1500 guys - What tires are you running for towing?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Move Over

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2017
Posts
149
Reaction score
33
Ram Year
2012
Engine
5.7
Hi guys, i tow an 18' race car trailer about or under 5500 lbs fully loaded once a month. Probably another 3-400 in the bed with tools, tent and misc track gear.

I towed on the stock SRA's and of course they were trash, so i went full bore and got a set of LT-E loads on a set of aftermarket 18's. They are a 275/70/18 so right around the same height as stock...only close to 12+ lbs heavier per corner. Not good for unsprung rotational mass.

Now, i am kind of regretting it because it rides like crap, tows like crap and i had a heck of a time getting these thigns to balance. I lost 5MPG jumping to a 33" 10 ply, I'm cool with a few MPG difference but going from 15.3 average to 10.6 average, yeah no thanks! Add insult to injury that is with me driving like a total geezer. It was at 9.2 when i was driving normal.

I also have a level kit that I am taking off as it makes the front end wander when i have payload/tongue weight. That's a different story. Anywho...

I wanted to get some input from the 1500 guys to figure out what tires you guys are running towing around the same weight as I am. Every forum i look on (non necessarily dodge specific all the guys are saying oh yeah get E loads, 10 ply. I do like a more aggressive tread, so i was thinking about throwing a set of TK02's (D range) on my 20" wheels, or even jumping down to an XL, or heavier duty P rated. Falken, Nitto and a few other companies make an XL tire in either a 275/65 or 275/60.

Would love some input from you guys. I do have some airbags in the rear springs too.

Thanks in advance!
 

69GWC

Power Wagon
Joined
Oct 1, 2015
Posts
5,387
Reaction score
6,949
Location
Spring hill, Kansas
Ram Year
2022 Power Wagon
Engine
6.4 Hemi, 8sp
Not sure what you mean by tows like crap now, I would think it would feel much more planted now and not squim around now.
If you are wanting a truck to tow with and do it well its not going to ride like a stock 1500 any more.
I have a heavy duty Hellwig sway bar, Tuff truck coils and airbags along with 35" 10plys and finally feel like I have a truck under me now. lol

Your mileage does suck and I would not be happy with that as even with 35s I doing much better than that.
What transmission and gears do you have ?

As for your front end I would take it to a shop for a frontend alignment and tell them what its doing they should be able to get it handleing/steering correctly.
 

14hemiexpress

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2014
Posts
3,654
Reaction score
1,196
Location
Texas
Ram Year
2019
Engine
6.4l
Agree with 69gwc. Somethings up. What pressure are you running? I'm running 2kos right now I'm pretty happy with them they do feel heavier than the factory tires but not bad. I had Cooper discover ht witch are xl but they didn't feel much different than the factory tires towing heavy. I haven't towed real heavy with the 2kos other than a Nissan frontier on a 18ft equipment trailer around 6800lbs total. And it was planted fine didnt feel any flex but the bed was empty. 5500lbs shouldn't be a problem on factory tires.
 
OP
OP
M

Move Over

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2017
Posts
149
Reaction score
33
Ram Year
2012
Engine
5.7
Not sure what you mean by tows like crap now, I would think it would feel much more planted now and not squim around now.
If you are wanting a truck to tow with and do it well its not going to ride like a stock 1500 any more.
I have a heavy duty Hellwig sway bar, Tuff truck coils and airbags along with 35" 10plys and finally feel like I have a truck under me now. lol

Your mileage does suck and I would not be happy with that as even with 35s I doing much better than that.
What transmission and gears do you have ?

As for your front end I would take it to a shop for a frontend alignment and tell them what its doing they should be able to get it handleing/steering correctly.

I actually had the truck aligned twice, and it feels fine when i'm not towing. However when i get the load in the back the steering becomes very vague on the highway. I'm assuming becuase since it is already leveled, and I am taking even more of the weight off the front of the truck, like a seesaw. It doesn't seem any more planted than the SRAs. I don't think a level kit is the best idea for a towing application and Maybe the General Grabber AT2's just arent the best tires for towing application either. I went over a good sized dip on the highway today, and the whole entire truck became unsettled, and that was with an EMPTY trailer at 1600 lbs. lol!

I have been towing for a few years now (10+) but these are the heaviest loads I have been towing with. and now with a lifted truck and heavier tires...I feel like I am going backwards. I do have a tongue weight scale too, and it's spot on where it needs to be. So i can rule that out.

