Do heavier tires damage differential and transmission?

[Detail53]

Hey everyone I just bought a 2001 eddie bauer with 250,000 miles. There was a slight vibration, so I took it in to get the tires rebalanced. The service tech said that they balanced out fine, but strongly recommended getting different tires as he said that the ones on it now are heavier and would likely damage my drive train if I continued to run them. It came with treadwright wardens on it, LT245/75/17. They are load e range, which I why the tech said they were heavier. I understand that they will ride harsher because of that, but didn't think it was cause for concern. They are also remolds, which I think might also make them weigh a little more. Am I really at risk of causing damage or are they just trying to sell some tires?

 

[Adieu]

Your tech is an idgit or a dishonest excuse for a human being trying to use scare tactics for an upsell.

 

[stamp11127]

Welcome to the site.

The rotating weight difference isn't anything to worry about. Being recaps there is a concern if they are run hot enough to break the vulcanizing bond (same as a semi tire blow out) between the tread and the tire carcass. Flopping tread tends to raise hell with body sheet metal.

 

[ExplorerTom]

Well imagine if your tires weight 1000 lbs each. Accelerating that weight would damage the drivetrain- or significantly increase the wear on it causing it to wear out faster.

Load range E tires are heavier than P rated tires and the same holds true. But...... it’s minor. Don’t worry about it. I’ve got 33” load range E tires on mine.

It’s not the tires, it’s the 1/4 million miles.

 

[Detail53]

Alright thanks guys, kinda what I was hoping to hear I guess. I'll try to keep an eye on the tire pressure and keep them from overheating then, but otherwise won't worry about. I'll also be sure to not go back to that place then too

 

[the bus]

Your fine. I got the same vibration with my treadwrights. Just keep them rotated every 5k miles. They are very very heavy. They will not separate since the should be bead to bead molding process.

 

[cyl3nc3]

Well imagine if your tires weight 1000 lbs each. Accelerating that weight would damage the drivetrain- or significantly increase the wear on it causing it to wear out faster.

Load range E tires are heavier than P rated tires and the same holds true. But...... it’s minor. Don’t worry about it. I’ve got 33” load range E tires on mine.

It’s not the tires, it’s the 1/4 million miles.

The extra weight will increase wear. I bought mine with 22s on it that weighed about 20lbs more per wheel than the steel spares I replaced them with. Might check for other sources of vibration. Off road orieneed tires will also vibrate more and wear faster.

 

[gtncpa]

The hardest weight to move is "rotational mass". So he is basing it on a fact foundation ... but there are plenty of guys running big tires without any problems. Not like you are driving around in Big Foot.

 

[rjdelp7]

Sometimes alloy wheels develop a crusty build up, on hub mounting surface. If bad enough, wheel may wobble a bit. Most "techs" are lazy and don't bother to clean surface. I had to do mine with an angle grinder, with wire wheel. They were pretty bad.