Is it dangerous to mix different tires on a truck?

[Pit Bull]

I'm running Michelin 235/85/16 LTX/MS. I can get a great price on Michelin XPS Rib tires in the same size 235/85/16. Would it be dangerous to run the XPS Ribs on the front and run 4 Michelin LTX/MS on the rear? Then when the rears needed replacing I would replace all 4 with the XPS Ribs. Is it a problem that the XPS Ribs are a very heavy tire? Are they too heavy for our trucks, I mean will they cause additional wear to the ball joints and other front end parts? Sorry for all of the stupid questions but if this is not a problem it would save me money and I would end up with better tires.

Thanks



Michelin 235/85/16 LTX/MS cost me $225 each

Michelin 235/85/16 XPS Rib's cost me $156 each

 

[Bigsaint]

When my front pass. side was worn, due to an alignment issue, I asked the same question at a local shop. I really didn't want to replace those mich's with the same, due to price and the fact that I want a more aggressive tread all around once the rears wear out. He said it's best to keep with a similar tread design, so I chose a cheap set of Roadstone A/T's, which seem to be wearing okay. No driveability issues in the rain, haven't tried them in the snow/ice yet. Once the rears are done, I'm going with a mean set of BFG's all around.



I think that you will be allright if you stick to the same load rating and size, obviously. Just my $0. 02 from what I've tried. My rear tires are the same that you have now.



Scott W.

 

[HillCountrykid]

Using the different tires that way should'nt be a problem. Just don't run in 4wd on hard surfaces. The manufacture's claimed sizes are the same, but the actual size varies from manuf. to manuf. You may get some driveline bind even with slightly different sizes. Sorry, but I don't know about any problems with the extra wieght. HTH.



Brian

 

[jerryrigg]

Which LTX/MS, do you have the commerical if so they will wear on your drivetrain in 4WD. Here are the tire sizes and diameters, as long as the diameters match you will not have problems in 4WD. I'm not sure how much heavier the ribs are but being as they are the same size you should not have any trouble with unsprung weight. There are alot of people running the oversized tires or even 19. 5s and above without significant problems.



LTX/MS



LT235/85R16/D 31. 9

LT235/85R16/E 32. 0



LTX/MS Commerical



LT235/85R16/D 29. 3

LT235/85R16/E 29. 5



XPS/Ribs



LT235/85R16/E 32. 0



-Matt

 

[illflem]

As said above you'll have no problem except with 4wd. It will play hell with 4 wheel abs if you have it though.

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by jerryrigg

Which LTX/MS, do you have the commerical if so they will wear on your drivetrain in 4WD. Here are the tire sizes and diameters, as long as the diameters match you will not have problems in 4WD. I'm not sure how much heavier the ribs are but being as they are the same size you should not have any trouble with unsprung weight. There are alot of people running the oversized tires or even 19. 5s and above without significant problems.



LTX/MS



LT235/85R16/D 31. 9

LT235/85R16/E 32. 0



LTX/MS Commerical



LT235/85R16/D 29. 3

LT235/85R16/E 29. 5



XPS/Ribs



LT235/85R16/E 32. 0



-Matt

Matt

Good information I have the LTX/MS that come on the 3500 4x4 which are E rated and should be the 32 inch. If the XPS/Ribs are also 32 I would think I would be OK like you guys are saying. I would run the new Ribs on the front and the LTX/MS on the rear. When I need to replace the rears I would go with the new Ribs. I would have the same matching tires on both sides of the truck at all times. The only difference would be tread pattern in the rear. More like a snow tire in the rear.

 

[Pit Bull]

Well I confirmed it on Tirerack web site. The Michelin XPS Rib's are 32 inch and my Michelin LTX/MS are 32 inch (thanks Matt). The LTX/MS do 655 revelotions per mile and the XPS Rib's do 654 thats close enough. They even suggested using the XPS Rib's on the steer wheels and the more aggressive tread XPS's mud and snow tires on the drive wheels for times when you might need more traction. So it seems like the LTX/MS should be fine on the drive wheels. It's funny the rear of these 3500 4X4's are so light that I don't have much traction now even with the LTX/MS. In the winter I would need a bed load of sand to go anywhere in the snow. Thats why when it snows I park the Dodge and drive the wifes Landcruiser, it has BFG AT/KO's and locking differentials

Thanks Guys for the information

Denny