Best tires for towing

[alex800]

I need to upgrade my tires due to some recommendation from this board. I’m towing 7500 lbs travel trailer and folks recommended that I upgrade my tires to load range D or E tires. The problem that I have is that there are not a lot of options in my tire size (275/55/20). The only tire I was able to find that is load range D rated is BF Goodrich All-Terrain TA KO2 LT275/55R20/D which is about $237 per tire from Sams Club. The other tire I’m considering is Nitto Terra Grappler AT which is XL rated that is about $190.

I need some recommendation. Should I spend additional $200 for D rated tires or will XL would be a safe choice?

I currently have Pirelli Scorpion STR with less than 2000 mi on them.

 

[thenaaks]

Load range is more important when there's a lot of tongue weight on your trailer. Your tires have a weight rating of 2403 pounds each. The bf Goodrich tire you've listed is rated at 2680. Not a significant difference, in my opinion.

 

[alex800]

But about about the stability? Will D tire be significantly stable vs OEM Pirelli tire? Also Terra Grappler has a weight rating if 2833 pounds but has XL rating.

 

[thenaaks]

A 55 series sidewall isn't going to be too squishy. I would personally give it a try and then decide, if time allows.

 

[alex800]

A 55 series sidewall isn't going to be too squishy. I would personally give it a try and then decide, if time allows.

Do you mean give it a shot to Pirelli?

 

[Mediamonkey11]

If I remember correctly in your other thread you're trying to mitigate sway caused by a new TT? Make sure your weight distribution is set up correctly first, this being determined by suspension squat and load leveling more than perception of sway when going down the road. Also look into the anti-sway (usually friction based) system that can be purchased with or added onto a current WD hitch. Are you running your current tires properly inflated? What pressure? What is their max? Personally, when towing anything with a decent tongue weight I max out my tire pressure regardless, makes a HUGE difference!

 

[alex800]

If I remember correctly in your other thread you're trying to mitigate sway caused by a new TT? Make sure your weight distribution is set up correctly first, this being determined by suspension squat and load leveling more than perception of sway when going down the road. Also look into the anti-sway (usually friction based) system that can be purchased with or added onto a current WD hitch. Are you running your current tires properly inflated? What pressure? What is their max? Personally, when towing anything with a decent tongue weight I max out my tire pressure regardless, makes a HUGE difference!

I already have Equal-i-zer Hitch and it is 95% percent setup. I still need to go to weight it just to make everythink is OK.

My current tires are Pirelli Scorpion STR. Last time I was towing I inflated them to 40 psi. I think the maximum is 44 psi.

 

[thenaaks]

Yes, i would run the pirelli tires and see how they do. Run them near max inflation (since max load is calculated at max inflation). If you're experiencing sway, then tires won't fix that. I've never used a weight distributing hitch, so i can't speak to that. But i do a lot of trailering. Too much tongue weight will make the front of the truck too light, and hard to drive. Too little tongue weight (or too much weight at the back of a trailer) will cause it to sway at higher speeds.

 

[alex800]

Broke the bank yesterday and installed new KO2 tires....

 

[ezeq]

Nice tires

 

[01yellerCobra]

So you decided against trying the Pirellis?

 

[alex800]

So you decided against trying the Pirellis?

A did try the it with 44PSI and did not notice any improvement from 40PSI so I felt I needed to upgrade to more heavy duty tires. I feel more comfortable knowing that I have the best tires available.

Regards,

Alex

 

[rice_classic]

It's a trade off isn't it? I bought new tires for my 2003 (I tow a 20' enclosed @ ~7k lbs) and I opted against E-Range. Why?

The regular LT tires (General Grabbers) have a combined load rating between the rears 1500lbs greater than my total rear axle rating. Basically my suspension will fail before the tires. I also use a WDS (Equalizer) and towing @ 65MPH+ is a relaxing 1 handed affair.

Why not E-Range.. well because A: They weren't needed and B: because for the other 80% of the time I'm not towing I don't want an incredibly harsh ride.

Consider your trade-offs and needs.

 

[Goats]

It's a trade off isn't it? I bought new tires for my 2003 (I tow a 20' enclosed @ ~7k lbs) and I opted against E-Range. Why?

The regular LT tires (General Grabbers) have a combined load rating between the rears 1500lbs greater than my total rear axle rating. Basically my suspension will fail before the tires. I also use a WDS (Equalizer) and towing @ 65MPH+ is a relaxing 1 handed affair.

Why not E-Range.. well because A: They weren't needed and B: because for the other 80% of the time I'm not towing I don't want an incredibly harsh ride.

Consider your trade-offs and needs.

You will never notice a difference in ride quality going from a load range C to E. What you don't realize is the E range tire will not sway as much as a C or D range.

 

[rice_classic]

You will never notice a difference in ride quality going from a load range C to E. What you don't realize is the E range tire will not sway as much as a C or D range.

True story bro. If my options were C or E then I would have opted for E, but they weren't.

In my size (OEM) and from where I wanted to buy from (tirerack) there were only 2 options: Standard and E-range and nothing in between in 265/70/17.

The difference between Standard and E-range is noticeable regarding ride comfort. Not my first rodeo in that department. I may have chosen the E-Range if towing was my primary function with the vehicle especially towing long distances and/or towing without WDS/sway control. I will only be towing about 10 times a year with an Equalizer Hitch. Therefore the extra reduction in sway from the E-range tire isn't worth it, for me, because towing a dual axle trailer with an Equalizer is, like I said, a relaxing 1 handed affair.

Secondly, there's the concern for load and price. The E-Range at the time was more than $200 for a set. They do offer 660lbs more per tire in overall load: E = 3195 and ST = 2535. However, the RAWR of the '03 Expy is 4100lbs and the combined load of the ST tires on the rear would be 5070lbs, that's almost 1000lbs greater than my RAWR and well within any safety ranges for all my purposes.

Now if I had a 3/4 ton vehicle and was hauling more weight and a larger trailer then the E-range is what I would have chosen.

 

[Static54]

It's all preference I guess. Personally based on experience with my 1/2 ton silverado I will be going with Load range E tires once my stocks are ready to be replaced. I had the nitro terra grapplers and they were pretty good tires but load range E didn't really change the ride quality too much (wasn't a concern with my
truck but is for my expedition) but totally changed the towing quality (even with my airbags). K

 

[Chris_H]

What are your thoughts on the KO2 tires while towing? Was there a noticeable difference, or was it a "I just spent $1000 and there must be a difference"
I'd like to minimize the squirmy feeling while towing our TT, but if spending a bunch of money will still only make the Expy marginal at towing the TT I'll need to come up with other options. I'm at the GVWR as it is.

 

[ExplorerTom]

So this article mentions a particular tire as good for towing:
Massive 4x4 Tire Guide - Four Wheeler Magazine

 

[Chris_H]

Any updates on towing with these tires?