I don't really mind the tough ride so much and was expecting some change, and that's not really what I mean by rides crappy. Heck i drive a time trial BMW and am used to a firm/stiff ride, it's actually preferred lol. More or less I am talking about the vague steering feel i got with the tires, and the fact that they vibrate between 30-70 mph. I can see my passenger seat shaking. But, discount tire says "they are balanced and that's the way LT tires ride" - I have another appointment at a different discount tire on Monday in hopes to get that settled.

I started the PSI off at 40 when I installed them, bumped up to 50 to try to help with mileage, but called Continental/General group on friday and they said the PSI needs to be at 43. I almost feel as if the truck does not weigh enough to flex the sidewalls properly.

Trans I have a 2012 6 speed and 3.55's. I can directly relate the poor mileage to the tires as i did a log before and after.

Agree with 69gwc. Somethings up. What pressure are you running? I'm running 2kos right now I'm pretty happy with them they do feel heavier than the factory tires but not bad. I had Cooper discover ht witch are xl but they didn't feel much different than the factory tires towing heavy. I haven't towed real heavy with the 2kos other than a Nissan frontier on a 18ft equipment trailer around 6800lbs total. And it was planted fine didnt feel any flex but the bed was empty. 5500lbs shouldn't be a problem on factory tires.

Pressure is at 50 as of today, but General told me to drop it to 43, which will probably decrease the mileage even further as rolling resistance will go down.
 

14hemiexpress

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2014
Posts
3,654
Reaction score
1,196
Location
Texas
Ram Year
2019
Engine
6.4l
Those tires shouldn't be a problem. Your trucks really not heavy enough for a 10ply empty witch is why general probably recommends 43 for your truck most guys love the E tires for travel trailers. I run 45-50 in my 2kos. The grabber looks like a 2ko knock off but E rated instead of D. I haven't had a problem with discount balancing tires I normally go there because local small shops can't get 20s right for some reason. You definitely should not have any shake can you feel it in the wheel? The level has to be the problem if your running really nose high.
 
OP
OP
M

Move Over

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2017
Posts
149
Reaction score
33
Ram Year
2012
Engine
5.7
Those tires shouldn't be a problem. Your trucks really not heavy enough for a 10ply empty witch is why general probably recommends 43 for your truck most guys love the E tires for travel trailers. I run 45-50 in my 2kos. The grabber looks like a 2ko knock off but E rated instead of D. I haven't had a problem with discount balancing tires I normally go there because local small shops can't get 20s right for some reason. You definitely should not have any shake can you feel it in the wheel? The level has to be the problem if your running really nose high.

I'll drop them all back to 43. I saw a toyo chart stating 43 is right. I work for Fluke and have a full set of thermal imagers so i can actually do the heat test and see a thermal picture of the tire.

A little bit in the wheel, but more so in the ass end of the truck. I actually replaced the drive shaft after dodge blamed the shake on that. Still there. Headed to discount on monday again, really hoping they can settle the shake. I know it is the tires because I have a set of stock wheels with Discoverer tires on them, and they run straight with no wobble.

You'd think with brand new wheels, and brand new tires they would be able to balance right.
 

69GWC

Power Wagon
Joined
Oct 1, 2015
Posts
5,387
Reaction score
6,949
Location
Spring hill, Kansas
Ram Year
2022 Power Wagon
Engine
6.4 Hemi, 8sp
Right your tires should balance out and run smooth, 10 ply or not they should not shake your seat.

Wonder if you had your frontend alignment diwn with weight in the bed to simulate the squat you get with the trailer ?
My truck is twitchy when its empty and steers better when it squats I dont think the guy that aligned it really knew what he was doing and am going to take it to a shop that knows more about lifted trucks rather than the dealer.
 

MT Hillbilly

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 25, 2012
Posts
169
Reaction score
68
Location
MT
Ram Year
2010
Engine
5.7 Hemi
I actually have been pleasantly surprised at how good the grabbers at2's have preformed for me, mind you I don't tow often but I have towed some pretty heavy loads, and they did great. No lift, no lvl just plain stock with airbags in back.
 

