Replacing tires on 2015 Expedition EL - mostly for towing

[grey2112]

So, I bought a 2015 Expedition EL 2WD. I feel like the tires on it are not ideal for towing my almost 8000 pound boat/trailer. They are Michelin LTX M/S2 tires that are only 114T load rated - 2600 pounds at a max inflation of 44psi and are nominally supposed to be around 36psi according to Ford.

I feel like Load Range E tires (80PSI) would be much better.

These tires I do have are brand new and only have about 2000 miles on them - they usually go for around $225 each new so I'm wondering how much I could get for them if I sold them on Craigslist - maybe $125 each?

Any suggestions for replacements? I was reading very good things about the Firestone Destination AT tires - about $225 each.

Also the Michelin LTX Winter - even though I don't need a winter tire, it gets some good ratings and write-ups as an all around all-weather tire with good wear characteristics.

 

[montecarlo31]

LTX AT2 is all I run, if I don't run Michelins I go with the Nitto Terra Grappler (I haven't run the G2s yet so no idea how they are but the original was very close in all aspects of performance to the Michelin but better in Sand). I've posted these pics before but these were LT285/55R20 I believe (one size up from Factory). I paid about 200 each if memory services brand new on our Michelin account. I had zero issues with towing even with tongue weights close to 1,000 lbs (Many times I was over the 7,500 GVW without issue or concern). I can see if I can find my weight to PSI chart for these so you can set the right tire pressure as you will not load them enough to need 80 PSI in them when towing.

 

[grey2112]

I found it funny that the Michelin LTX Winter tires get very high ratings as an AT tire. So far all my research is showing the best ratings are coming in for the Firestone Destination AT tires. I am always on pavement and relatively decent boat ramps with the occasional ramp slime, have lost traction once or twice while launching but never while pulling the boat out.

 

[montecarlo31]

I found it funny that the Michelin LTX Winter tires get very high ratings as an AT tire. So far all my research is showing the best ratings are coming in for the Firestone Destination AT tires. I am always on pavement and relatively decent boat ramps with the occasional ramp slime, have lost traction once or twice while launching but never while pulling the boat out.

I've had rentals with firestones, I would run as fast as you can from them. if all you do is highway go with the LTX MS in the E flavor. You'll get 100K miles out of them and never look back.

For what it's worth I live(d) in Wesley Chapel and pulled a 28' (both Grady and Pursuit) boats regularly with no need for sway or weight distribution with my 08 EL 4x4. If you are having issues after the swap to LR E tires check out the trailer setup. I could run I95 and 75 at any reasonable speed and not feel like I had control issues.

 

[grey2112]

I've had rentals with firestones, I would run as fast as you can from them. if all you do is highway go with the LTX MS in the E flavor. You'll get 100K miles out of them and never look back.

For what it's worth I live(d) in Wesley Chapel and pulled a 28' (both Grady and Pursuit) boats regularly with no need for sway or weight distribution with my 08 EL 4x4. If you are having issues after the swap to LR E tires check out the trailer setup. I could run I95 and 75 at any reasonable speed and not feel like I had control issues.

Gotcha, thanks for the advice. Wow, 28 foot Grady and Pursuits are pretty heavy boats - and you towed them with the Expedition? And that was before the EcoBoost, right?

I think once I get the boat weighed and the tongue weight figured out, then maybe some moving around of axles or the winch post will get me to 5%-7% tongue weight and I'll feel better. That and the E rated tires.

 

[grey2112]

Hmm - apparently the Michelins you recommend are not made for my 2015 Expedition EL - mine are 275/65-18 - the only make that size in the 20"

 

[montecarlo31]

Hmm - apparently the Michelins you recommend are not made for my 2015 Expedition EL - mine are 275/65-18 - the only make that size in the 20"

Yes Michelin makes the AT and MS in 275/65R18 both as P metric and LT. Not sure where you are looking but they are readily available.

 

[grey2112]

Not finding them on Tire Rack, Wal Mart, other sites in that size in Load range E.

 

[USMCBuckWild]

http://www.hankooktire.com/us/passenger-cars/hankook-dynapro-at-m-rf10.html

I ran these in 255/60/18 and had great luck with them. I recomended them to my brother for his Cummins as well. Offered in a 120 or 123 load rating

 

[Flight-ER-Doc]

My 2015 EL was a dealer demo, and had 12K miles on it when I bought it...the dealer replaced the OEM tires with Hankook, and they are surprisingly good! Great on snow and ice, quiet on the highway, they seem OK off-road at least on trails... I would probably have put Michellin ATX on, but these are fine. 32K on them now and tread life seems OK too.

