Best way to improve ride of leveled truck

[Ranger621]

I am currently running these Goodyears from Discount Tire E-rated
https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/goodyear-wrangler-ultraterrain-at

The truck had these terrible Perrelli tires that I took off.
https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/pirelli-scorpion-atr

I kept the rims and put Bridgestone Blizzaks on them for winter driving here in Michigan.

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[Eighthtry]

Just when I thought I knew everything about tires..... So, 275/50 111H M&S. What does the 111 mean? I always thought it was a load rating.

Further inspection yields DOT XL DB 864F 4420. So that must be the XL that I assume is the extra load that is being discussed. Any idea what the rest of that mess is? Except DOT.

By the way, these are factory Bridgestone Alenzas on a 2023 GMC Yukon XL Denali. XL in the truck description here means the full size truck, not the Tahoe size.

Too cold to go out and visit my F150. Just not as mean as I once was. The wife cured that.

 

[SALEEN961]

Just when I thought I knew everything about tires..... So, 275/50 111H M&S. What does the 111 mean? I always thought it was a load rating.

Further inspection yields DOT XL DB 864F 4420. So that must be the XL that I assume is the extra load that is being discussed. Any idea what the rest of that mess is? Except DOT.

By the way, these are factory Bridgestone Alenzas on a 2023 GMC Yukon XL Denali. XL in the truck description here means the full size truck, not the Tahoe size.

Too cold to go out and visit my F150. Just not as mean as I once was. The wife cured that.

A load index of 111 indicates that the tire is rated for 2,403lbs, and a load range of SL indicates that the maximum load pressure for that tire is 35psi (41psi for XL). SL tires normally have a maximum cold inflation pressure of roughly 44psi, and XL tires usually have a maximum cold inflation pressure of 51psi.

XL tires have higher load index ratings than SL tires, and part of how they achieve this is with higher inflation pressures.

 

[Eighthtry]

Thank you very much for your help with my understanding. Thank goodness I am all hat and no cattle, tow nothing, and don't buy enough groceries to weigh it down too much. I have been buying great tires for my use, but it would be a mistake towing, handling, and loading with what I have on there.

 

[HammaMan]

SLs are too squishy IMO for a PB. Sounds like the spring rate on top of the tire are stacking. I have puck'd FX4 on LT275/65/20s and at 40psi the ride is just right. If you're hearing some noises coming from the back, if you have the step in the tailgate, it can rattle on some pavement features. More pronounced with the windows down.

 

[Polo08816]

SLs are too squishy IMO for a PB. Sounds like the spring rate on top of the tire are stacking. I have puck'd FX4 on LT275/65/20s and at 40psi the ride is just right. If you're hearing some noises coming from the back, if you have the step in the tailgate, it can rattle on some pavement features. More pronounced with the windows down.

Would a LRE 275/70/18 ride better than the LRE 275/65/20?

I feel like when people complain about LREs, they are almost always using a heavy oversized AT/MT tire versus something like a close to factory or factory sized Michelin Defender LTX M/S.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

Would a LRE 275/70/18 ride better than the LRE 275/65/20?

I feel like when people complain about LREs, they are almost always using a heavy oversized AT/MT tire versus something like a close to factory or factory sized Michelin Defender LTX M/S.

With all factors being the same, an 18” tire will yield a smoother ride than a 20”, more sidewall flex.

 

[Polo08816]

With all factors being the same, an 18” tire will yield a smoother ride than a 20”, more sidewall flex.

I'm curious about a LRE 275/70/18 vs a XL 275/60/20. I think the LRE tire would still be stiffer than the SL/XL tire, but I think if you're using a tire like the Michelin Defender LTX M/S or Continental TerrainContact H/T, it's not going to be as stiff as a heavier LRE AT tire.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

I'm curious about a LRE 275/70/18 vs a XL 275/60/20. I think the LRE tire would still be stiffer than the SL/XL tire, but I think if you're using a tire like the Michelin Defender LTX M/S or Continental TerrainContact H/T, it's not going to be as stiff as a heavier LRE AT tire.

An E range tire will certainly be stiffer than a SL or XL. With the assumption that the pressure is at the same level. The taller sidewall will indeed allow the E range tire to flex a bit more than a 20” e range tire.

Many believe the SL/XL tires are a bit too soft for the f150’s weight.

 

[mdn14]

SLs are too squishy IMO for a PB. Sounds like the spring rate on top of the tire are stacking. I have puck'd FX4 on LT275/65/20s and at 40psi the ride is just right. If you're hearing some noises coming from the back, if you have the step in the tailgate, it can rattle on some pavement features. More pronounced with the windows down.

It's VERY noticeable with the windows up, along any type of small undulation in the road. It only goes away at highway speeds.

Passed along the possible cause to the service advisor though as the tech hasn't found anything yet. If I get it back and it's still doing it I may have to remove the tailgate panel and investigate a little. I'd think some dense, compressible, closed cell foam would work well to hold that step a little tighter if it is rattling.

 

[HammaMan]

I wouldn't say the bed step is very noticable -- shake the tailgate around / beat on it to see if that's the source.

 

[mdn14]

I wouldn't say the bed step is very noticable -- shake the tailgate around / beat on it to see if that's the source.

Right, so then something else is making a loud noise over very small bumps.

 

[HammaMan]

Wonder if there's a good cheap stereo mic array out there for sticking places to sus noises out, that'd make it so much easier to diagnose such things, just put your head in the same spot as the mic and play it back.

 

[mdn14]

I've briefly considered getting a set of ChassisEARs...

 

[Captain Dirty Beard]

I've briefly considered getting a set of ChassisEARs...

Another thing you might try, is removing the front sway bar. I too was in a similar spot (although I have the Billstein 6112/5160 combo) and the ride over small bumps and cracks, expansion seams on concrete highways etc. was shit. At the recommendation of Hotshots Offroad, I removed the front swaybar and it does indeed provide a bit more compliance. Your springs are so stiff anyway, that body roll will still be kept to a minimum. Free mod. and if you don't like it, its easy enough to put back on.

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