Convert to 19.5 Tires, if I win the lottery...

[DaveK98]

Convert to 19.5 Tires? Yes, but only if I win the lottery...

Anyone seriously price 19. 5 rims and tires from Rickson?



Here is what it would cost me... .



I "roughly" checked it out.

436 x 2 Alum polished outside

467 x 2 Alum polished inside

239 x 2 Steel (you have to run 2 steel rims)

225 x 6 Tires (give or take a hundred or so depending on tire)

330 Mount and Balance

470 Steel Spare and Tire

350 Shipping

----------------------

$4778



Guess I'll have to buy a lottery ticket... ...

Would be nice though

 

[JLovas]

If I remember correctly, someone on this forum took rims off a medium duty bread truck and used on his pickup, I don't suppose the offset would be perfect, but it would be way cheaper. Seems to me that Dodge and Chevy have the same 8 hole bolt pattern. I wouldn't mind stepping into 19. 5's myself, but I won't part with that much of my hard earned money to do it.

 

[DHayden]

I bought pretty much the same setup you listed except I didn't buy a spare. It was tough to swallow dishing out that much for them but it does handle better, its safer and if I get twice the mileage out of the tires then I figure it was worth it. They also fill up the wheel wells and make the truck look much better IMO but I wouldn't pay that much just for esthetics. It's definitely not for everyone.

 

[p-Bar]

Those Rickson wheels are a rip off. Look at the vision wheel all aluminum probably under 200. 00 each

 

[DHayden]

visions may be good for some but they arent an option for dually's.

 

[MMeier]

Think Rickson's are expensive? Take a peek at Brentz Wheels, guy in town here has a set of 7 on his rig... ... ... ..... dropdead gorgeous wheels... ... but $7500 for 7 of them , with new Toyo's, but still!!

 

[JayWm]

I mounted a set of Vision wheels that a customer brought in. They are not forged. They are CAST... they weigh a ton. By the time he got done putting 265/70R19. 5's on between the weight of the wheels and the tires he tore up his front end and brakes so fast he wished he'd never done it. And this was on a 3500 dually that he ran as a SRW.



Rickson's look sweet, too much $$$, same thing for Brentz wheels... hang tight troopers, rumor is that Alcoa will have a direct fit 19. 5 for the dually's Dunno what they plan to do for an inner dual though. Supposed to happen early next year. There is no way Alcoa's will be more than Rickson's Perhaps it will cause Rickson to reevaluate their pricing. Knowing what 22. 5 and 24. 5's cost, it kinda flames me that we get's more for a steel 19. 5 than you can buy a aluminum 24. 5

 

[Sarge]

I know, the price of Ricksons is nuts. I looked into them also, but once I saw the price I changed my mind quick. I would only do it if it provided an enhancement to the ride or performance of the truck. And then it has to make sense. At nearly 5 grand for wheels I would have to keep the truck till I was about 106 years old to recoup the cost... ... .....

 

[DaveK98]

I've really been happy with the Generals that came on the truck.



Have to see how they do long term as I've only got 5k on the truck.



Only complaint is a whine from 40-45 mph or so.

 

[Cattletrkr]

My set of STEEL Rickson rims cost about $1800 delivered. That's for the 6. 75" rims in black powder coat. Add $450 or so for sims and you've got a real nice setup. I'm too cheap to spring for the sims so I have black rims now.



I checked last night and I've got 14/32" of tread left on the Michelin XDE/MS's. From an original tread depth of 22/32". Useable tread goes down to 2/32". So I've used up 8 out of a total of 20/32" available to me. How many miles did it take me to do that??? 46K. Quick HS math tells me that works out to 115K per set of tires. My factory Generals lasted a sickly 35K. The Mich's are unbelievable on snow and ice.



I've got the wonderful 4. 10 snail rear end so having a taller tire is nice--245's. I can run in 5th gear and not be screaming at 60mph.



I haven't wore anything out yet as far as steering or suspension components, but I'm sure the extra 60lbs per wheel/tire is eventually going to take its toll.



Don't worry about a spare, you don't need it. In an emergency a factory spare will work fine. I just wouldn't run it very long though.



As someone mentioned earlier, they're not for everyone. They do have their place though, and that place just so happens to be on my truck.



Remember, you have to deduct the cost of whatever other tires you would be putting on the truck. Ya gotta have tires so ya can only figure in the EXTRA cost for the bigger tires. Easy figuring a set of good tires all around is gonna cost $1200 mounted and balanced. Still makes the 19. 5's spendy, but not quite as bad.

 

[DaveK98]

Cattletrkr,



Do you use 5th gear on the highway? When I tow I use 6th gear all the time and don't have an issue pulling my 12k 5th wheel trailer. I'd be turning some serious rpm's in 5th. I've got the 3. 73's but with the g56 it's just like the 4. 10's.



Like you idea of using the factory spare. If the effective height is the same ie I used 225 19. 5 inchers then I don't see a problem either. But I could shell out the 4k what is another 500.



So you bought the Rickson rims for $1800 and bought some used tires?

 

[Cattletrkr]

Do you use 5th gear on the highway?

Yes, all the time. 2500rpm puts me right at 60 with the bigger tires. My trailer weighs over double what yours does. I'm not worried about being able to pull it. Its more of a transmission saver than anything else. Most of my freeway driving is at 60mph. Whenever I get over that I go into O/D.



I see you editted your message, you must have figured out your math snaffu??



Tire prices are all over tha map. Depending on what tires you choose, there might be $100/tire difference in cost between 17" and 19. 5", sometimes $200per. I put on new tires but didn't include that in my figures 'casue that would be different for everybody.