GsRAM

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2016
Posts
2,929
Reaction score
2,743
Ram Year
2017 Dodge Ram 2500
Engine
Hemi, 6.4L
Back in the day, I had a 2000 ford expedition Eddie Bauer and I towed my present 6k trailer with it. It had 17" wheels, stock. I had firestone transforms load range e installed and it helped with towing stability a lot.

They are 80 psi max, I ran them at 70psi. They did ride rougher than stock at that pressure, but I didn't care. My mileage took a hit, but again I didn't have a v8 powered truck for gas mileage. I had no shake or wobble with the firestones loaded or unloaded. They were smooth as glass.

As you say, you have a tire or balance issue. In general terms I don't think a lifted truck is good for towing heavy, but that's just my opinion. Most trucks are built with some forward rake for a reason. I'd remove the front level if it were me and go back to stock. Maybe you have a defective tire or a bent wheel?

Good luck, hope you are able to get it resolved
 

reindeerman

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2015
Posts
126
Reaction score
30
Location
Knoxville, TN
Ram Year
2011 & 2002
Engine
4.7
I tow about the same weight 5-6000 lbs. I have BFG KO's with 45 lbs. no balance problems. Yeah ride suffers some but that comes with the territory. As far a vague steering, Do you have a weight distributing hitch?
 
OP
OP
M

Move Over

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2017
Posts
149
Reaction score
33
Ram Year
2012
Engine
5.7
I tow about the same weight 5-6000 lbs. I have BFG KO's with 45 lbs. no balance problems. Yeah ride suffers some but that comes with the territory. As far a vague steering, Do you have a weight distributing hitch?

I don’t, never really felt i needed it towing with my old avalanche which only had a 6500lb tow cap.

I’m almost positive the vague steering is the leveling kit. It definitely felt better before installed that. It’s coming out next week.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

GsRAM

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2016
Posts
2,929
Reaction score
2,743
Ram Year
2017 Dodge Ram 2500
Engine
Hemi, 6.4L
I don’t, never really felt i needed it towing with my old avalanche which only had a 6500lb tow cap.

I’m almost positive the vague steering is the leveling kit. It definitely felt better before installed that. It’s coming out next week.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


you most definitely need a wdh towing over 5k with a half ton truck. without one your probably over the hitch weight rating. that explains a lot about your comments about light steering. without wdh your unloading the front axle too much and your level is only making it worse.

remove the level and get a good wdh and set it up properly and then see what you have. I bet it'll be a night and day difference. if you were towing that much with an avalanche , you should have been using wdh with it also.
 
OP
OP
M

Move Over

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2017
Posts
149
Reaction score
33
Ram Year
2012
Engine
5.7
you most definitely need a adj towingk over 5k with a half ton truck. without one your probably over the hitch weight rating. that explains a lot about your comments about light steering. without wdh your unloading the front axle too much and your level out is only making it worse.

remove the level and get a good wth and set it up properly and then see what you have. I bet it'll be a night and day difference. if you were towing that much with an avalanche , you should have been using with it also.

Definitely appreciate the feedback. I’ll look into one!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

GsRAM

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2016
Posts
2,929
Reaction score
2,743
Ram Year
2017 Dodge Ram 2500
Engine
Hemi, 6.4L
you most definitely need a wdh towing over 5k with a half ton truck. without one your probably over the hitch weight rating. that explains a lot about your comments about light steering. without wdh your unloading the front axle too much and your level is only making it worse.

remove the level and get a good wdh and set it up properly and then see what you have. I bet it'll be a night and day difference. if you were towing that much with an avalanche , you should have been using wdh with it also.

good deal bud, you'll be glad you did. it'll make the entire set up a lot more safe. I think harbor freight even has one for pretty reasonable pricing.

for the weights your towing, you could probably get by with just a standard wdh without the built in sway control. (like the hf one I mentioned , or an old Reese trunion bar style like I run)

with my 6k trailer and 2500 I'd truck I could probably run it without wdh, but it's more securely tied to the truck with it and it doesn't take long to hitch up so I always use it.
 

TRCM

USN, Retired
Military
Joined
Jul 30, 2012
Posts
3,238
Reaction score
5,359
Location
Newport News, VA
Ram Year
2012 1500 Laramie CC 4x4
Engine
5.7 Hemi
First of all, when you drop tire air pressure, yes, mpg will drop, but it is because the rolling resistance goes UP, not down. Tires with lower air pressure will take more energy to roll than ones at max pressure.

