TIME FOR NEW TIRES. Advice please.

[RGehlken]

Hello everyone,

I need tires for my 99 Dodge 3500 4x4 and I have a few questions.

Is it true that the tire size on the truck should match the tire size on the trailer and why please?

The trailer has Spector Advanta CLT, LT 235/85r16e. The truck curently has BFG LT 215/85r16e.

I am looking for the best tire size for the job; brand tire type wheel size etc.

Thank you in advance for your help.

[cosgo]

Ive never heard of truck tire size "having" to match the trailer, but sure would come in handy in a pinch to have all the same size tires in case you needed to swap some.

[Microsoftsteve]

Agreed, I can see cosgo's point. Although most trailer tires are for "trailer" service, as in speed limitations, use as steer tires, etc,etc. Still that being said it just depends on your wallet and how much you care about what brand is on your wheels. I know tons of guys that won't run "cheap" Chinese brand tires but that being said it's hard to find people that won't try to sell you a chinese brand tire. I have heard that the technology is improving and that some of the larger tire manufacturers are having china make their tires too. I had good year g614's they were great although they can rib. I also have heard that michelins are really nice although soft. I wouldn't put a soft tire on my drives but in the front I wouldn't steer away from it. good luck

[ccoop769]

I run chinese tires on my truck. They are super cheap and wear nicely. $100 each for 19.5s is not a bad deal. No problems so far.

I just threw all chinese tires on my trailer. Cost about 80 bucks a pop. well, they didnt last but 2 months because they all blew out already. Im back to the transforce tires again. I will never buy chinese tires for my trailer again. They were trailer service chinese tires. They wore unevenly, to quick, and blew even with treads on them.

[Tosch88]

I always ran the factory Ameritracs on my 3500's. Normally would get a service life of 60k out of them. They were $180 a tire. Use chinese tires on the trailers. Keep her under 65mph & they last okay (have had 3 blowouts in 4 years). I have been pulling a trailer with 17.5's on it lately. No worries on the tires & they show little wear even the front tires on the tri axle have no scrub marks.

[haulin rv]

Originally Posted by ccoop769

I just threw all chinese tires on my trailer. Cost about 80 bucks a pop. well, they didnt last but 2 months because they all blew out already.

The cheapo $80 tires are usually only rated right at 3000 pounds, so on your trailer with the loads you haul I can see them not working.

On my wedge I've had good luck with them. They are lasting close to 50k, I do rotate them since with triple axles they do wear different on each axle (Kaufman so i'm sure things aren't perfectly aligned either). Plus my avg weight on the axles is 12k, so I'm not even close to the ratings.

As far as truck tires go the best set I ever had were Michelin (back on an older truck that had 16's). On my current truck I had better luck with Firestones than Generals.

[ccoop769]

Originally Posted by haulin rv

The cheapo $80 tires are usually only rated right at 3000 pounds, so on your trailer with the loads you haul I can see them not working.

On my wedge I've had good luck with them. They are lasting close to 50k, I do rotate them since with triple axles they do wear different on each axle (Kaufman so i'm sure things aren't perfectly aligned either). Plus my avg weight on the axles is 12k, so I'm not even close to the ratings.

As far as truck tires go the best set I ever had were Michelin (back on an older truck that had 16's). On my current truck I had better luck with Firestones than Generals.

tires were 3500 each. transforce are 3000 I beleive

[haulin rv]

Ok well then I'll just blame it on all those crazy loads you haul...

There is a Chinese tire company that makes a 235/16 that is rated around 4k. Its a higher psi tire (think 120) so you need to make sure the rims are capable too. I've seen them on ebay, its a tire wholesaler out of Oklahoma. They were in the $130 range??

[LBZ]

Originally Posted by Microsoftsteve

I have heard that the technology is improving and that some of the larger tire manufacturers are having china make their tires too. I had good year g614's they were great although they can rib. I also have heard that michelins are really nice although soft. I wouldn't put a soft tire on my drives but in the front I wouldn't steer away from it.

Ya don't think that they are subbing out tire manufacturing to China because their technology has improved do you?

I hate flat tires & while hauling cars is a pretty clean enviroment, if you ever go on to a warehouse lot or steel mfg it is nice to know that you have decent tread against all the sharp objects laying around.

I have just under 120k on a set of Michelin LTX's that are 16's on the truck & the G614's were on the trailer with zero issue.

We are all free to choose how we spend our money, but tires are the one thing I refuse to skimp on. Too much liability for the small amount saved.