Tire Sizing Question

[mu2bdriver]

It's time for me to look into new tires before the winter.
My door placard lists the tire size as LT235/85R16E however it's currently rolling on LT245/75R16E.
Is there any harm in staying with that size (I have two mounted and balanced spares available) or should I return to the original equipment size?
What do you think was the previous owner's motive for a slightly wider and shorter tire?
Thanks in advance.

 

[fordf350man]

only thing would be the speedometer would be off slightly but no harm will happen to the truck, lots of truck owners will go to larger tire sizes, myself i like the look and i play off road some to

 

[sjwelds]

My speedo is actually dead on the money with 285/75R16s

JM2CW

 

[laserjock]

My speedo is actually dead on the money with 285/75R16s

JM2CW

If you do the math, the diameter and hence circumference of your tire is almost identical to stock if memory serves. It's just wider. Wider tire will tend to make it drive a little nicer. You might trade a smidge of fuel economy but it's probably about a wash. Let your needs, eyeballs, and wallet be your guide.

 

[sjwelds]

True. I do like the looks of a wider tire. I did have to add some 1/2" wheel spacers tho. Kept rubbing on the spring in the front when I'd turn tight and go through a little dip or something. Luckily had plenty of thread on the wheel lugs.
O yes I'm also running retread tires from www.treadwright.com. so far am happy with them

 

[ironworker40]

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/infoTireMath.do
Here is a handy calculator for tire size and spedo corection

 

[fordf350man]

True. I do like the looks of a wider tire. I did have to add some 1/2" wheel spacers tho. Kept rubbing on the spring in the front when I'd turn tight and go through a little dip or something. Luckily had plenty of thread on the wheel lugs.
O yes I'm also running retread tires from www.treadwright.com. so far am happy with them

How are the tread wrights doing for you? are they wearing nicely and are they the bead 2 bead style? been thinking about these tires for years now and read good things about them but never could actually talk to someone that had them

 

[sjwelds]

Not sure what you mean by "bead to bead style"? But so far I like them... actually have them on my DD as well (see sig) and seem to be holding up OK. Maybe a bit more prone to weather than a new tire?

The price is NICE tho

 

[jim_22]

When I last checked what was available at a decent cost to me (Cooper), all the larger tires had reduced load ratings so I went with stock.

 

[mu2bdriver]

Thanks, guys. I've never varied from placards tire sizes so this is all new to me. Comparing a few sizes, a 265/75/16 actually looks the best and is only a few dollars extra/tire.

 

[fordf350man]

Not sure what you mean by "bead to bead style"? But so far I like them... actually have them on my DD as well (see sig) and seem to be holding up OK. Maybe a bit more prone to weather than a new tire?

The price is NICE tho

great news, the bead 2 bead style is somewhat new, instead of the normal retread on the center of the tire they actually add new rubber all the way around the tires, hence the bead 2 bead, so the sidewall also gets new rubber as well and makes it a stronger retread, you can check it out on there website

 

[sjwelds]

Yeah I'm pretty sure mine would be bead-to-bead. They all have matching sidewalls. I got the Warden A/T, I believe, and they look quite similar in tread design to a BFG All-Terrain T/A. Fairly quiet on-road and track nice and straight so far, even with my old Ford's loose-as-a-goose steering lol

 

[fordf350man]

glad to hear a good review on these tires, i can see them in my future lol

 

[PwrSmoke]

Well, the 245/75R15 are a little shorter than the 235/85R16 (30.5 vs 31.7). That's a generic measurement since each individual type model has it's own slightly different dimension. A 265/75R16 is at 31.6" so it's effectively the same rolling diameter. A 285/70R16 (the size I have had for about 10 years now) is 32.8" and I sill second the statement above that the speedo is dead-nuts on with that tire size. The original size tire has the speedo/odo read a little high on speed and showing more miles traveled than actual.. about 8 percent if I recall my test numbers. I checked several ways, first by hacking of mile markets on the highway and then by using a GPS. Later I even measured the loaded circumference and calculating it that way. The 285/70 (about a 33) is just dead-nutz on!

 

[HS108]

You have any issues running that 285 tire on there?

I too am going to be looking for tires soon, I have the 265 on my truck currently, but would like just a little more tire to help combat the high RPMs of my 4.10s not that its gonna make a huge difference but will help a little