Overall height is nowheres near the same for me. I think the 19. 5's are 2" taller. If I were to blow a rear tire, I'd put one of the 19. 5's from the front on the rear and use the factory spare up front. It's not really a good solution, but I seriously doubt I'll ever need it. How's that for jinxing myself?

 

[DaveK98]

Careful, That’s what I said and I wound up blowing a tire on my trailer and then the spare was junk and that blew. Wound up dropping the trailer with the wife and . 357 and headed to the nearest town to get a tire. Wound up buying 4 new tires and peace of mind but not wallet.



I had a hard time deciding between the Dodge and the Ford 450/550. In the end practicality and the better engine prevailed. Although those 19. 5 alum factory rims would have been nice, I don’t regret the decision for one minute. The ford with a nice bed would have been over 45k. I paid less than 33k for my Dodge including taxes, everything.



Are od gears in manual transmissions really not made for towing? I know you are pulling a heavy load but is the design of the transmission made stronger for the 5th 1-1 gear? With 6th gear being taller in the g56 vs the nv5600 I don’t have to downshift when pulling the trailer even on pretty decent hills.



I’m driving less than 10k a year so hopefully the factory tires will last me 4-5 years. Maybe I’ll have some extra money to step up to the 19. 5’s by then. Probably not as I’ve got a kid coming in 4 months and the wife will want to spend it on other stuff.

 

[Wolffman]

Cattletrkr did you look at the bridgestone's before buying the michelins? I only ask because I have been told that michelins have a soft sidewall and will flex and all the bridgestones I have seen especially on semi' have really stiff sidewalls which is good if you tow heavy and I do. However, I need a good allterrain tire and would have to jump to 265's to get that in bridgestone. Do you think that is too large a jump? And what about the load range H would you get them again or get with F? Again I want G's but michelin doesn't supply them. Guess I am being too picky but just want to get the right tire. My rims are on the way as we speak so I must decide quick. Thanks and sorry for the long post.



Wolffman

 

[Jumbo Jet]

Soft Sidewall? I wish. Those tires are stout. I think they would stand on their own without air.



I am getting rid of the 19. 5" Michelin XDE M/S (Hint, Hint) and buying Yokohama highway tread. I have a set of 17" M/S tires for winter driving and the 19. 5" are only used when the Lance is loaded.



Rickson steel wheels and the Michelin XDE tires weigh 130 lbs. Takes a little effort for one person to mount on truck.

 

[Cattletrkr]

I'll second what JumboJet said. The Mich's DO NOT have a soft sidewall. I assumed when I bought the tires they'd be 12ply. They're the awful 16ply. Absurdly heavy for a pickup, no matter what you tow. I'll only get the 16ply again if the 12's are unavailable.



I keep my tire pressure under 80psi, usually 73-75psi. That helps smooth out the ride and keeps the wear even. Even when fully loaded the tires don't hardly squat.



265's is one heck of a jump. 245's is enough for me. I've actually been thinking about going back a size to 225's just to get the power back. I like running at lower rpm's though, especially with the 4. 10's. My XDE's are 2" taller than the factory Generals.



I don't like the XDE's in mud. I love them for winter driving. Kickarse on snow AND ice. JumboJet--what's wrong with the XDE's for winter??? I went places in 2wd I know would have given me grief in 4wd with the factory Generals.



DaveK98--I could easily run in O/D all day long. With the Juice I've got more power than I know what to do with. I just don't like all the extra strain that accompanies using O/D. I don't have a transmission temp gauge, but I'm sure that would tell me what I'm doing is right. Driving home with an empty trailer (6K) I'll use O/D the same as everyone else, it's only loaded I don't like to use it. Driving this way DOES NOT affect my mileage at all.



Did I leave anything out??

 

[jimnance]

I mounted a set of Vision wheels that a customer brought in. They are not forged. They are CAST... they weigh a ton. By the time he got done putting 265/70R19. 5's on between the weight of the wheels and the tires he tore up his front end and brakes so fast he wished he'd never done it. And this was on a 3500 dually that he ran as a SRW.



You expect a 19. 5" 4500 LB rated rim and truck tire to be lite???



I had a set on my '03 for a while and didn't seem to hurt a thing. Swinging the extra mass is not a perfect thing, but neither is mounting 315 BGF's on stock rims. Though not as heavy they will take a toll on the suspension in time. They sure look cool though.

 

[JayWm]

Yeah Jim, I do expect it to be light, at least lighter than they are. My point was to those thinking of the Visions to be aware that they are VERY heavy by themselves and then mounting 265/70R19. 5's on them you end up with a combo that in my opinion is too heavy for the truck, too hard on the brakes and does nothing to help load carrying capacity, what you gained in tire capacity you lost by adding unsprung weight. Most guys I know looking at 19. 5's are not doing it for looks, they seem to be doing it for functionality. I am thinking of 19. 5's for looks AND functionality. This is in part why I am waiting for Alcoa's. They will be forged, forged=light. If I can't put together a set of 19. 5's on my dually without a net a weight gain, then it ain't gonna happen on my truck. Look at those who have posted to this thread. DHayden didn't do for looks, and Cattletrkr states that it added an additional 360lbs to his truck if you do the math.



Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the look of the 19. 5 aluminum wheels on the dually's, but from the posts I've read (not just this thread) those that do it did so for a functional purpose.

 

[DHayden]

The alluminum saved me about 20 pounds per wheel over the steel. That's a considerable difference in unsprung weight IMO when you look at it in percentages.



I could be off but as I recall the stock setup is around 80 pounds, the alluminum ricksons are 110 and the steel is 130.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

why not just run adapters so you can run real 19. 5s?