[buggymancan]

Does anyone have experience as to the various tire Load ratings when selecting a larger off- road tires for our lifted Vans? Given our Vans have a GVWR of 6100 lbs, and the stock tires were 215/75/15, alot of the larger tire choices are either LT or SUV rated. 6100/4 = 1525# per tire stock. I am looking to go to a 235/70R16 or 245/70R16 tire size and wonder about ride quality. The LT tires are 10 ply and rated up to 2460# load, whereas the P series SUV are rated to more like 2065#, still well above the stock load ratings. I guess want the ride quality of a 6 ply P rated tire, but do no want to sacrifice sidewall flex in cornering. Seems to me with the wider tire footprint and higher load rating, that an SUV tire should be fine? Any thoughs ?

 

[Jasen]

you can't have your eggs over easy and scrambled.
It's always going to be a trade off. Stability is either an LT or a low profile tire, smooth ride is P rated marshmallow tires.
Todays cushy ride P/U's are more in the suspension, steering isolation etc.

A couple of weeks ago I went from BFG radial TA's to BFG AT KO's. At 35 psi it was a notable difference in ride comfort but by no means bone jarring. I had to go up to 40 PSI for my heavy load but it's still not to bad, plus I don't have to nearly stop at speed bumps any more. It corners much much better, better breaking control and is just all around more stable and feels safer on the road.

 

[buggymancan]

How about running 17" rims and a 235/70r17 tire p metric? Since the sidewall is shorter, perhaps it will corner as weel as a LT tire (less sidewall squirm) without the harsh ride?

 

[Pit]

Here is a list of sizes that fit
Plus Zero
225/70-15
225/75-15
235/70-15
Plus One
215/70-16
225/65-16
225/70-16
235/65-16

Plus Two
225/65-17
235/60-17
245/55-17
Plus Three
245/50-18
Plus Four
245/45-19
Plus Five
235/45-20

Found this in an other post, Thanks to Phanthom april 3rd 2011.

 

[mmadden55]

On a 15 inch rim the biggest you can go on the front is a 255 60 15 without rubbing on the fender wheels, you can go as wide as 265 on a 50 aspect ratio on the rears you can go as large as 275 60 15 or 255 70 15.

I used a alloy wheel off a 95 Chevy truck 5x5 bolt pattern 15 x 8 255 70 r15 rear 255 60 r 15 front, note I have a rwd van.

 

[chevymaher]

On a 15 inch rim the biggest you can go on the front is a 255 60 15 without rubbing on the fender wheels, you can go as wide as 265 on a 50 aspect ratio on the rears you can go as large as 275 60 15 or 255 70 15.

I used a alloy wheel off a 95 Chevy truck 5x5 bolt pattern 15 x 8 255 70 r15 rear 255 60 r 15 front, note I have a rwd van.

I am halfway through my second set of 295/50/15's all the way around.

 

[Vocaldog]

I just bought my first Astro van. 2002 AWD hi-top conversion. I need to replace some tires, and it came with 235/55/17's on it, which seems like an odd size. They look good, but will I run into any problems if I keep with this size?

 

[90safari]

On a 15 inch rim the biggest you can go on the front is a 255 60 15 without rubbing on the fender wheels, you can go as wide as 265 on a 50 aspect ratio on the rears you can go as large as 275 60 15 or 255 70 15.

I used a alloy wheel off a 95 Chevy truck 5x5 bolt pattern 15 x 8 255 70 r15 rear 255 60 r 15 front, note I have a rwd van.

I am halfway through my second set of 295/50/15's all the way around.

I've been running 245-60-15 BFG's on both my 88 Astro, and my wife's 90 Safari for years. I really like how the vans ride with them. Unfortunately, the 88 is coming due for another set due to dry rot in the tread pattern. I'll be replacing them with the same size and brand again as I like the look of them. Yes, they'll throw the speedo off by about 6mph, but nobody seems to pay attention to that around here, as everybody does at least 5 over.
I'm running them on 95 full size aluminum Chevy truck rims. Some day I'll swap them over to a set of chrome Chevy truck rims, as I like that look too (especially with raised white letter tires). I just have to find a set, as the set I had a line on, got sold out from under me.

 

[vtstang66]

i'd like to add to this great post:

For AWD owners:

-not all tire brands / models are made to equal diameters.
-it is important that you ROTATE your tires frequently, front-to-back only ALWAYS keeping your tires on the same side of the vehicle.
-keep the same air pressure, all around.
-if you replace a tire, unless they are within 5000mi or km, you will be running a larger diameter on the new tire. best to find a used one with similar tread depth or youll have to buy a whole set of 4

Why don't I want to rotate side to side?

