Need Tire Advice for TV

Country_Mouse · 10-27-2015, 11:37 PM

Hi All,

Need new tires for our 2004 Ford Expedition XLT. Previous owner put 20" rims so I am having a more difficult time finding good tires that will be appropriate for towing.

I hear both opinions from shops of passenger tires being okay and another shop saying we MUST get LT rated tires if we'll be towing.

Ones Costco said will be good are new Michelin Defender LTX M/S 275/55/R20. 113 load rating. They can't even get LT 20 " and frankly I'm afraid to know what those would cost.

I could go back to stock 17" wheels and have more choices but sounds like a lot of hassle. Can I go with above tires or do I need LT's?

Trailer has,a GVWR of 5995 lbs. We have heavy duty tow and a wdh.

need-a-vacation · 10-28-2015, 06:52 AM

LT tires do help when towing. I have towed with p rated tires where there was a "wiggle" as I call it from th sidewall flexing. Swapped to LT's (even just C's) and was a night and day difference.

Shop Discount Tire, Discount Tire Direct, Tire Rack to name a few to see if they have a bigger tire selection. Even check out Michelins, BFG, Cooper, etc's websites to see what may be available.

Make sure you check the date code of the tires!!!! Recent news report stated some tires being sold were up to 10yrs old, still brand new!!!!

jasoncw · 10-28-2015, 07:10 AM

Is 275/55-20 what is on there now? How much per tire? Cooper makes a good tire (Discoverer ATP) for $175 at Discount Tire. This is what I am running on my Excursion, and I am very happy with them.

Seann45 · 10-28-2015, 07:20 AM

Have you looked on tirerack.com ?

ALJO · 10-28-2015, 08:10 AM

Go back to the stock Rims your ride will be much nicer. (Do some online reading XX vs 20" rims) On line (Ebay or ??) you can find some good deals on Rims with Tires. Just bought a used set of aluminum stock rims with spare steel rim with stock tires (95% tread) all with TPMS for CAD 800. The young owner wanted 20" rims on his truck. New it would be about CAD 3200 to buy them.

Country_Mouse · 10-28-2015, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasoncw

Is 275/55-20 what is on there now? How much per tire? Cooper makes a good tire (Discoverer ATP) for $175 at Discount Tire. This is what I am running on my Excursion, and I am very happy with them.

No, what's on there now are 285 50 R20's.

The 275 55 R20'so from Costco are $204 each.

Camper_bob · 10-28-2015, 10:24 AM

I haven't looked in a while, but what are the options on an "XL" tire in your size? These are P-Metric tires that have extra load capacity. I started to look at them when I had my GMC 1500 with 20" wheels. I traded it on a Ram 2500 instead, so the research ended.

6K isn't that much of a workout for the Expedition I would think, so the "XL" tires might be just the ticket? Of course, the LT's would be ideal, but we don't really live in an ideal world all the time do we?

DocBrown · 10-28-2015, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camper_bob

I haven't looked in a while, but what are the options on an "XL" tire in your size? These are P-Metric tires that have extra load capacity. I started to look at them when I had my GMC 1500 with 20" wheels. I traded it on a Ram 2500 instead, so the research ended.

6K isn't that much of a workout for the Expedition I would think, so the "XL" tires might be just the ticket? Of course, the LT's would be ideal, but we don't really live in an ideal world all the time do we?

I second this recommendation. I used to be a big propant of swapping out the "P" rated tires for LTs when towing. However todays "P" rated SUV/Truck tires are not the same ones they put on Suburbans & Expys years ago. Those were just big passenger car tires the same as your father put on his Buick. The SUV/Truck "P" tires have max PSIs anywhere from 40 psi to 51 psi. I run mine at 45 when towing and they behave as good as any LT I have owned in the past.

Now for a larger trailer? I'd probably still be considering LTs. But for yours they should.

Country_Mouse · 10-28-2015, 10:36 AM

Thanks. Just to clarify, trailer GVWR is 6000 but we will be maxed out in payload too. Expy's tow rating with wdh is 8950 lbs.

The math is confusing me. If Expy is rated for 113 load index and I get passenger tires I have to deduct 9% from that index. Does that mean I have to go up in load index? Even with deduction 113 tires would still meet RAWR.

DocBrown · 10-28-2015, 10:51 AM

I think your 20" wheels are the weak point. Check https://www.tirerack.com/content/tir.../homepage.html for both your 20" wheels and what was the stock size. You can compare specs for each tire as well, including load index (max load?), max psi, etc.

Country_Mouse · 10-28-2015, 10:59 AM

Just got off phone with someone that was referred to me at Big O. He recommended the Cooper Discover LXS+. Has 2800 lb load rating and $170/tire.

Sounds good to me. Thoughts?

DocBrown · 10-28-2015, 12:09 PM

Not bad. Cooper makes a nice tire. Find out what the max PSI is. It's probably fine, but it won't hurt to double check.

Country_Mouse · 10-28-2015, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DocBrown

Not bad. Cooper makes a nice tire. Find out what the max PSI is. It's probably fine, but it won't hurt to double check.

It's done went with the Coopers. Max psi is 50. Definitely a bit louder and stiffer but that was probably to be expected switching to an XL tire.

Load rating is 117 (2800lbs).

Thanks Doc!

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