Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) 19.5" Wheels and Tires - are they worth it

[Jeremiah]

19.5" changes leverage

Just for grins, guys, a feller with taller tires drove into a curb too hard in Colorado Springs the other day and it bent the whole tire and wheel inward. The dealer said it wouldn't have happened if he'd been running stock wheels and tires. Just passin' along info.

 

[Midnite]

That dealer doesn't really know what he's talking about. The difference in radius between a 19. 5" setup and a stock wheel/tire combo is insignificant in the face of an 8,000 lb. truck sliding sideways into a curb or other immovable object.



Mike

 

[hammersley]

Corey I hope you're right BUT

I'm not sure the mileage is there... ... . Look I'm just like you and I want my tires to last a long time - and I thought that I'd hear wonderfull stories about the `100-150,000 miles etc - BUT they are very few and far between - making me worried..... A lot of the folks are getting just 2X as much - and unless you need the additional carrying capacity - the numbers become more iffy..... Truct me I want to go this route - I just wish I had a better feeling about it... .....

 

[Peter Campbell]

My 19.5 take-long

I am a little hard on the 19. 5 tires- I did have to buy a regroving tool. Tires are now around 5 years old with about 75,000 miles on them- still good. Other than my poor choice of original tread pattern it has been wonderfull ( not the best in rain or snow). I have not had to change out the tires at all- I rotate them if/when I think about it. For me they were worth it.

On the counter point- these are road tires. If you actually use your 4x4 for off road for fun not a good choice. My 4x4 is for bad weather and the last 2,000 feet of the trip if muddy, or pulling the trailer when muddy. There is no bead retention lip- the high pressure is meant to retain the tires. So NO AIRING DOWN- Bummer. You can get away with airing down 315's and driving slow on the beach with regular style offroad tires. 19. 5 will just dig holes. They are heavier- you trade acceleration perfomance and braking performance for tire longevity. It is a trade cant have both. But you can have handling performance and the longevity- the 19. 5 cannot be beat for sidewall stiffness and handling.

IMHO I think they are good. I think they are good economically justifiable swaps for hotshotters who can wear these out in 18 months or more and save 5 trips/days to a tire dealers. They are a nice "customizing " touch making the truck yours. They are not "justifiable" to the majority of dodge owners. But if at least 100,000 miles without a visit to a tire dealer is appealing then you shold think about it. Just recently bought a set of old 19. 5's from someone in minnesota with worn out but regroovable tires on them- these are going on my dump trailer. When the '04 tires wear out I will be thinking about 19. 5's. If the choice of tires is the same as now for high load lange 17's My choice is made- there are presently more choices in 19. 5's than truck 17's.

Not affiliated just a customer