Downsizing BFG A/T 315's to 285's ....anyone else?

[Rockcrawler]

Anybody whop thinks axle ujoints are wearing in a driver due to wheel or tire changes is on crack- dealer or otherwise.



Ball joints are primarily a poor design. I've got 65k on my original ones, still tight. the biggest killer of the ball joints will be added weight to front of truck, (tire weight is pee in the pond), more offset from aftermarket wheels (simple leverage) and lots of turning (more wear than going straight down the road).



I had considered going to 285's when I bought my 15k race trailer (gone now) but the truck still performed really well with 315's. got 39. 5 k out of the first set and the backs seem to wear much faster, rotate every 10k or so. More to be had with a lighter foot.

 

[MRutledge]

Come both D and E I believe... .

I've not been able to find a BFG AT tire in load range E. I went so far as to send an e-mail to BFG, and they have no plans for making the BFG for a 17" rim n load range E.



They do make the rugged trail, but the tread pattern isn't quite as aggressive.



Perhaps is we were to start a letter writing campaign...



-Matt

 

[Rockcrawler]

What's the big deal? At least in the larger sizes, the weight rating of the BFG D is higher than the stocker E's- do you want a letter or pounds of capacity?? And the lower pressures will ride nicer too I'm thinking my 315'w are 3400 lbs??

 

[SHyans]

I've not been able to find a BFG AT tire in load range E. I went so far as to send an e-mail to BFG, and they have no plans for making the BFG for a 17" rim n load range E.



They do make the rugged trail, but the tread pattern isn't quite as aggressive.



Perhaps is we were to start a letter writing campaign...



-Matt

Yup, E's stop at LT285/75R16/E

Oh well, link didn't work...

 

[SHyans]

What's the big deal? At least in the larger sizes, the weight rating of the BFG D is higher than the stocker E's- do you want a letter or pounds of capacity?? And the lower pressures will ride nicer too I'm thinking my 315'w are 3400 lbs??

3195@50psi

 

[Rockcrawler]

3195@50psi

Thanks for the correction, still cool with me given the axle ratings etc. and I've run them right there towing my former 38' race trailer, 20+ hours straight except for fuel stops, 78-83 mph, never an issue.

 

[AlexWV]

The stock Michelin LTX AS 265/70R17 Load Range E I have are rated at 3195 @ 80 PSI



As was already pointed out BFG 315/70R17 Load Range D are rated at 3195 @ 50 PSI



So there you go. Get the BFGs and save a ton of money on air.

 

[SHyans]

The stock Michelin LTX AS 265/70R17 Load Range E I have are rated at 3195 @ 80 PSI



As was already pointed out BFG 315/70R17 Load Range D are rated at 3195 @ 50 PSI



So there you go. Get the BFGs and save a ton of money on air.

Hey, these days everybody is paying $10/gallon for non-tap water...

Air could be next! Who wudda thunk?

 

[BillGotthelf]

Hey they got air on sale at Wally Mart. Only 1. 47 whoops 1. 26 (prices are always dropping) a pound.

 

[GWBourne]

The stock Michelin LTX AS 265/70R17 Load Range E I have are rated at 3195 @ 80 PSI



As was already pointed out BFG 315/70R17 Load Range D are rated at 3195 @ 50 PSI



So there you go. Get the BFGs and save a ton of money on air.

hmm, so a SOFTER sidewall AND less Air Pressure to keep me swayn' away down the road... . ill stick with "E" rated or higher. i guess ill be going to a 19. 5 in the next couple months... . #@$%!

Grant

 

[nickleinonen]

Death wobble comes from caster... .

yep... push a shopping cart in a parking lot as fast as you can and see how the front wheels [the casters] start to wobble like a flopping fish on land... the more caster you have [positive] the less likely you will have the wobble... and it only really effects steering [making it a little harder] and doesn't do anything for tire wear...



[shopping cart casters are way negitive when rolling]

 

[brods]

Death wobble comes from caster... .

yep...

DW can be "caused" by many different things or combinations of things. Trucks with 8 degrees positive can still have DW (one of mine did due to worn components).

 

[CUMMINZ]

10 plys

Toyo is the only tire maker I have found with 315-325 size in 10 ply.

 

[Graphic man]

I ran a 265 75 16 i hit a bump on our way to IRP the truck shook so hard the int. lights flashed on and off this is my first DW experience (had to stop and change my shorts) :-laf and i am running lots of caster but i do blame it on a few worn parts ex. steering shock,

i just put a set of TOYO's 285 75 16 with a set of eagle alloy's load range D i still get the DW but no where as bad now i am trading them back in for the TOYO 305 70 16 same hight but 1" wider but a load range E and replacing anything with play in the front end so i am hoping this will fix the DW

IMO the toyo's are a better tire no noise and a smooth ride.

 

[CUMMINZ]

Dw

I have never experienced DW on my truck. I run 315s and a high quality gas HD shock front and rear. The addition of gas shocks to my rearend was the best improvement in ride pulling my 5er. Get away from those factory shocks. :-laf

 

[betterthanstock]

I have been running 315's on stock rims without any lift for 34K. Other than rebalancing once, (not all shops have the right equipment for tires that big, and they can be off by 3-4 ounces when checked on other machines) no problems. Ball joints have . 013" vertical play, and u-joints have a very minimal backlash I can feel when moving driveshaft back and forth.



I think DW is a function of the extra offset on your wheels. Also, does your lift kit lower your steering arm and your trac bar? I don't think the stabilizer bar matters.



Has anyone tried a one piece steering bar (constant toe-in, not variable like the stock ) as a cure for DW?

 

[Blakers]

I'm running 315 BFGs on H2 rims with no death wobble, no ball joint problems and plenty of power. I did replace one axle joint, but tire size has no effect on them at all (all they do is deliver power, not support anything).



Very happy with these tires. Unbelievably good in snow and everywhere else I've been. Truck runs so much better at the lower rpms derrived from these larger tires. Can even hear the engine chugging a little at 1500 rpm like a 12 valve.



Blake

 

[NLamke]

I LOVE my 35's. No hint of DW at all, and at 119 GPS varified mph, it's smooth as silk.