Expedition Tires for Towing

[Fred Moore]

My 2017 King Ranch has pretty standard 275-55 R20 Goodyear Eagle tires. I have no complaints with them.

I pull a 6000 lb + 28' travel trailer with no difficulty, but as I near the time to replace my tires, I wonder if the new tires should have a greater Load Index.

My Goodyear Eagle LS-2 tires have a load index of 111 (2403 lbs), however Goodyearalso has the Eagle Sport all-season with a load index of 117 (2833 lbs).

Any wisdom here? is the additional loading capacity worth the extra $$? Is there a hit to ride comfort?

I appreciate your opinions.

BTW--The trailer is connected by a rather expensive Reece Dual Cam Weight Distribution hitch with Anti-sway control.

 

[07navi]

If you have a lot of tongue weight I would go with the LT tires which use more air pressure and much heavier duty but ride a little rougher in the rear. If I was towing I would go with the LT; stiffer, stronger, etc.

 

[chuck s]

How often do you tow?

I've been towing my 6000-ish pound travel trailer for years with both my '07 and '17 Expeditions with the OE or similar P-metric tires. No issues whatsoever. No need for LT tires for me. The tires on the truck are not the weak point anyway, it's the suspension, so tires capable of more weight won't add capacity or headroom.

-- Chuck

 

[07navi]

But the LT's are stiffer and more responsive, not to mention stronger, and they are what I would use

 

[chuck s]

LT tires make the Expedition ride like -- what's the term? Oh yeah -- Light Truck.

-- Chuck

 

[07navi]

LT tires make the Expedition ride like -- what's the term? Oh yeah -- Light Truck.

-- Chuck

Nice for towing though

 

[chuck s]

Agreed but running the rears up to say 45psi works fine for weekend towing.

-- Chuck

 

[Fred Moore]

Chuck S--or anyone else for that matter.

Considering the comment that the suspension is the weak link, what have you done to strengthen the suspension? In addition to the LT tires, I was considering adding Coil SumoSprings Custom Helper Springs for Coil Spring Suspension to the rear. https://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Suspension/Ford/Expedition/2017/CSS-1094r.html?VehicleID=201722605

Any experience with these or other recommendations fo

 

[chuck s]

The P-Metric tires that came with my Expedition have a capacity of ~2600 pounds each or 5200 pounds per axle yet the RAWR (rear axle weight rating) is only 4300 pounds a difference of 900 pounds. LT tires can increase the tire-axle capability to ~6800 pounds but the axle rating remains 4300.

Suspension? Springs? Axle? Clearly it's not tires and if it's the suspension or axle just adding stiffer springs may not change it either..

-- Chuck

 

[07navi]

Agreed but running the rears up to say 45psi works fine for weekend towing.

-- Chuck

It's not the same, LT tires are at their strongest at 80 psi and have more stiffness at 60+- lbs which is what you need for towing. Plus you can get them in E rating which almost eliminates fear of blowouts. Lots of money back there, do it right.

 

[Fred Moore]

Chuck s
I appreciate the thoughts you are injecting. Regarding the axle, does it matter that the Weight Distribution hitch helps de-load the rear axle?

 

[07navi]

Chuck s
I appreciate the thoughts you are injecting. Regarding the axle, does it matter that the Weight Distribution hitch helps de-load the rear axle?

Not an expert on towing but I would never run P rated tires with a load like that.

 

[JExpedition07]

I have to agree with Chuck S, while there isn’t anything wrong with an LT tire the P rated tires aren’t really the limiting factor....I had 4 BridgeStone LT tires on order and ended up canceling and using 4 Michelin P rated tires. They do fine with the boat in tow.

 

[chuck s]

A WDH when set up properly will remove weight from the rear axle and distribute it to the front axle and the trailer axle(s) and is the best practice for handling tongue weight. Air bags and gimmicks like Timbren suspension thingies which reduce rear sag do not increase the RAWR (and Timbren does not make that claim). These can make the truck level and disguise an overloaded condition.

The OE P-radials are capable of handling the rated rear axle rating at their specified 35psi tire pressure. (Check the placard in your door jam.) Inflating to 45 or 50 psi stiffens the sidewalls. Only necessary/desirable those few times the trailer is back there.

