Community Forums

drfife · 03-22-2014, 06:54 AM

In the next few months I plan to replace the OEM Michelin LTX AT/2 LT265/70R18 wheels and tires on my 2012 GMC Sierra 3500HD SRW truck with 19.5" wheels and commercial tires.

I have 32K miles on the truck and about 1/3 tread remaining.

I will most likely install Vision Heavy Hauler - 81 Machined Clear Coat 19.5" wheels and Bridgestone M729F 245/70R19.5 tires.

I have a quote from Rickson Wheel Manufacturing for a set of 4 wheels and tires, match mounted and balanced and shipped to me to install. Not cheap.

The commercial tires have a a much longer tread life and are more heavy duty than consumer grade LT tires. Some are reporting 80K+ miles towing heavy loads with these type tires.

I am within weight specs for my current tires. The commercial load range H tires will provide 1,000 lbs per tire increase in rating. I realize, it does not change the GVWR of the truck, but I was already within that as well.

Plus, they look cool.

The 19.5" 245's are about 5/8" greater diameter, so wheel well clearance should not be an issue. The wheels have a zero offset, so the outer edge of the tire will be 1.125" further out. That too should not pose a problem.

I wanted the Michelin XDS2's but was told and I've read they are very noisy.

Has anyone installed 19.5" wheel and tires? What tire and wheels did you choose?

Rickson makes some very nice steel wheels, but I just don't like how they look.

Spec comparison of the OEM 18" to the proposed 19.5" tires:

Max Load
18": 3525 lbs
19.5": 4940 lbs

Tread Depth
18": 14.5/32"
19.5": 19/32"

Diameter
18": 32.7"
19.5": 33.4"

Revolutions per mile
18": 637
19.5": 622

Currently, the speedometer with the 18" tires is more than 2% off. If I'm driving 65 mph according to the speedometer, the GPS shows 63 mph.

According to my calculations, I will be closer to true speed on the speedometer with the 19.5" tires than I am with the 18". When the speedometer shows 65 mph the GPS will display 66.4 mph.

I do not think the greater diameter will have a significant impact on the Allison transmission shift points.

It will decrease my gear ratio slightly from 3.73 to 3.65, but doubt I will notice a performance difference in torque to the pavement.

JDT · 03-22-2014, 07:33 AM

Russell, you know I can't answer your question but I am curious if your empty ride will be affected as the tires have to have more plies and thus firmer. They do look good though and will really dress up your truck. The wheels will kind of match the ones on your Winslow.

I have noticed the tires seem to be the limiting factor on the carrying capacity of a truck. You would think that in the load carrying ratings race that manufacturers would do something like this as an option.

drfife · 03-22-2014, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDT

....I am curious if your empty ride will be affected as the tires have to have more plies and thus firmer....I have noticed the tires seem to be the limiting factor on the carrying capacity of a truck. You would think that in the load carrying ratings race that manufacturers would do something like this as an option.

70% of the miles are towing. I'm not concerned if the ride is more harsh unloaded. Everything is a compromise.

I agree, the OEM tires are the weak link in the weight specs for these trucks. I wonder why they don't offer something similar to my upgrade as OEM.

drfife · 03-22-2014, 10:17 AM

The American Force 19.5" Beast wheels are great looking. But, they are over $500 each. Anyone know a vendor with the best price?

rfhtlh · 03-22-2014, 10:28 AM

I have the 19.5 Michelins and yes they are noisy. I think a straight tread would be less noisy. Do you know anyone with the bridgestone tires you are looking at? The tread looks like it might create some noise. I looked at the pressure vs weight tables on the Michelin site and found I could run with less than max pressure based on my weight. The empty ride improved but still pretty stiff.

drfife · 03-22-2014, 11:28 AM

These 19.5's on pick-ups are rare. It's hard to find first hand reports.

All I know is from posts on forums and talking to tire dealers.

All will be noisy. Bridgestone M729F have the best reports. The Michelin tire, which I originally sought, the worst reports for noise.

2014-3585RL · 03-25-2014, 03:28 PM

I ran Hercules H902's on my 06 Dodge 2500 worked very well. Not to noisey , very stable on tread had worn in.I too used the heavy hualer 81's. Would highly recommend this for towing.
Now I need to know what 19.5 to use on 38foot 5th wheel load range f or g?

rfhtlh · 03-25-2014, 05:50 PM

have you looked at continental tires? I have them on my trailer.

Auto hauler · 04-24-2014, 10:07 PM

From past experience with the 19.5 tires and wheels on my 18 wheeler car haulers I will not run anything in this wheel size but Michelin. They are going to be quite a bit more expensive than the other brands, but they are the only one that will wear correctly and far less likely to go BOOM in the hot summer months. The noise issue mentioned has never been an issue with me, but then I am dealing with rather loud trucks to begin with.

My 3500 Dodge will be getting these shoes soon as well. Already have the eight bolt 19.5 aluminum wheels for her. Just getting the most life I can out of the original tires and saving the coin for the coming sting of six more new Michelin's Even run through my national tire account that's going to sting a bit. However they should last 150,000 mile or more on the Dodge. I can get this out of them and more on the big rig(s).

Jeff426 · 04-25-2014, 05:38 AM

Hey Russell,

Thanks for starting this thread, I'm getting close to replacing some tires, with in the year , so this is definitely something to think about.

Jeff

Auto hauler · 04-25-2014, 09:03 AM

A side note I forgot to mention before: Long time ago, I dumped the 16 inch may pop tires and wheels under my old Excel for 17.5s. 235/70/17.5 Michelin tires to be exact. Granted, I don't put near the miles on mine as some of you do, but when I do, I don't want to have to worry about less than quality tires giving up on me.

Jeff426 · 05-07-2014, 12:32 PM

Hey Russell,

We have done business with Les Schwab for many years and so based on this discussion and need to rotate my tires anyway, I got a quote from them on 5 x 245/70R19.5" tires and wheels. They have always done well for us, these were H rated, mounted, balanced, siped, 4500# weight rating. They were not Bridgestone or Michelin but a tire they have used in the same application many times. $3818 was the bid

Jeff

drfife · 05-07-2014, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff426

Hey Russell,

We have done business with Les Schwab for many years and so based on this discussion and need to rotate my tires anyway, I got a quote from them on 5 x 245/70R19.5" tires and wheels. They have always done well for us, these were H rated, mounted, balanced, siped, 4500# weight rating. They were not Bridgestone or Michelin but a tire they have used in the same application many times. $3818 was the bid

Jeff

Jeff, thanks for the info. Let me know if you finalize the deal. I'd like to know the brand of tire and wheel they install.

Jeff426 · 05-09-2014, 08:59 AM

Hey Russell,

The tire is a Falcon Ohtsu RI 128, 14 ply, H rated tire with 4500 weight rating, the wheel is a Vision Type 81 Machined Medium Offset, 19.5" x 7.5 8-6.5. All the other stuff stems, mounting and balancing and siping will take place. We are, as you may know, planning to upgrade to the 34IKE so when we do that, it will have the 17.5" wheels and tires. The tires we are running on the truck are still in very good shape. Our plan is to upgrade the wheels and tires on the truck when we get to Denver next summer.
Thanks again,

Jeff