Recaps, yes or no?

[DBazley]

Work for Rickson ? not exactly....

Wow, Dave, that's a great recommendation! You work for Rickson? Just kidding, of course. Thanks for the comments. That's what I thought too (about buying aluminum). I like good looks but I'm after performance first. I'm already getting 20 mpg on my '03 3500 SRW and hope to get a bit of an increase since the rear end ratio will drop from 3. 73 to around 3. 58 (or so Heather at Rickson says). But we'll see. Some folks say they got an increase, others say they didn't. Perhaps the additional weight will cancel out the increase.

Do you think I should ask them for a job ? Ha Ha - only if I get a set of aluminum rims as a 'benefit' !



I did promise Matt at Rickson Truck that I'd tell others of my satisfaction once I was convinced the 19. 5 was a real improvement to the Ram Truck. This is the first opportunity I've had to hold to my promise - I guess 5 years is enough of a 'test period'.



I guess you could say promotion comes naturally - I'm Marketing director of Perma Shield Products (fyi: www.PermaShield.net ) and so I am used to making the case for products that perform well and offer impressive value, whether they are products I use personally or our own products.



In terms of advertising value a first hand testimony is tops.



What goes around, comes around... . right ?



Take care, David B.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

PS: Ol Trail Dog: mind saying how much the used 19. 5's were - just curious.....

I paid $1000 and a set of 17s wheels/tires from the 04 for the DRW Rickson wheels and Hankooks with approx 2K on them. They were close enough to drive up and swap so no shipping was involved. So, I still have my 16s around when it comes time to sell the truck.

 

[Jeremiah]

Do you think I should ask them for a job ? Ha Ha - only if I get a set of aluminum rims as a 'benefit' !



I did promise Matt at Rickson Truck that I'd tell others of my satisfaction once I was convinced the 19. 5 was a real improvement to the Ram Truck. This is the first opportunity I've had to hold to my promise - I guess 5 years is enough of a 'test period'.



I guess you could say promotion comes naturally - I'm Marketing director of Perma Shield Products (fyi: www.PermaShield.net ) and so I am used to making the case for products that perform well and offer impressive value, whether they are products I use personally or our own products.



In terms of advertising value a first hand testimony is tops.



What goes around, comes around... . right ?



Take care, David B.

And in a former life I was also in sales and director of marketing for a newspaper. That was a mistake because I liked writing better. But I understand the principles of marketing and use them frequently.



Yup, a personal recommendation is tops. Heather at Rickson comes off real well too. She's knowledgeable and seems quite sincere. Now if I just get my wheels and tires here on time ... I wanted the 265 Hankooks and she talked me right out of 'em. Said I'd be much happier over the long haul with 245s. I listen when somebody knows more than I do about such things. But I could really see those 265s and aluminum alloys on my big Dodge LB 4-by.

 

[DBazley]

Now if I just get my wheels and tires here on time ... I wanted the 265 Hankooks and she talked me right out of 'em. Said I'd be much happier over the long haul with 245s. I listen when somebody knows more than I do about such things. But I could really see those 265s and aluminum alloys on my big Dodge LB 4-by.

That's good, Jeremiah. Let me second what heather said - the 265 in a 19. 5 might be a bit too much tire. Keep in mind these babies are heavy - I think mine are 130 lbs per unit :--)



You shoulda seen the guys at America's Tire grunt when they tried to balance 'em - it took two guys just to lift 'em on to the balancer ! Oo.



I think I might be better off with a 225, but I got 245's. My main issue is the weight / heft of the tire/rim assembly - which is why next time round, I'll try to get LR F -which still rate 4,000+ capacity @ 110 psi - plenty - rather than my current LR G's, and possibly in a 225.



You'll be grinnin I predict when you get then on a 'sing' down the highway - I like the sing mine make at 65 mph - it's nice music - don't know if they all do that - let us know will you ?



Take Care, David B.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Although the 225s are the only option for the DRWs, like mine, I really think you would find they are plenty tire enough for a SRW.

 

[dmhollister]

Definately do not put recaps on the front. Even the Big Rigs are not allowed (by DOT specs) to put caps on the front.

