Tire width questions.

Pullit

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I use my '04 F250 for repossessions. I work in the Los Angeles area.
My truck has 235/85/r16 currently. I would like to go narrower 215/85/r16.

I never tow anything heavy or long. Maybe another 3/4 ton truck at most and Never very far.
I run a quality Bridgestone Dueler E rated tire.
I'm looking to shave a few points off my maintenance and fuel costs.
 

79jasper

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I don't see any reason you couldn't.
Tire size isn't that important. Load rating is.

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Pullit

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I don't see any reason you couldn't.
Tire size isn't that important. Load rating is.

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That's what I was thinking.
Then I was thinking I may run into traction problems during wet weather increasing stopping distance.
Some times I have to drag a car with the e-brake on. I my have a traction issue there too.
I think I'm going to go look at them both side by side and see how much physical difference in with there will be.
 

mu2bdriver

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Out of curiosity, what is the difference in cost per tire and what are you expecting to save on maintenance and fuel? And if you have more traction at the tires, will that burn through tires faster than you're expecting and negate any expected savings?
 

Pullit

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Out of curiosity, what is the difference in cost per tire and what are you expecting to save on maintenance and fuel? And if you have more traction at the tires, will that burn through tires faster than you're expecting and negate any expected savings?

It's around 25$ per. $109(tax) per swap out. That would be the maintenance savings.
As far as fuel mileage. Thin tire, less surface area, less friction, less energy needed to roll the tire.

This is just one of the mods I'm doing.
I've purchased almost the entire fuel delivery system. New lift pump, new filters, Air Dog.
I'm going to do the EGR delete, stud the heads, rebuild the turbo with a fancy wheel.

Truck is going to be down for a few days, Figured I'd have my yard gofer take the wheels off and have new tires mount/balanced while I pulled the motor and did the heads.
 

u2slow

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A pair of 215/85R16E's can't support an F250's rear GAWR. (<3000# each)

I prefer to stay with LT265, 285, 295, 315 sizes so I'm in the 3400-4000# range.
 

jwalterus

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I'd say go with a 215/85R16 in a 14 ply (load range G) in the rear (4k+ load rating).
You can get a 10 ply on the front in the same size.

Bonus to a 14 ply, you can get them recapped.

I actually had a set on a truck that was cut up for parts, I can't say I remember what brand they were or I'd tell you.
Going to have to go to an ag tire shop to find them most likely, (at least you do around here :dunno) otherwise you're going to find only trailer tires.
 

u2slow

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You may have trouble with 215's on a 7" wheel. 235/85R16 tires are already a stretch. 245-265 seems to fit best IMO.

It might be an idea to weigh your rear axle somehow with one of your bigger repo's hooked up. Cantilever loading stacks up fast. I'd probably go for some cheap 265/75R16E's... mainstream size with good load capacity.
 
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