TV 265/65R18 Tire Replacements?

Tbos · 06-01-2016, 08:51 AM

My TV has GY Wrangler P265/65R18 tires. They are a bit squishy even at max pressure of 51psi. I want to change to LT tires with stiffer sidewalls and load ratings. I wanted Michelins but they don't seem to make LTs in my size. Please provide suggestions and experience with your suggestions. Thanks.

Desert185 · 06-01-2016, 05:13 PM

I've run Michelin, Bridgestone Revo 2 and am currently using Nitto Terra Grappler's. I like the extra offroad traction they provide and they have your size.

http://www.nittotire.com/light-truck...ht-truck-tire/

BlueThunder34 · 06-01-2016, 06:03 PM

I had BFGoodrich KAO2's on my 1/2 ton in the E range and loved them. Ride was not bad at all compared to the stock P rated tires and the stability over stock was night and day difference. Tires were very quiet on the highway as well.

Tbos · 06-01-2016, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desert185

I've run Michelin, Bridgestone Revo 2 and am currently using Nitto Terra Grappler's. I like the extra offroad traction they provide and they have your size.

http://www.nittotire.com/light-truck...ht-truck-tire/

How are the Nitto Terra Grapplers about road noise?

Desert185 · 06-01-2016, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tbos

How are the Nitto Terra Grapplers about road noise?

They are quiet. Maybe not silent, but quiet.

I like them.

The wifey thinks they are quiet, so...

**sourdough** · 06-02-2016, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tbos

How are the Nitto Terra Grapplers about road noise?

First, you do need to move away from the P rated tires IMO.

As far as noise, I've owned Terra Grapplers, Toyo ??, Goodyear, BFG, Michelin, Pro Comp, Dick Cepek, Bridgestone etc. (and now Firestone on the new truck). The one thing that I've found true about any AT tire that has a more aggressive tread is that it will get noisy after 10k miles or so. How noisy depends on the tread pattern and the tire compound. Some (Pro Comp M/T) get so loud you can't think (and there are others that get much louder). Others get to the point you can't have a normal conversation running at highway speeds. I don't like a lot of road noise when I'm traveling for pleasure.

I live in the SW so I use aggressive tires on my off road play trucks. I use a normal AT tread on my SUV/Pickup (rarely have to deal with snow OR rain). I like the Michelin LTX AT2 but I don't know if it comes in an LT in your size. I think you get the least aggressive tread that you can get by with depending on where you live and how you use your truck - it should make for a quieter trip and usually the less aggressive treads last longer. JM2cents

Tbos · 06-02-2016, 11:53 AM

Sourdough,
I really don't do much off road so AT is not really needed but we do get some snow and I don't want to go slipping and sliding when that happens. The OEM tires are quiet but lack the stability I want. They do ok in snow but get slippery in the rain. Which Firestone tires are you running now? Per the Michelin website they don't have LTs in my size.

Desert185 · 06-02-2016, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tbos

Sourdough,
I really don't do much off road so AT is not really needed but we do get some snow and I don't want to go slipping and sliding when that happens. The OEM tires are quiet but lack the stability I want. They do ok in snow but get slippery in the rain. Which Firestone tires are you running now? Per the Michelin website they don't have LTs in my size.

I've had really good luck with Bridgestone Dueler Revo 2's (all season, rather than all terrain), but they don't offer your size. Looks like a compromize is in order...

If you can't find anything more suitable for you, I can highly recommend the Nittos I mentioned. FWIW, my son also has an LT set on his Tundra and he finds them very capable, quiet and long lived.

**sourdough** · 06-02-2016, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tbos

Sourdough,
I really don't do much off road so AT is not really needed but we do get some snow and I don't want to go slipping and sliding when that happens. The OEM tires are quiet but lack the stability I want. They do ok in snow but get slippery in the rain. Which Firestone tires are you running now? Per the Michelin website they don't have LTs in my size.

The truck came with Firestone TransForce ATs; 285/65R 20 if I recall. I've got about 32k on them and I've been really happy with them on the road. I do wonder about their construction. The day before I left to come to FL I was airing all the tires and saw a gash in the sidewall of one of them. It was Sunday and luckily the Firestone store in a nearby town was open so it got replaced so we could leave on Monday morning. I've never cut the sidewall of a tire before except when offroading in heavy duty rocks. It didn't feel like the rubber was too soft and it didn't lose air. I had the local tire store owner look at it and he said to just load the trailer and go to FL then replace it; it would be fine; it was a heavy duty tire. I told him I wasn't crazy so got a new tire for about $263 installed. I do think the cut came when I hit a large, sharp edged pothole I didn't see at about 40mph. With the tires running 80psi there isn't much give.

