19.5 Tire Discussion

[brillmtb1]

After some research I came up with a couple of questions. I see that some dodge dually owners are putting "drive" commercial tires on the front of their trucks while others split between drive and steer. One reason I see this happening I think is that they dont make many all position off/on or snow rated all position tires. So it looks like they either put the non steer rated tire up front that is rated as such or put them just in the back.

Example some had toyo m605 all the way around but I believe it is only a drive and not snow rated. Some had hankook DH07 all the way around, I think this is snow rated but I am going blind researching tires, but this is a drive only tire.

So first question is it strictly prohibited to put a drive only tire up front? If so on my SRW I would probably limit myself to the few rated for all positions that are on/off road such as the toyo m655 or 920 for example.

Thoughts, suggestions, answers ?....heaven forbid more questions

 

[brillmtb1]

Some of the better tire choices for me seem to be the following. Would like others options. So going with 245/70-19.5 is probably best on my 2017 short bed for an overall tire height of about 33 inches. I have 34.5 or so on there now so wont be too much difference. 265 seemed like overkill just to fill in the wheel wells.

Tires I am considering. Toyo M655, M920 the former is G vs H. Hankook AH35 as they can be placed steer or drive I believe, Michelin xds2 but they say only drive so what to do with the front as I would hate to mix and match. Cooper work series ASD but again drive only supposedly.

 

[lpennock]

My Michelin guide has the 19.5" XDS2 listed as "Drive and limited all-position." The bigger rims were only listed as drive.

 

[AH64ID]

Have you looked at the M608z from Toyo. It’s fairly aggressive, good on/off road traction, but still has good road manners.

 

[NIsaacs]

I see on your other thread that you have picked up your new camper. Artic Fox 811, 2873 lbs dry, no options w/9' floor. With a short bed truck 6.5', that's a lot of overhang. What are your driving impressions so far? If it handles good, your current tires are probably fine. If it handles bad, 19.5's probably won't fix it. A wide, heavy, overhead, and long camper is a load like no other. 4k gooseneck pin weight with your truck is a walk in the park. 4k+ overhead camper is not.

I would take it on a few outings (@ operating weight) and see how it plays out before I started with mods. It and you might be plumb fine with it. I would weigh it to see what the axles are at, the front might be light.

 

[lpennock]

I would take it on a few outings (@ operating weight) and see how it plays out before I started with mods. It and you might be plumb fine with it. I would weigh it to see what the axles are at, the front might be light.

Front it probably not lite. Truck campers are designed to put COG at or just slightly ahead of the rear axle. I have 100lb difference in weight between with and without the 10.2 foot camper which is about the same overhang on a long bed as the AF is on a short bead. My slight change is because I had to shift the camper back 2" so the jack would clear the back doors in the travel position with the dually brackets on them. That shift put the COG about 0.5-1" behind the axle rather than in front.

 

[brillmtb1]

So yes heavy well built camper. My forth AF. My alternative was a non slide at 500lbs lighter so passed. I am installing torklift stable loads tomorrow then backing down airbags. Awful feeling at 75lbs. Put in helwig sway bar in rear. Will then go to 19.5 for added security for flats and load carrying
They will go on in the summer off in winter not a big deal for me. I have heard many say how much better it handled but i do acknowledge both types of bias. Those that paid extra for tires and rims and those that didnt but i dont have a friend with 19.5 to see if i feel the difference but i do believe safety based on load capacity real

 

[brillmtb1]

I might add that i dont thing sway would be much different with same camper on long bed srw or drw as that would be at the load capacity. The springs. I have seen some poats of CAT scales weights and it seems no matter the truck model the camper adds maybe two hundred pounds up front. I am going to weigh mine and see. I did a baseline before camper already

 

[brillmtb1]

What is very unfortunate is that the tire and rims are the limits to weight ratings so i can put on comercial rims tires aftermarket air bag sway bar torklift stablizers and still could get a ticket for overloaded when i really am not

 

[AH64ID]

What is very unfortunate is that the tire and rims are the limits to weight ratings so i can put on comercial rims tires aftermarket air bag sway bar torklift stablizers and still could get a ticket for overloaded when i really am not

Depends on where you live, as long as it’s for private use.

Here in Idaho tires are the only legal requirement. GVWR is only in the statute glossary, even GAWR only applies to TAG axles. You can get a ticket for other things, but those likely won’t apply to your situation.

 

[brillmtb1]

Love ID and want to get back up there to fly fish. Stanley etc. thats why i want good tires. Im in reno so its a long drive

 

[Cummins12V98]

What is very unfortunate is that the tire and rims are the limits to weight ratings so i can put on comercial rims tires aftermarket air bag sway bar torklift stablizers and still could get a ticket for overloaded when i really am not

If you are licensed for XYZ and your tires are rated to do so and you are at or under that licensed weigh no problemo.

