Good Tires for tow vehicle

[cowbunga]

Hello All,
Haven't been here in a bit. We have been getting some work done on the trailer.

Anyways, we are shopping for tires on our tow vehicle and are overwhelmed by all the choices out there. We have a 2004.5 Chevy Crew Cab 3/4 ton diesel. We just bought the truck. The current tires have great tread BUT there are cracks in between the treads. This does not give us a warm fuzzy.....so we are looking for a new set. Currently, the truck has LT285/75/16 Uniroyal Liberators. We really like the Liberators but they are not producing them anymore. We are also going to a smaller size such as a LT265/75/16.

Any suggestions, good or bad experiences with different brands???? We are mainly using the truck for pulling our 2006 31RKT travel trailer in the summer time.

Thanks to all of ya!!!

[Chief409]

I stick with stock size tires and wheels for tow vehicles after years of experimenting with both, without any noticeable gains in MPG or pulling power. I've had B.F. Goodrich tires on my trucks since 1985, bought from Discount Tire/America's Tire, and never had a problem with them. The only maintenance has been checking tire pressures regularly, plus rotate and balance (for free at any Discount/America's Tire store) every 5,000 miles.

Jeff

[Don Wilson]

I have Hankook on my Dodge 3500 and have had very good luck with them. They were installed by the dealer when I purchased the truck in 2006 and I have gotten good milage around 50,000 on them and will be replacing the old ones with new Hankooks this summer.

Don

[cowbunga]

Thanks for the input. Actually, we have been debating if we should go down to the 245 stock size but kinda wonder if they would look too small. Our truck has a 2" lift from the factory, so lots of wheel-well exposed, looks like a 4wd truck but it is not. I know, it's about functionality, not looks.

[Chief409]

"Tires look small". I get that also, until the person commenting compares the tires on the Bubba with theirs. I think all the name brands are good, I figure 40,000 miles but as a rule I'll change tires at 50,000 or so if their condition warrants holding off. Once I start noticing cuts or chunks broken off in the tread (worn truck and trailer tires are prone to that sort of damage from gravel or similar hazards on the road due to the high tire pressures), I change them. We live in the desert, so having the all the tires in good condition is a must, unless changing tires in 110 degree heat is something you don't mind doing.

Jeff

[snoking]

Thanks for the input. Actually, we have been debating if we should go down to the 245 stock size but kinda wonder if they would look too small. Our truck has a 2" lift from the factory, so lots of wheel-well exposed, looks like a 4wd truck but it is not. I know, it's about functionality, not looks.

What is the rim width that you have. Are they the stock wheels. The stock 16" GM wheels were only 6.5" I believe and even 265's are to wide for them. Unless it came from the factory with optional 265's and the correct wheel for the larger tire. I believe that 3500 SRW had 265's/16's on different wheels back then. Might have been an option on 2500HD's.

My LT265/75R16E M&S are on stock Dodge 8 or 8.25 wide wheels. If you have wider wheels than stock then 245's are to narrow for them.

The nice thing about LT265/75R16E's on proper wheels is the 3415 max load verses the 3042 max load. I get over 6084 on my rear axle once in a while.

Chris

[rpfan]

Another vote for the Hankook! Second set just went on. Ready for this?... 63 K miles out of the rears (19.5s) and 52 on the front. Would have had more if a tie rod haddn't gone bad!

Rich

[bayoubengal]

[quote="rpfan"]Another vote for the Hankook! Second set just went on. Ready for this?... 63 K miles out of the [red]rears[/red] (19.5s) and 52 on the [red]front[/red]. Would have had more if a tie rod haddn't gone bad!

Rich, Does this mean that you never rotated the tires?

[Don Wilson]

What is the rotation pattern when you have 6 tires?

Don

[campswithcritters]

What is the rotation pattern when you have 6 tires?

Don

Gets more confusing when you have 10!!!!

[Chief409]

When mine were just rotated on the 2012 for the first time, they did an X pattern with the front tires and the outside dual. Then on the next rotation, the outside dual goes inside, and the X is inside dual to the front. Guess that's why the front wheels have hubcaps, to hide the marks on the polished wheels. And, I get a free wash and detail afterwards to keep things shiny. Some shops only move the front tires side to side and never rotate the duals. That's what my old shop did with my '09. After 35,000 miles I did notice more wear on the front tires then the rear duals. Not good on a 4X4. One of the reasons that's my old shop.

Bruce, do you have steer and drive tires on that 10 wheeler?

Jeff

[rpfan]

Nope, never. Fronts are steering tread, rears are traction.
Just keep them aired up.
Rich