Doing a quick scan I didn't find many LT tires in your size. Also realize that tires can do one thing or another usually pretty well but when you start combining all the requirements, ie; rain, snow, asphalt, rocks etc. the tires ability to do each of those jobs degrades a little. An aggressive AT tire won't do well in the rain but will probably do pretty well the snow. At least nowadays they've started siping the tread on the ATs to improve their highway/rain performance.

As Desert185 noted, it looks like a compromise may be in order to be able to get what you need. Another thing you might do is use a comparison chart (I think TireRack has one on their website) that would let you compare various sizes so you can retain the same circumference but maybe change the width/height of the tire so that you can find more LT choices. Good luck in your search.

Tbos · 06-02-2016, 04:05 PM

Thanks for the suggestions. As mentioned I'll probably have to compromise. It's figuring out the best compromise that's the big chore now.

Tbos · 06-06-2016, 04:36 PM

If I changed to LT265/70R18s what kind of a difference would there be in my low end performance? I would have to have the speedo sw updated. The tires I'm considering are Michelin Defender LTX M/S.

Desert185 · 06-06-2016, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tbos

If I changed to LT265/70R18s what kind of a difference would there be in my low end performance? I would have to have the speedo sw updated. The tires I'm considering are Michelin Defender LTX M/S.

Two miles an hour faster at an indicated 65 MPH. Not significant, really. If you had a 3.55 rear end, you would essentially have a 3.40 with the 265/70-18.

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/infoTireMath.do

Tbos · 06-07-2016, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desert185

Two miles an hour faster at an indicated 65 MPH. Not significant, really. If you had a 3.55 rear end, you would essentially have a 3.40 with the 265/70-18.

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/infoTireMath.do

I had not thought about the effective change in rear end ratio. Since that ratio is part of the equation the OEM uses to determine towing/load capacity it can negatively impact that too. Thanks.

Desert185 · 06-07-2016, 12:23 PM

If I were you, I would buy the Nittos or another tire in the correct size. I went a size bigger to get tires with a higher load rating, but it worked for my diesel and my tuner reset the ABS/computer to the new tire diameter.

Tbos · 06-07-2016, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desert185

If I were you, I would buy the Nittos or another tire in the correct size. I went a size bigger to get tires with a higher load rating, but it worked for my diesel and my tuner reset the ABS/computer to the new tire diameter.

That's what I am most likely to do. I wish Michelin made their LT tires in my size. Looks like it will be an all terrain tire when I upgrade.

Tbos · 06-07-2016, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desert185

If I were you, I would buy the Nittos or another tire in the correct size. I went a size bigger to get tires with a higher load rating, but it worked for my diesel and my tuner reset the ABS/computer to the new tire diameter.

How did the Nittos compare in weight to the OEM tires? The BFG AT KO2s are 16lbs heavier. I saw one guy on line that lost 2-3 mpg when he put them on.

Desert185 · 06-07-2016, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tbos

How did the Nittos compare in weight to the OEM tires? The BFG AT KO2s are 16lbs heavier. I saw one guy on line that lost 2-3 mpg when he put them on.

I went from 265/75-16 to 285/75-16. They were 7# heavier and I haven't lost any mileage. Still getting 22 hwy.

If you get the same size the weight should be a wash.

BlueThunder34 · 06-08-2016, 08:40 AM

I'll throw my 2cents in FWIW as I made a tire change very similar to what the OP is considering when I had my 2014 F-150 ecoboost 4X4 Screw with 3.73's. I did not notice any significant drop in mileage or power going to the 285's. I had the BFGOODRICH KO/2's. I drove them in the heavy NW rain as well as snow and ice, mud, etc. and found them to be an excellent tire with great road manners and very stable towing on the 1/2 ton, I went with the E load rating.

T3/T4 Hybrid · 06-10-2016, 06:42 PM

I haven't seen Toyo mentioned so take a look at the 275/70-18 E load. I like Toyo and its only one size up.

Tire Size: LT275/70R18
Black Letters
Tread Depth: 16/32
Approved Rim: 7 - 8.5
Max Load: 3640
Overall Diameter: 33.2
Speed Rating: S
Load Range: E

Tbos · 06-11-2016, 03:42 AM

Decided to go with Michelin Defender LTX M/S. LT275/65R18. The reviews are very good and it's the closest thing I could find to the diameter of the OEM tires without going to an A/T. For what/where we drive these seem a better fit. Thanks everyone for your ideas and suggestions.

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