 

[Jeremiah]

That's good, Jeremiah. Let me second what heather said - the 265 in a 19. 5 might be a bit too much tire. (snip)



You'll be grinnin I predict when you get then on a 'sing' down the highway - I like the sing mine make at 65 mph - it's nice music - don't know if they all do that - let us know will you ?



Take Care, David B.

Will do! The main question I had (and still have) is whether I should have ordered the aluminum alloys. There're only 33 lbs apiece as compared to 60+ pounds. But ... Heather said the offset is more than she thinks I need so I got the steel wheels painted powder silver. Looks-wise, I think they will be a step down from the factory alloys currently on my Laramie. But we'll see. I'm willing to give the painted steel ones a shot.



I'm also thinking about taking the air dam off the front. Should make the truck look a little higher. I'm sure the air dam serves a purpose - like helping with miles per gallon. But if it affects the mpgs adversely I can always put it back on.

 

[Cattletrkr]

Definately do not put recaps on the front. Even the Big Rigs are not allowed (by DOT specs) to put caps on the front.

The guy who does my annual DOT inspection says that's only true for buses. Maybe emergency vehicles too but that I don't remember. Not saying it's a good idea, just sayin'.



245's work very well in DRW applications, at least with the 6. 75" rims. Not even a hint of rubbing when fully loaded. I've got the 16ply XDE's and they are way too heavy. I'll prolly go down to 225's in a 12ply just to eliminate some of the weight and rough ride. Now I wish I had just gone with the 6" rim and 225's in the first place. Woulda saved about $50ea. Oh well, live and learn.

 

[Jeremiah]

Listen to the big boys

I was listening to an Oklahoma City talk radio station last night featuring OTR truckers. The topic of recaps came up and not one trucker admitted to having recaps on his steer wheels. They used 'em on driver and trailer wheels but not the front ones.



Incidentally, OTR drivers mentioned running steer tires well over 100K, and the other wheels 300K and above. Sure hope I get that out of my 19. 5s.

 

[Grizzly]

No recaps on any wheel.

 

[DBazley]

Hey Cattletrkr:

The guy who does my annual DOT inspection says that's only true for buses. Maybe emergency vehicles too but that I don't remember. Not saying it's a good idea, just sayin'.



245's work very well in DRW applications, at least with the 6. 75" rims. Not even a hint of rubbing when fully loaded. I've got the 16ply XDE's and they are way too heavy. I'll prolly go down to 225's in a 12ply just to eliminate some of the weight and rough ride. Now I wish I had just gone with the 6" rim and 225's in the first place. Woulda saved about $50ea. Oh well, live and learn.

Your inspector is correct - the only vehicles prohibited from recaps on the front, undoubtedly for liability issues, are passenger busses.



I saw the law cited on http://www.retread.org/, which also has a ton of info on medium truck tire retreading.



If truckers don't use them on their steers, it's probably because why should they, if they can use them everywhere else, in 16 drive positions. Buy new steers, use retreads elsewhere.



I know what you mean on the 'heavy tire' feeling. I have done a bit of playing with 3 things to make my 245's feel right: tire PSI, Rancho 9000 shock settings & rear airbag pressure - it rides & handles super if I 'get it right'.



It would probably be less fussy if I had chosen 225's in a 12 ply instead - it must be simple physics, we're running tires that can safely handle 4500 lbs or 9,000 per axle or 18,000 total vehicle weight (you're a dually, right, make that 27,000 #) but look at how seldom we're loaded anywhere near those numbers. Running empty, things are a bit 'stiff', he he he... .



But, as you said, live & learn, next time get that slightly lighter size / ply rating and it will be even better empty and probably just fine towing.



For guys with a 2500 SRW, like me, it may make sense to err on the side of more capacity - especially IF they tow for a living, which I don't..... just personal & light company hauling.



Take Care, David B.

 

[Jeremiah]

I know what you mean on the 'heavy tire' feeling. I have done a bit of playing with 3 things to make my 245's feel right: tire PSI, Rancho 9000 shock settings & rear airbag pressure - it rides & handles super if I 'get it right'.



.

Would appreciate knowing what you did to "get it right," especially with the shock settings and airbag pressure. Right now I would be running the 245 70 19. 5s with bone stock suspension. But I'm buying 'em for longevity as much as anything else. I do load my truck bed up with water (grosses out at 10K) once a week, but that's all.