Figured this forum would be best, since most of the other forums always talk like bigger is better... bigger tires, more lift, etc...

My truck has 3.55's, currently running 235/85 tires... gives me an effective axle ratio of 3.40. Was browsing around the TDR looking for experience with different tires, and found that one guy was running 225/75/16 on his dually.. which would change my effective gearing to 3.68.

The load range is still an E with the 225's, the price is right, but... I just have this "uncertain" feeling.

I don't tow heavy, but even empty, I keep thinking that 3.73's would be great... much of my driving is in the 50-55mph range, and it's right where 3rd is too high RPM's, and O/D is too low..

Up at 70MPH, it will put me at 2000RPM, which I find my truck is very happy pulling at.

Will the truck look ridiculous with 30" tires?

It would also help me not have to run a 6" drop hitch, I could instead get the 4" forged one I want.

 

My truck looked terrible with the 225/75R16's. My wife even thought it looked silly, and she doesn't usually give a hoot. I have the 4.10:1 ratio, so the smaller tires were easy to spin on my truck. I changed to commercial 19.5's and never looked back. But I am not much if any different from stock 235/85R16's in size.

 

Did you ever get the wheels centered on your 19.5's?

But other than 19.5's, I guess my only option is to go back to the pizza cutter 215's for some better gearing... on the upside, the 215/85's are slightly cheaper..

 

I have 225 75 16's and personally, I think it looks AWFUL!! Kinda like a 1/2 ton trying to be a 3/4 or something. Unfortunately, when I got the truck in december, the po had just installed the tires, so they're still brand new and 450+ is just not in the budget for tires that don't need replacing yet I'll try to post some pics tonight or tomorrow---it should serve as a reference of what not to do!

 

Ok, I got a pic in my gallery, but it's still subject to approval. I'm sure it'll be viewable by this evening.

greg

 

When I needed tires I went to 245 75 16's this gives me a ratio of 3.70. I like the change, get a little more umph.

 

Would a shorter or smaller tire be better for towing? Maybe a benefit when trying to fit a 5th wheel trailer to the truck too.

 

Won't change my gearing in the right direction at all (would put me to about 3.50), at least on a truck that came with 215/85.. stock 215/85 are 30" tall. 245/75 is 30.5" tall... would look ALOT better than the pizza cutter 215's, but not recommended for 6" wide wheels... (approved rim size - 6.5-7.5")

I'm worried that going to those size would cause me to really wear the centers out quickly, as they would be "pinched" on the wheels... anyone?

Did your first Gen come stock with 235's? I thought they were 215's also?

 

I can barely make out 235-85-16 on the insode door panel trim tag.

 

i would suggest you hold off till you put in the plate and the gsk. you are going to have way more power than you have now. i went to 285/75/16 on my dually just to gear it up some more and i have 3.55s.

 

gunracer1 what rpms are you turning at 70mph with the 285s running a 3.54?

 

just over 2k if i remember right. and it is still a towing beast, i would hook up to 20k with out a worry, i have done it many times. i just hate dodging the law now adays, they have found out there is good money in rigs with trailers here in texas.

 

I think I'm gonna go with the 245/75's.. Uniroyal HD/H... $100 a pop..I can afford that.

 

I've got a '95 3500 DRW 410, 5spd, the tag says the stock tires are 215/85R16 load range E, they look kinda small in the humongous wheel wells but that's not my point. The guy before me had gone to load range D tires. I recently needed a couple of tires and one issue that popped up was maximum weight. 215/85R16's at a load range of D are only good for 2150 as a dual and 2350 as a single. Load range E's in a 215R85R16 are only 300 pounds better and a whole lot more expensive because they are scarce, finally found some Cooper Discoverer's at $146 each while the load range D's were right at $100. I have 235/85R16's on my other truck, load range E, max weight rating is 3060#. Therein is my point. If you haul a lot of weight, when you are switching tires watch the maximum load rating of the tire also, the smaller tires apparently have a smaller load rating.