As noted if you want a truck-like ride every day get the LT tires and run 80psi but your towing capacity remains unchanged.

-- Chuck

 

[Fasttimes]

A WDH when set up properly will remove weight from the rear axle and distribute it to the front axle and the trailer axle(s) and is the best practice for handling tongue weight. Air bags and gimmicks like Timbren suspension thingies which reduce rear sag do not increase the RAWR (and Timbren does not make that claim). These can make the truck level and disguise an overloaded condition.

The OE P-radials are capable of handling the rated rear axle rating at their specified 35psi tire pressure. (Check the placard in your door jam.) Inflating to 45 or 50 psi stiffens the sidewalls. Only necessary/desirable those few times the trailer is back there.

As noted if you want a truck-like ride every day get the LT tires and run 80psi but your towing capacity remains unchanged.

-- Chuck

I have Michellan LTX tires, and always inflate to the 35psi even when towing. Is it safe to inflate to 45 or 50psi when towing my rv for long distances? 2000 mile trip this summer, is it safe to have the tires overinflated that long? And should you only do that to the rear tires where the heaviest load is, or all 4 knowing your using a WDH?

 

[07navi]

I have Michellan LTX tires, and always inflate to the 35psi even when towing. Is it safe to inflate to 45 or 50psi when towing my rv for long distances? 2000 mile trip this summer, is it safe to have the tires overinflated that long? And should you only do that to the rear tires where the heaviest load is, or all 4 knowing your using a WDH?

Tires are strongest at their highest psi rating. Look on your tire to see what it is. C rated light truck tires are the best riding compromise and still allow more pressure. I can't comment on safety with extended miles with over inflated tires. Everybody in this forum wants to run weaker, flimsier tires for towing but I wouldn't do it with a heavy trailer. LT tires are heavier built and come in C, D, and E rating. Max pressure on the E is 80 lbs, D is 65 lbs, and C is 50 lbs. If I towed a big trailer I would go with C rated LT tires and run them at 50 psi (all day long) and drop them down to 35 psi for normal driving. LT tires will give better trailer control and more peace of mind also. I always run E rated tires on my 8,000 pound Excursion at 60 lbs and some people run them at up to 80 lbs which they can easily handle constantly but no such luck with flimsy P rated tires.

 

[chuck s]

Tires are not "over-inflated" as long as their cold tire pressure is at or below the Max on the sidewall. Pretty sure the P-metrics on mine have 50psi (52psi?) there.

One can always kill a fly with a hammer -- or run LT tires on a SUV.

"Flimsy tires?"

-- Chuck

 

[JExpedition07]

Tires are not "over-inflated" as long as their cold tire pressure is at or below the Max on the sidewall. Pretty sure the P-metrics on mine have 50psi (52psi?) there.

One can always kill a fly with a hammer -- or run LT tires on a SUV.

"Flimsy tires?"

-- Chuck

For short trips high inflation per sidewall maximum is ok but my tires on my 2007 were worn down in the middle from over-inflation. I replaced those old Michelin LTX M/S tired with brand new ones because they still rode nice......low and behold the tire shop over inflated them to 50 PSI and I had to air down the new tires to avoid excess wear.

 

[07navi]

Tires are not "over-inflated" as long as their cold tire pressure is at or below the Max on the sidewall. Pretty sure the P-metrics on mine have 50psi (52psi?) there.

One can always kill a fly with a hammer -- or run LT tires on a SUV.

"Flimsy tires?"

-- Chuck

 

[07navi]

Tires are not "over-inflated" as long as their cold tire pressure is at or below the Max on the sidewall. Pretty sure the P-metrics on mine have 50psi (52psi?) there.

One can always kill a fly with a hammer -- or run LT tires on a SUV.

"Flimsy tires?"

-- Chuck

No, max pressure is 35 psi and up to 44 psi MAX on some of the higher priced ones. So the most PSI you can get on any P rated tire is 44 psi. They are car tires stretched to the max on SUV's and not for an added heavy trailer. Yes flimsy