Tire time again, 245's or 265's?

[Dennis Garrett]

My 97 is about ready for it's 3rd set of tires. It came with LT245/75's load range "E". I got 80k out of them & replaced them with the same Goodyear Wrangler RTS, only this time bought "D". They have about 55k on them now & are about done. I went by the Dodge dealer today & noticed the 2001 2500's all have 265's. Wondering if I would have any problem putting 265's on my 97? Has anyone found a deal on tires anywhere online?

 

[Randy J]

No problems at all Dennis, other than maybe your speedo might be slighty off. I'm running 285/75/16's on my 98. It came with 245's from the factory. Personally I think the 265's look better, the 245's are too small. I'd recommend the Michelin LTX M/S.

 

[MikeR]

265's by far!

Our '95 is a 2wd just like yours,and I installed a set of Michelin 265/75's and it rides like a dream. It now "looks" right to.

 

[Okie-Go]

I had a 98 2500. Took it straight to the tire shop and put some 16x8 american eagle wheels and 265's on it and it was much better. Looks and ride improved drastically. Personally I thought the factory wheels were too skinny.

 

[Ken B]

I'd have to go along with everything that was already said... .



Go with the 265's, you won't be unhappy. You're truck will look better and ride better.

 

[RATTLINRAM]

My truck came with the 245 Michelins and I think I may stay with that size when it comes time to replace them. My Dad has 265's on his 2000 V-10 and it looks like his truck sits alot higher. I wouldn't mind the taller tire when running empty, but I don't know how it would affect me when I tow the 5er (dropping RPM's and raising the truck. I really need to flip the axles on the 5er now). With 2WD and the 245's, maybe that's why some people think it's a 1500 half-ton cause it sits so low. (I could barrow Dad's 265's the next time I tow, but the rims won't fit) ... ... ... ... ... Oh well.



I just have one question to ask Okie-Go.

What is an oversized stainless steel chicken slide???

I haven't a clue.

 

[HomerDog]

Just a question--my 96 dually came with 215's. Can I upsize to 245's or 265's?? will they fit or will they need spacers? There is a couple of inches between the two tires now. Thanks...



Dave

 

[Harry Cummings]

245/265

will the 265 fit our 245 rims ok?

 

[BigYellowIron]

265 will fit fine on the 245 rims.



Dennis,



Are you ready for another get together?









Adam

 

[GFoley]

Rattlinram,

When I was looking at the 265s in MN the guy running the service and tire part of the shop told me they could reflash the 99 computer to read the 265 as the stock tire size.



When I was looking for 265 Michelins last year and needed them knida in a hurry, I couldn't find the Michelin LTX MS in 265 at the tire shops in the Wash DC area. I really liked them as OEM tires (245s) and wanted to stay with the brand. No other load range E tires in stock at many places either. I decided to stick eith the 245 LR E and went with the BFG AT.

 

[Tom Trujillo]

Tires

I have 285 Dunlops on stock wheels with no problem. Went through one of those WATCH YOUR SPEED signs with the radar on the other day and it said I was going about 3 MPH slower than my speedo indicated. Tom

 

[Turbo Terry]

If I change over to 265 my 3. 54 rear end will be about 3. 20. How will this effect the low end performance. Will the truck be more prone to lugging,will the shift points change and the transmission slip because of to tall of a rear end. I need some input on this. Please see my mods also. Thanks

 

[Turbo Terry]

What effect will 265 size tires have on low end performance, transmission slipping under load, shift points? What has been everybodys experience. See my mods. Thanks for any input.

 

[GFoley]

Turbo Terry,



I went way up to a BFG 255/85/16 from the 245/75/16. My speeds through the radar at construction indicate a 10% difference between the sppedo and actual speed. My tire height increased from 29. 75" to 32. 5". I dropped 10% from my 3. 54 ratio to estimate my effective ratio to be about 3. 25:1. I wouldn't think the difference between 245s and 265s would be that much.



I took these numbers from a BFG spec chart I had on hand. Using the AT tires I pulled this:

LT 245/75/16E on a 7' wheel measeured 30. 6" tall.

LT 265/75/16D on a 7. 5" wheel measured 31. 8" tall (MT was 31. 7").

LT 255/85/16D (MT) on a 7" wheel measured 33. 3" tall.



I didn't notice a difference in shift points when I went taller. I was just going faster than the speedo indicated. I just came back from Diesel Extravaganza and averaged 21. 5 mpg there and 22. 5 mpg on the return. I run 7800 lbs every day and was easily over 8000 with the stuff I carried with me.



I have just added the Scheid Hi Flow injectors. It will be a while before I get adjusted to the additional power on tap just a tap of the pedal away.



Since I sold my 26' race trailer I don't have anything to tow. I must say I am VERY happy with mileage figures like these considering what I drive. I don't think it will have much noticeable affect moving up to the 265s.



FWIW, check with a dealership and see if they will reflash your computer to acknowledge the 265s. A shop in MN was very helpful on the backside of their operation with inside tips and helpful service techs. They told me I could get reflashed since I had a 99 model. It wouldn't work with a 98. 5 he said.



Glenn

 

[FAllen]

245 vs 265

Hi Guys !



Was checking into this myself and found that the Michelin product guide stated that you need 7inch rims for the 265.



My 2500 has 61/2 inch rims and I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) that the 3500's have 6 inch rims ?



Some 1500's have the 7 inch rims.



Are 7 inch rims now standard on the 2001 2500 Rams ?

 

[Sparky10]

265's - Ya Baby!

I just recently put 265's on my '99. It came with 245's and I always thought that they looked to small. The 265's made it look just right. My speedo is 2. 5 MPH off (reads slow) according to my GPS.



Someone told me that the dealer can reflash the computer to adjust for it. I haven't checked into it yet though.



You won't regret changing to the bigger tires.

They are great!



Take Care, Sparky (Scott)

 

[R.ebel]

Tires

LT235/85R 16E used here. Same diameter as the 265/75 but slightly narrower than the 245/75. I frequently 4wheel in really rocky conditions and wanted to stay with a 10 ply (LR E) tire but also wanted the larger diameter of the 265/75. Could'nt hardley find any 265/75 tires that had a load range E rating

 

[Okie-Go]

Rattlin Ram, go to Iceman's post on pictures of his wing. A chicken slide is the truck driver's definition for a wing of air-dam used to direct air over a trailer for better fuel economy.

 

[RATTLINRAM]

OK,,,,,,,,now I get it!!!

Thanks Okie-Go,

You can't imagine the ideas that have went thru my head trying to figure out what that was.

I've been to every farm around here and they all have just wooden ramps for the chickens to get in and out of the chicken house. Couldn't figure out what you would do with one on the truck,,,,,,,,even if it was made out of stainless steel.

 

[John Berger]

etires.com

Dennis, try this link if you haven't do so already.



http://www.etires.com/