Secondly, you say you have the tongue weight spot on, but what about the trailer attitude ? Does it sit perfectly level, or nose high, or nose low when towing ? Even with the correct tongue weight, if the trailer is nose high it will not tow right and cause the same issues you are having. Level or slightly nose low would be better.

I use a WDH on my 6500 lb camper, and it tows it just as well as my 3000 lb boat with a regular hitch insert. No problems at all.

And my worst mpg towing is with the camper in some hilly terrain, and it is still above 10 mpg.

I am still running the stock goodyear hp's that came on it....have had no problems or issues with them (in any weather) at all. I run 40 psi cold in them, which gives me 43-45 hot, depending on speed and how long I've been driving.


I have never put a leveling kit on my trucks....not in the silverado before, nor in this Ram.....I tow too much and if the truck sits level not towing, the nose will sit high when towing. I don't like that for many reasons, but mainly the headlight aim and steering problems it causes.
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
M

Move Over

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2017
Posts
149
Reaction score
33
Ram Year
2012
Engine
5.7
First of all, when you drop tire air pressure, yes, mpg will drop, but it is because the rolling resistance goes UP, not down. Tires with lower air pressure will take more energy to roll than ones at max pressure.

Secondly, you say you have the tongue weight spot on, but what about the trailer attitude ? Does it sit perfectly level, or nose high, or nose low when towing ? Even with the correct tongue weight, if the trailer is nose high it will not tow right and cause the same issues you are having. Level or slightly nose low would be better.

I use a WDH on my 6500 lb camper, and it tows it just as well as my 3000 lb boat with a regular hitch insert. No problems at all.

And my worst mpg towing is with the camper in some hilly terrain, and it is still above 10 mpg.

I am still running the stock goodyear hp's that came on it....have had no problems or issues with them (in any weather) at all. I run 40 psi cold in them, which gives me 43-45 hot, depending on speed and how long I've been driving.

Sorry mean resistance goes up! My trailer does sit perfectly level, maybe a hair down. I can manipulate it a little bit using my airbags.

I will look into a WDH, didn’t really think i needed it with this truck, but if you guys think it’ll make that much difference i may scoop one up.

Thanks for the replies




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

billyw

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2016
Posts
359
Reaction score
149
Location
Northwest
Ram Year
2015
Engine
Hemi 5.7
I also think you need a weight distributing hitch on a trailer that heavy. For the record, I tow a travel trailer at about 6000 lbs, and the original Goodyear SRA's performed flawlessly. They need to be aired to their max, but they worked great.
 

pt1655

Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2013
Posts
83
Reaction score
47
Location
corvallis, or
Ram Year
2012
Engine
hemi 5.7
I replaced the stock Goodyear Wranglers with Michelin P series LTX AT2's and I loved those tires. Quiet, great traction, great wearing and 2 more mpg. But, P series and Michelin does not make the LTX AT2 in an LT series for our 20" rims anymore. Well, I tow a 5000lb 25' travel trailer and live on a crappy dirt road so it made good sense to replace the Michelins when worn down 60% with BFGoodrich All Terrain KO2's. A little more road noise, a heavier tire, good traction but lost 2 mpg's freeway, towing and around town. But, towing you don't worry about gas mileage. When the KO2's wear down to 50% I may give some thought to going to a 17 or 18" rim with Michelin LT series LTX AT2's if I haven't already gone to a Ram 2500. My ram is a 2012 and I only have 60,000 miles on it. While it tows our trailer quite well in every respect, a Ram 2500 would be a worthwhile upgrade and leave me options if we get a larger trailer (looking at the Nash 24M at 6000lbs and 27' so the 6.4 gasser would be a great choice.)
 

69GWC

Power Wagon
Joined
Oct 1, 2015
Posts
5,387
Reaction score
6,949
Location
Spring hill, Kansas
Ram Year
2022 Power Wagon
Engine
6.4 Hemi, 8sp
billyw,
Did you have 20" wheels or 17s ? my 17s squirm all around under the truck even with 47 psi in them, hated them.
 

billyw

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2016
Posts
359
Reaction score
149
Location
Northwest
Ram Year
2015
Engine
Hemi 5.7
69GWC, mine are 20s. I ran 17s on my last truck and got by with P rated tires aired up to max, but I don't think I loaded the bed as heavy as I've seen in your posts.
 
Top