expect when going from the OEM stock size of LT265/70R17/E to the new Rickson w/ Michelin XDE2+ 285/70R/19.5?

Power loss, noticeable but not drastic?

Fuel mileage, increase-decrease or about the same.

This truck is basically stock. Air bags in back. No power chips. Automatic trans. 2500 - 4x4 - 5.9 - CTD - 63,000 miles on it.

Thanks for all your help.

Let the brainwashing begin!!!

 

You need to look at the nitto duro tires. I just posted a little info on them. I'm in a similar situation and the nitto tires have a lot more load capacity than any other E tire I've found. I'm planning on buying a set this summer. Might go to 4.10 gears at the same time if I have a spare $900 (for the gears). The 285/75/17 nitto has a load capacity of almost 4k/tire. That's a 2k increase for the pair... Just something to consider.

The 4.10's and the 285/75 tires would make a huge difference for towing I think. Then I'm going to look for an old beater 4cyl honda to drive back and forth to work!

 

I agree with arlon if this is your daily driver you may not want to really mess up te ride itself with the 19.5's, from what i understand unloaded that they ride horribly. upgrade to a load E tire and keep your pressure up when towing

 

I already have an E rated tire. Capacity is 3195 lbs.
When loaded w/ the 5th wheel I have WA-a-ay too much weight on the drive axle...nearly 8500 lbs. I need a dually, but don't want a dually. 19.5" seems like the way to go. At least for now.

 

IMO the difference will be huge. Not only going to a 35" tall tire,but the weight as well. The Michelins are 95lbs a piece and the wheels are about 50.

Thats almost 2x what the OEM tire/wheel combo is.

I have Toyo 295s on my stock wheels. The Toyos are about 25lbs per tire more than the stock Michelin 265s. The second I drove off the tire stores lot I could feel a difference in power. My truck is more sluggish now.

You'll lose some braking as well. Its gonna be harder to stop all the rotating mass.

I lost about 3mpg with the 295s.

 

How did you calculate that? Did you have your speedometer/odometer corrected?

 

Hand calculated factoring in the 5.1% difference in tire height.

 

Get a dually or a smaller trailer and then tow safe i live in michigan and drive a dually no problem. I have towed my 5er with my single wheel but the dually does the job much better and safer.

 

8500 lbs on a 6000 lb capacity rear axle/tires, I'd be worried too. The nittos would get you up to 8000 lbs.. close but not quite. You are so overweight it's scarry! You really need a dually, a BIG dually or a smaller trailer (-:}

I be looking for a good used dually and a little beater car to drive around..

 

Jaxom-
As soon as I read "Up North" I knew you were a Michigander, I grew up in SE MI.

I recently purchased Vision 19.5" wheels and Michelin XDE2's because I carry a very heavy camper and tow 3 horses along behind. I've found the change from stock tires to be very worthwhile. Much less sway from the camper and a far more stable ride with peace of mind the tires will carry the weight effortlessly. I don't notice much of a power loss and I do a lot of mountain driving here in Washington state. Braking hasn't changed, it's still excellent with the exhaust brake on my 6.7 Dodge. I haven't hand calculated the mileage yet. The ride is a bit stiffer without a load, but it is also more responsive without the sidewall flex on the original tires. That's an O.K. trade for me.

This truck is used as a daily driver and I'm very happy with the change.

 

Roger;
Thanks for your response. That is the info I was looking for!!!

I realize that a dually would suit my purpose better, but I am not willing to put up w/ the daily hassles of a dually for the 4-5 times a year that I truly NEED the extra weight capacity.

We all know that the axles and brakes are the same for a 2500 SRW and a 3500 DRW. With the exception of the spring overloads and I've taken care of that issue w/ the air bags.

 

my expeirence wasn't with a dually but,on my 02 i had i put 35's on it and could really tell a difference in power going up steep grades towing my boat.it came stock with 265's and correct me if i'm wrong ,it's been a few year's 3.53 rear end ratio? there are some calculators on the web that can figure your rear ratio from tire height.a couple inches can translate into quite a difference.the cost of cool i guess.

 

Cool? Never been! Ain't gonna start now!
Weight capacity is what I need!

 

While I did not add a higher load rated tire, I did add 35's to my SRW 2006. I tow a lot, some VERY heavy loads, in the 20-24K ranges, up/down a mountaneous region, plenty of steep grades and twisty roads - truthfully, IF there is much of any power changes due to the taller tires, I have yet to really see a difference in power. Heavy loads are just that, heavy. You do have a different set of driving skills that come into place once you hit a certain weight that is at the top of the trucks range.

I also could have needed a dually for some of the work I use the truck for, but I too did not want to be driving a dually all the rest of the time when it was not needed. My 'other' cars are a Jeep Wrangler and a Miata, could have used them when a dually would have been otherwise not applicable, but I LIKE driving my truck, so the SRW was the better choice for me too.



CD

 

Excellent info! Thanks for that, just what I needed!!!