19.5" ECONOMY - Help

[hammersley]

OK - folks - I'm looking at buying 19. 5" Tires and wheels. I can get the Aluminum VISION wheels from Les Schwab for under $250. The tires are about $250 also. Now - I don't carry heavy weights - and I don't tow a real heavy trailer - under 6000 lbs - and only several times a year - but I want to see if I can get 100,000 out of these 225/70 19. 5 tires OR should I consider the larger 245's? If I pick the larger ones, they gain about 2 inches in diameter - from 31+ to 33+. MAN are these tires heavy AND the sidewalls make the 10 ply tires that I use now seem like toys - or like the old 2 play passenger tires in comparisson. BUT will they get superior mileage? If not - then I'll just stay with what I got. Currently I can get 50,000+ from a set of tires.

 

[Jeff Clark]

I got around 70,000 miles out of mine when I had them, but I usually got 30-35 out or regular tires. The cost for the 19. 5's was twice the regular and I got twice the mileage. Worked out the same. If you can get 50 out of regular tires, you should get at least a 100 out of the 19. 5's. I don't see in your sig if you are 2wd or 4wd. If 2 get the 225's, if 4, get the 245 (they fill the wheel wells better). I'm about to put another set on my new truck. I wish I had kept the ones I had.

 

[BigMike]

Hammersley, How much will your larger tires affect your rear axle ratio? I know when I went from 245's to 265's, it lowered it. I don't notice when I drive, but I have a manual trans. You have an auto. Do you think you'll be ok towing?

 

[americana]

I got about 25kmi out of a couple sets of 16's. Then I bought a used set of Ricksons with bald 8R Michelin XZA's which I then proceeded to put about 35kmi on them! I just got (about 6kmi ago) a set of Goodyear G-124's in 265 and they look and ride great. They have what I would consider a mildly agressive AT tread pattern. I fully expect at least 75kmi if not more. I run empty more than half the time and tow light (LIGHT) loads maybe 2-3 times per year.



Yes they are heavy, but if you get them from the right shop you get free tire rotation for life, like I got. It might be a hassle every 10kmi, but you save money and don't have to buy the tool from Rickson (which I would buy if I had to rotate myself).

 

[hammersley]

Mike - I already have 265's and with my mods, I have plenty of power - and if I stay with the 225x70/19. 5's they are the same overall diameter - only one heck of a lot stiffer tire. The 10 ply tires - any of them in our size - you can easily flex the sidewalls in the tire shop with your hand - however with the 19. 5's - they won't budge - a whole world of difference.....

 

[krs]

"you can easily flex the sidewalls in the tire shop with your hand - however with the 19. 5's - they won't budge - a whole world of difference..... "... ..... in the ride. Stiff sidewalls make a stiff ride.

 

[Jeff Clark]

Originally posted by KRS

"you can easily flex the sidewalls in the tire shop with your hand - however with the 19. 5's - they won't budge - a whole world of difference..... "... ..... in the ride. Stiff sidewalls make a stiff ride.

Yeah, but it's not that bad. I ran them for 3 years and when I switched back a few days before I sold the truck, I didn't really notice. You get used to it pretty quick.