 

[Meterpig]

You can got to an LT. I did. The tires started cracking before they started wearing down. However, the van is so light, I ran the rear tires at 20 pounds and the front at 25. Van ran nice and straight and no wallowing. Plus, when you run high weights, you can run high pressures. P tires, for a lifted van, are marginal.

 

[dchan51360]

i'd like to add to this great post:

For AWD owners:

-it is important that you ROTATE your tires frequently, front-to-back only ALWAYS keeping your tires on the same side of the vehicle.
-keep the same air pressure, all around.
-if you replace a tire, unless they are within 5000mi or km, you will be running a larger diameter on the new tire. best to find a used one with similar tread depth or youll have to buy a whole set of 4

Why don't I want to rotate side to side?

Wear patterns are different front to back. If you start swapping side to side, then the same tire will be on the back for 2 cycles and another will be on the front for 2 cycles.

This will cause the wear to happen unevenly between the front and back. This will cause one (or 2) tires to become a different "size" or circumference and will make the diffs and Transfer case work harder, or even overheat/burn out. An under inflated tire can do the same.

I did learn a good way to adjust and check this if you want to really get "detail oriented" or OCD.

find a very flat stretch of road. Do this where there is no one around as you will be stopping a lot.
With all the tires inflated to just above where you are planning to run them,
mark all four of your wheels with tape or chalk. I usually aim this straight down (closest to the ground)
Then pull forward several yards keeping the van as straight as possible. If you can stick your head out and watch the wheels, go about 15-20 revolutions
Inch yourself forward so that the wheel you can see is back to straight down.
Then set the parking brake and take a walk around the van. If all the wheels have the marking straight down like before you are good to go.
If one or more of the wheels did not make it to straight down or over shot being straight down, then you will need to adjust the pressure in the tires to change their diameter slightly.

Less air means the tire will get smaller, causing it to go around further to travel in order to travel the same distance or it would overshoot your reference wheel.
more air would be the opposite. Let a little bit of air out of the tires that came up short of straight down and try again.

It doesn't take much to do change this so do one tire at a time, and in very small increments.

DC

 

[TurnNburn]

unless you have a 3-4 inch lift, those tires will not fit

 

[dchan51360]

unless you have a 3-4 inch lift, those tires will not fit

I think that ship has already sailed. This thread is several years old. I was just responding to the recent question of why not to rotate side to side.

DC

 

[90safari]

I was just responding to the recent question of why not to rotate side to side.
DC

I don't swap sides when I rotate tires. I've had way too many radials decide to separate from doing the side to side rotation. I've always been told you shouldn't do it, as the tires get a sense of direction in them, and take a set.

CM, do you have to pre-order your tires from Walmart, or do they keep 295-50-15's in stock? Seems like an odd size to keep in stock for a big box type of store.

 

[chevymaher]

direction in them, and take a set.

CM, do you have to pre-order your tires from Walmart, or do they keep 295-50-15's in stock? Seems like an odd size to keep in stock for a big box type of store.

I had to order them online and they delivered them to the store. They do not keep them in stock. If you ask at the counter they can't even find them in the computer. You can't even order them at the store. Got to do it at home on their site.

 

[90safari]

direction in them, and take a set.

CM, do you have to pre-order your tires from Walmart, or do they keep 295-50-15's in stock? Seems like an odd size to keep in stock for a big box type of store.

I had to order them online and they delivered them to the store. They do not keep them in stock. If you ask at the counter they can't even find them in the computer. You can't even order them at the store. Got to do it at home on their site.

OK Thanks.
I wonder if they'll fit on aluminum Chevy truck rims, and still clear the sliding door.

 

[chevymaher]

OK Thanks.
I wonder if they'll fit on aluminum Chevy truck rims, and still clear the sliding door.

That is one of my vans many factory quirks. It was special copo ordered van and came with different rims. They are 7.38 inch wide at the bead. I have measured them while the tire was off when I worked at fartstone. I am sure they are actually truck rims. The slider is close but it does clear barely.

 

[VRTSid]

Im replacing my tires today, and the guy suggested 235-75-15 which sounds too tall for my stock height 97 AWD.

Im going in later today to get, something as my tires are toasted.

Im running 225-70-15 currently.

:shrug:
any suggestions?

 

[dramey]

I just use the standard size 215/75R15.

 

[WimpTech]

Any lift going on or stock height?

235/75/15 is a little aggressive for no lift, works great with 2" lift IMHO.
Maybe 235/70/15 if you want a little wider tire for no lift, otherwise 225/75/15 will clear.