 

[R&RBilyeu]

So yes heavy well built camper. My forth AF. My alternative was a non slide at 500lbs lighter so passed. I am installing torklift stable loads tomorrow then backing down airbags. Awful feeling at 75lbs. Put in helwig sway bar in rear. Will then go to 19.5 for added security for flats and load carrying
They will go on in the summer off in winter not a big deal for me. I have heard many say how much better it handled but i do acknowledge both types of bias. Those that paid extra for tires and rims and those that didnt but i dont have a friend with 19.5 to see if i feel the difference but i do believe safety based on load capacity real

I'm running Toyo M655's on vision 81 wheels hauling our camper. The largest capacity LT tire would have been at the limit or a touch beyond. I did not want to depend on a tires built-in safety factor. It's been a good combo but not without a few negatives.
Your empty ride is going to suffer some. I don't find it bad at all but ymmv. While 80 lbs is a max pressure for LT's, it's the minimum for the 19.5's. Don't plan on airing down as usual. Use a load inflation table for your weight, and the weight will probably be more than you think.
Expect a little tread squirm as the tires break in. A little like traversing a grated bridge deck. The 19.5's also tend to track road irregularities. Not like it's going to rip the wheel out of your hand but it's there. You get used to it. Just my experience and .02. Enjoy the new oufit!

 

[brillmtb1]

My plan is to have a set that goes on in the summer if I anticipate camping then the rest of the year my regular tires. Its interesting people mention the squirm. I would have thought better tracking under load. Torklift lower stable loads installed, hellwig sway, already have air bags but now can be backed down to say 40-50lbs so I dont get the uncomfortable ride airbags give you at 75psi. Time to take her out and test her. BTW the hellwig with torklift 30k hitch instructions not what they should be. I am speaking with both companies, did video and pics on my install. Sway bar was 22.5 inches wide and needs to be 34.5 IMHO. They sent me a 34inch but spare is tight but works. Anyone thinking of doing the same contact me to say you a lot of time. Mounting location is not as optimal as what I did, sent photos to torklift and they approved. My spare now fits proper in my 2017 3500 sb

 

[AH64ID]

I would ditch those lower stable loads ASAP, they are hard on springs and not needed for your application.

If you can’t level/support the load with the stock springs and airbags then you’re overloaded, and then some.

On my 05 with 19.5’s airbags provided all the load leveling assistance I needed for any weight up to what the tires were rated for, and more. Rough right with airbags means to much air for the weight, nothing more. If you let the rear suspension sag about 1.5” from empty and use the airbags to hold it at that ride height you will get the best ride, handling, and sway control form the suspension. As long as the airbags are plumbed independently you will get sway control from them too.

Tread squirm is only on new tires and it happens on lots of new tires. It goes away within a few hundred miles.

 

[brillmtb1]

So I did mention the few posts I have seen about the torklift stable loads and supposed spring issues. The rep felt to me very honest in his reply that there have been reported breaks but not many and not proved due to the stable loads. The uppers on dully trucks get great ratings. The other route is to add a progressive helper spring. The axle on both the dully and srw are supposed to be rated the same but it seems the former has an added spring so I dont think you are necessarily overloaded on the axle but the springs and tires may need upgrade. My current CAT wt puts me fine with tires in one sense but too close for how I like to have my set up. I would rather be a 1000lbs more capable with rims and tires then close to max.

If I break a spring, then I will post but I have not had a chance to try it out yet. Also, by the time I put in air to level it doesnt feel good and I am not going to adjust my lights down so I want to be reasonable. torklift + 40lbs air is what I am hearing is the sweat spot but I will soon find out.

 

[AH64ID]

You simply don’t need the lower overloads, or any other helper spring, with airbags. The airbags provide more spring rate and load carry capacity than the upper overloads do. The stock springs, same as the main pack on a standard DRW, and airbags will provide more carrying capacity than the truck can handle.

The only reason that Torklift warranty’s
the springs, a product they don’t make, is because their product can damage them. Do you really want to be on a camping trip and break a spring?

It really isn’t that complicated. Airbags, sway bar, and 19.5’s. Call it good.

 

[brillmtb1]

So I will try the lower inflation sag approach with the airbags but at 75psi very uncomfortable feeling as it unloads the springs too much. With the overload engaged earlier and the rest of the spring pack I wonder why it would break but an airbag would not

 

[AH64ID]

Because the lower overloads put a pressure point on the springs that no other spring enhancement does. It basically makes the spring compress in a W shape, not a U shape. All the weight gets pinpointed.

With airbags the load isn’t stressful for the springs, but you have to keep weight on the main leaf pack.

Do you have a leveling kit?

 

[brillmtb1]

OK here we go. Installing hellwig overload springs tomorrow and testing them out. We will see if they work better than torklift stableloads. Call me crazy but I just dont want a long bed dully when I camp mostly in the summer months and need my truck to get me to work in the winter months. I also am about to order the heavy haulaer 19.5 rims and toyo M655 tires not so much to control sway although many have reported much better driving on commercial tires with this weight but to also have my weakest point covered for weight capacity and hopefully flat tolerance.