 

[montecarlo31]

Not finding them on Tire Rack, Wal Mart, other sites in that size in Load range E.

I'm not sure what's hard about finding them on tire rack?

 

[grey2112]

I was finally able to find them - I had originally been searching using my 2015 Expedition as the basis for the search and they didn't pop up due to some internal programming issues on Tire Rack's website.

Got a quote of around $1100 installed including tax locally here.

 

[montecarlo31]

I was finally able to find them - I had originally been searching using my 2015 Expedition as the basis for the search and they didn't pop up due to some internal programming issues on Tire Rack's website.

Got a quote of around $1100 installed including tax locally here.

A quote for which tires for 1,100? Just a a FYI Costco in Brandon has the LTX AT2 LR Es for 1,071 installed plus tax and that includes lifetime rotation/balance as well as road hazard (their road hazard isn't bad either). The LTX MS2 are 971.96 plus tax installed.

If you don't offroad I would go with the M/S2s. We've had guys go over 100K miles on them before getting to 4/32s where we replace tires.

 

[grey2112]

A quote for which tires for 1,100? Just a a FYI Costco in Brandon has the LTX AT2 LR Es for 1,071 installed plus tax and that includes lifetime rotation/balance as well as road hazard (their road hazard isn't bad either). The LTX MS2 are 971.96 plus tax installed.

If you don't offroad I would go with the M/S2s. We've had guys go over 100K miles on them before getting to 4/32s where we replace tires.

The M/S2s - yeah, decent price, good local tire company. I still may see how long I can go with the current ones if I'm not doing any long-range trailering for the next 8-12 months.

Got my boat trailer weighed finally and discovered I'm sitting on about 950 pounds tongue weight, which is about 13% on the tongue - it should be 5%-7%, or around 450 pounds or so. So I'm going to have to move the boat back on the trailer to make the tongue weight lower. No wonder I'm getting such "squish" on the rear axle when hitched up.

 

[montecarlo31]

The M/S2s - yeah, decent price, good local tire company. I still may see how long I can go with the current ones if I'm not doing any long-range trailering for the next 8-12 months.

Got my boat trailer weighed finally and discovered I'm sitting on about 950 pounds tongue weight, which is about 13% on the tongue - it should be 5%-7%, or around 450 pounds or so. So I'm going to have to move the boat back on the trailer to make the tongue weight lower. No wonder I'm getting such "squish" on the rear axle when hitched up.

You won't like it with that little tongue weight. From experience pulling a similar boat you want to be around 800 or so. I had zero problems once I went to E tires. It also made the truck more livable on a daily basis as far as braking and handling.

 

[grey2112]

You won't like it with that little tongue weight. From experience pulling a similar boat you want to be around 800 or so. I had zero problems once I went to E tires. It also made the truck more livable on a daily basis as far as braking and handling.

Hmm - I keep reading that my tongue weight limit without a WDH on the Expedition is 660 pounds. I read that 5%-7% is ideal tongue weight for a boat trailer.

Luckily I can easily experiment a little with the position of the boat on the trailer - moving it back even a few inches will allow for some experimentation.

 

[ludlow]

I put Michelin Defender LTXs on my 2014 Expedition EL. I bought these from the local ford dealer as their price was as good as any of the local tire shops. I pull a 5500lb camper and these were a big improvement over the P tires that came on the vehicle.

 

[buckeyefan]

About time to to look for tires for my 2015 EL 275/55R20. I went to Tire discounter and tire rack to get quotes. Found out that the current version of the LTX AT2 is no longer shipping (275/55R20) and the rest of the LTX AT2 line is being discontinued. Looks like they will launch a new replacement but timing is not known.
So now I need to choose choice B. Not sure what to pick. Was looking for an AT tire. Any suggestions?

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Visitor
Hi. Do you know when the back order of the LTX at2 for 275/55R20 will be shipping again?
06:29pm

Agent - Falisha
Hello, I will be happy to assist.

Agent - Falisha
Thank you. That tire has been discontinued.
06:32pm

Visitor
Does Michelin have a replacement?
06:33pm

Visitor
and is it just for that size?
06:33pm

Agent - Falisha
That size, the rest are being phased out
06:34pm

Agent - Falisha
Im checking for a replacement. One moment
06:34pm

Visitor
ok. bummer, I really loved that tire on my other trucks
06:35pm

Agent - Falisha
It will be replaced with the same tire just improved tread but I do not have a release date
06:35pm

Visitor
ok, thanks for all the info.
06:37pm

Agent - Falisha
You are welcome. Is there anything else I can assist you with today?