tire size effect on towing

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*tim*

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im lookin into some new tires and pretty sure ill get som terra grapplers but was lookin at gettin a little bigger tire maybe a 275/65r20 which is 34.09" compared to the stock 33s. i dont tow a whole lot but do tow a friends 6,000 lb camper every once in a while. how much would the one inch of tire diameter effect low in torque including the extra weight goin from stock tires to the AT tires. i have the hemi with the 6 speed and 3.55 gears
 
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*tim*

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Anyone?

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What you will notice first is more sidewall sway in the tires, and possibly a mushier feel if you don't air up properly.

You only changed your tire by 1", or ~3%, but you increased the sidewall height by ~8%, or 3x as much.
 
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*tim*

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What you will notice first is more sidewall sway in the tires, and possibly a mushier feel if you don't air up properly.

You only changed your tire by 1", or ~3%, but you increased the sidewall height by ~8%, or 3x as much.

Well goin from the crappy P rated tires to a quality LT tire should make a huge difference but for the better I would think

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BoldAdventure

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Yes for the better, and I think less sway with the better E load range tires offered in that size. I plan on towing full time, all year and I am going with that size. Might see a minor drop down in MPG.
 

FlyinHaYn

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The ride will feel better and you will not notice any loss in power unless you jumped up to say.. 35's or 37's.
 

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Didn't yall read what I said....."air up properly"???
 
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*tim*

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i just realized the terra grapplers in stock size(275/60r20) are passenger tires so guess for sure ill be getting the 275/65r20 that are light truck tires
 

Boulevardvette

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You will feel a slight difference and will lose some fuel economy.
 
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*tim*

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What kind of difference are we talking? A fraction of 1mpg or at least 1mpg? Is it a bad ideal all together if towing is involved? I don't really care about going bigger but mainly wanna go from P to LT

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BoldAdventure

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I have no idea what the difference is, but is a decrease in MPG really worth the worry?

Also, there are some LT tires closer to 33 inches. The real hit isn't from the size so much as the extra weight. The P tires are close to 42lbs give or take, somewhere around there.

General Grabber AT/2's are 64lbs each for example.
 

smurfs_of_war

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Like BoldAdventure mentioned- the weight. Also, the type of tire. If you go from the low rolling resistence lightweight P tires from the factory to a more aggressive, heavier LT all terrain, you're going to take a hit no matter what. I lost about 2 mpg highway. Hardly worth a thought given the more stable, better feeling tire- especially when loaded.

I say go for it and don't look back :)
 

BoldAdventure

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You can get an LT in low rolling resistance, but it's going to be a highway tire. I've been thinking about it, but honestly they're all boring and not as good looking as an AT. Decisions, decisions.
 

FlyinHaYn

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What kind of difference are we talking? A fraction of 1mpg or at least 1mpg? Is it a bad ideal all together if towing is involved? I don't really care about going bigger but mainly wanna go from P to LT

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For that little change.. Not even 1.
And I would always recommend something larger that stock for towing. I pull with my 325/65/18s. I lost a couple mpgs but made up for it later. That's just me though.
 

smurfs_of_war

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You can get an LT in low rolling resistance, but it's going to be a highway tire. I've been thinking about it, but honestly they're all boring and not as good looking as an AT. Decisions, decisions.

Yeah- I looked at a few (Michelins specifically) and figured for the slight loss, I wasn't going to go with a tire that was a one trick pony and looked like a doughnut rolling around. Got my BFs back on now and happy as a clam :)
 

cableguy_hd

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I'm going to add bilsteins at 2.1 next weekend and then going with BFG's or General AT2 at 275 65 20.... Probably the BFG's.... I get 9.5 mpg now but I'm loaded down. Once I do these upgrades I will only tow the tt... the wife will pull the golf cart
 

BoldAdventure

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I'm going to add bilsteins at 2.1 next weekend and then going with BFG's or General AT2 at 275 65 20.... Probably the BFG's.... I get 9.5 mpg now but I'm loaded down. Once I do these upgrades I will only tow the tt... the wife will pull the golf cart

I bet you will be happy.

I had General AT2's on my Trailblazer and loved them. Drove them from FL to Moab and all over Moab and most of Southern Utah and the Grand Canyon all offroad. Performed wonderfully on road and they were great off road. Personally I'm leaning towards getting them again in the size mentioned earlier. Good price too.
 
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