Any of you guys do the 19.5" swap on your tow rigs?

[bmyohn]

It's about time the 01 CTD SRW got a fresh set of tires put on it. These last set of Firestone tires will end up getting me around 18,000 miles. I plan on keeping this truck a while so I have been tossing around the idea of uprgrading to big rig tires. I know that the initial cost of wheels will most likely be in the $1,500 to $2,000 range and tires will not be cheap either. But from everyone I have heard from said I will get anywhere from 80,000 to 115,000 miles on a set of tires.

In my head it makes sense, if I can get tires for a tire for slightly more then stock tires I have now then I can make up the price of the wheels pretty quickly by not having to buy a set of tires every 10 months. I've also talked to the guy at the local tire shop that to save some money initially I could put a set of retreads on the rear. I am looking to go from 265/75/R15s to a 265/70/R19.5 (or 33.6").

But I'd like to get some real world experiences from you guys. Fuel mileage affects? Ride affects? etc.

 

[chpmnsws6]

We run 19.5's on our 99 CTD SRW. We just had 245/70's Cooper RM190 tires put on. They were 1,040 installed and balanced. Fuel mileage improved a bit over the 33x12.5's truxxus MT's, but it takes a bit more to get them slowed down. Thankfully for you, you have better brakes then ours.

Ride is a bit stiffer, but towing....... Its WAY WAY WAY better!!!

 

[bmyohn]

Where'd you get you get your wheels?

 

[eflores]

i run 19.5's on my 96 chevy c3500hd that tips the scales at 14k lbs. i find that the 19.5 tires tend to make you feel like your side walls are rolling all the time. i wanted to do the swap in my 400hp 98 CTD (12v) DRW tow rig but after running them on my chevy i wouldnt dare.

 

[kastein]

What kind of wheels are you looking at? I can get 10-lug 20" steel Budd wheels for 50 bucks each at a place about 40 minutes north of me. If adapters plus cheap truck wheels come out less than wheels built to fit your bolt pattern, I'd go for it, and plenty of flatbiller truck guys buy those adapters so they probably are decently priced these days.

 

[bmyohn]

I've really have only looked into the 8 lug (stock pattern) but I will have to start looking into the 10 lug option too. The guy at the tire place did mention putting on a 10 lug adapter to have a wider option of wheels.

 

[chpmnsws6]

We have aluminum Rickson 19.5's

 

[Renegade XJ]

No Experiance on swaping over, but all my F450's and have 19.5's on them....and so does my Freightliner. These trucks rarely see a day without a load and I get on adveage 90,000 miles out of them

 

[cruiser54]

What kind of wheels are you looking at? I can get 10-lug 20" steel Budd wheels for 50 bucks each at a place about 40 minutes north of me. If adapters plus cheap truck wheels come out less than wheels built to fit your bolt pattern, I'd go for it, and plenty of flatbiller truck guys buy those adapters so they probably are decently priced these days.

20" tires are pretty much obsolete anymore, aren't they?

That's why I switched to 24.5s on my M543 7 years ago, to have a better choice of tires.

As to the OPs comment about getting 80,000 to 115,000 miles out of 19.5s, it ain't gonna happen. I had 4 trucks in my fleet with 19.5s and they don't last that long at all.

 

[kastein]

I think they may be, but I saw a bunch of pallets of 12 395/85r20 (46") michelin XMLs and XZLs go for 1400 a pallet at auction a while ago, with 75%+ tread remaining. Since my plan is 46s in the future anywaays, and not many miles, once I get some cash together I'm bidding on a couple pallets and calling it a day.

This doesn't really help the OP though, I guess :roflmao: 46s on a little truck would bring the suck.

 

[cruiser54]

I think they may be, but I saw a bunch of pallets of 12 395/85r20 (46") michelin XMLs and XZLs go for 1400 a pallet at auction a while ago, with 75%+ tread remaining. Since my plan is 46s in the future anywaays, and not many miles, once I get some cash together I'm bidding on a couple pallets and calling it a day.

This doesn't really help the OP though, I guess :roflmao: 46s on a little truck would bring the suck.

Not to mention the pallets of tires may be old but with good tread and already gassed out.

 

[ChiXJeff]

I get 50k plus out of a set of tires on my CTD. I've got 235/75R16 GY Wrangler Silent Armors. I can't justify a conversion to 19.5s. I might convert to 17" rims, though.

 

[macgyvr]

My f450 has 62k miles on it. Came stock with 19.5s...the backs will need replaced within the next 15k...no clue if they are stock or not. The fronts have lots of tread...no clue if they are stock tho...

mac 'its a "G" or "H" rated tire' gyvr

 

[Goatman]

I have 19.5's on my '97 F350. I love them. I carry a 9.5' Lance camper with a slide out on my SWR truck and the 19.5's are the only way to go. My tires are at least 6 years old with over 35k on them and they still look almost new. The Rickson wheels are nice, but I have Vision wheels which are cheaper and work just fine. My wheels have a 4500 lb rating, which is the same load rating as my 245/70 19.5 G rated Goodyears.

Look around price wise, find the best deal and then do it. Assuming you're carrying a load where you need them.

 

[macgyvr]

I have 19.5's on my '97 F350. I love them. I carry a 9.5' Lance camper with a slide out on my SWR truck and the 19.5's are the only way to go. My tires are at least 6 years old with over 35k on them and they still look almost new. The Rickson wheels are nice, but I have Vision wheels which are cheaper and work just fine. My wheels have a 4500 lb rating, which is the same load rating as my 245/70 19.5 G rated Goodyears.

Look around price wise, find the best deal and then do it. Assuming you're carrying a load where you need them.

Pics?

mac 'see you on the lakebed?' gyvr

 

[FlexdXJ]

This doesn't really help the OP though, I guess :roflmao: 46s on a little truck would bring the suck.

I'm sure all the libtards at IU would love him even more!

 

[Goatman]

Pics?

mac 'see you on the lakebed?' gyvr

Sure. This is in '05 on my old truck, a '96. Can't find any pics of my new truck, a '97 crew cab. Tires look just as good now as they did in '05.