Still Happy with 19.5-inch tires/wheels? Wear?

[photowrite]

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...pgrade-to-19-5-wheels-and-G-rated-tires/page3

The above thread (and others) here are interesting and helpful, but I want to ask specific questions about 19.5" tire wear, so I started this new thread. I put this in the 4th-generation section, but really this should be an almost universal question/topic for guys running these setups.

I'm very knowledgable about tires and wheels, and my personal preference has always been for narrower OEM wheels and relatively narrow tires that don't stick put beyond the fenders. I'm currently running Toyo AT II 285/75R18 tires on OE aluminum wheels. I love the size, but preliminary use/data leads me to believe that I'm not going to get long wear out of the treads, and I'm not surprised. With the Cummins torque and the rear axle load, possibly fast wear seems common.

Application:

-2014 2500, G56 6-speed.
-2000+ pound, slide-in popup, camper. Relatively light by camper standards but the truck is getting much armor soon, carries tools, etc., and will be at or above the 10k GVWR much of the time.
-sees more dirt and technical trail use than most 4WDs (of any flavor) for camping, exploring, hunting, etc.
-pull trailers too, smaller utility trailer on up to a 8,000 pound 30-foot ball-hitch travel tailer, and considering buying a 10-12k GVWR car trailer.

Also, I don't let my tires wear down too low before replacing them, as low tread make for less traction, particularly when it's sloppy (snow, slush, mud). One way to get more miles out of tires is to start with more tread depth, I prefer 18-20/32". As expensive as medium-duty 19.5" tires are, they are not that much more (depending on brand/tread) than LT tires if they wear is substantially more/longer.

Many years ago when running a couple Cummins and then a '96 F-350, I didn't have much interest in the 19.5s because the lack or a safety bead (airing down in the dirt) and the overall wheel/tire weight, but I also was not running a slide-in camper.

To make upgrading to Rickson 19.5" wheels and medium-duty 19.5" tires worthwhile, there has to be a substantial performance increase, which for me would be tire wear. Surely stability would be improved, but with a popup camper my stability is actually quite good, so no complaints there.

Qs

How many miles are you getting from 19.5-inch tires hauling heavy campers and/or pulling trailers?

What size? [265/70 should be 'right' for me.]

How many thirty-seconds of tread did you start with and how much remains after how many miles/type of use? [miles per 1/32"]

Your duty cycle, power mods, driving style?

How are you keeping the heavy tire/wheel assemblies balanced? [I have Centramatic balancers currently, thinking tire beads may be a good call?] Running smoothly down the highway is important to me.

Any serious trade-offs you don't care for after some saddle-time?

I'm willing to give them a try, though if I don't like the setup there is a limited market for these wheels and shipping is almost completely out.

Thanks,

James

 

[STEVEBROOKS]

James,

I bought a second-hand set of four chrome Rickson wheels and Michelin 245/70 19.5s last year, and have only used them for a total of approx 1200 miles (no discernible wear). Simply put, this is the best single mod I've made to my truck in regards to hauling my heavy 5er toyhauler. That said, they are pretty rough riding even when aired down to their lower limit when not carrying weight. I pulled them off this winter so as to not get any salt on them, and will re-install them in a couple of weeks for this year's towing season. I made a comment about them in this post:

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...TX-MS2-LT265-70R17-118-121R-3195-80PSIG/page2

Hope this helps you

Steve

 

[photowrite]

Thanks for the reply Steve. Firm/stiff/harsh ride when unloaded (or lightly loaded) has always been one of my concerns. I can see where the stiff, 19.5" tires would be great for super heavy hauling, but not the rest of the time, which is maybe why you removed them after only 1,200 miles?

After my earlier post I was outside washing my camper and truck. I couldn't help but think how much I like the 285/75F18E size, the fit is nearly perfect, narrow and tall. Though more tread selection and longer life would be appreciated.

One issue I don't have is enough rated capacity, the 285/75R18 tires carry 4k each at 80 psi, plenty for my approx. 5k rear axle load.

I currently prefer balancing my tires with Centramatic balancers, and like how smooth the Toyo A/T II tires are running down the highway at speeds up to 80+, which might be a bit to ask of a 19.5" tire. I don't always drive that fast, but I do like to have the option, and today noted the speed rating was much lower on some of the 19.5" tires I was studying.

Then I found this: http://www.innovativebalancing.com/ProblemsWith19.5_22.5.pdf

I would assume it's (mostly?) true, as Innovative Balancing is arguing against using their products for this type of light-truck application. Maybe if both axles are under enough of a load using a dynamic balancer would be okay.

 

[Wertles]

I sold Steve his wheel and tires from my truck. I put 15,000 miles on them before he bought them from me. I had a 3500 Mega Cab SRW and as Steve said, the best mod I did to my truck. I towed a heavy 5th wheel and the performance/stability was on par with a dually. Tire wear was amazing. I did not notice any wear at all from new. I experienced a little better fuel mileage as my RPM's dropped from the taller tire.

Empty driving was rougher as you would expect, but nothing at all uncomfortable or even really noticeable to those who hadn't ridden in the truck before. I had mud and snow rated tires on all 4 corners and there was more road noise than stock tires. Again, nothing to complain about, a dull hum was all there was. It would probably be on par with an aggressive all terrain stock sized tire. Even though these were mud and snow rated, I never drove them in the winter snow. I wasn't towing and I didn't want to ruin the chrome finish of the wheels. I don't believe these would have been as good in snow or mud as stock AT without weight in the truck. They are hard and stiff. The tires I had did not have any siping on them either. Other brands/style of tires may suit your off road and climate better.

I had my tires mounted and balanced from Rickson using their recommendations. I had no vibration whatsoever at any speed.

Projected tire wear is in the 80,000-100,000 mile range. From my experience, that would be easily believable with what I was doing.

 

[photowrite]

Very helpful input, thanks for sharing.