Popplemer
Well-known member
- First Name
- Stu
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2023
- Threads
- 3
- Messages
- 459
- Reaction score
- 421
- Location
- New Jersey
- Vehicles
- '87 F250 460 5 Speed, 2023 302A PB 157"
- Thread starter
- #1
As title suggests, I've found some 18" Ford wheels to swap with my 20" PVD's. My main interest is in a more compliant ride. I drive commercial trucks daily. I'm quite accustomed to being tossed around when unloaded. While I don't expect a car-like ride I would like a less jarring ride over the terrible roads in NJ.
So far I've swapped rear shocks for Bilsteins, added Steeda sway bar, both heavily and lightly weighted down the bed and I believe the only components left to change are the wheels and tires.
Ideally I'd keep 33" tires but pickins are slim in non LT sizes. On my previous truck I had 20" E rated Recon Grapplers which looked great but the ride wasn't my favorite although noise levels were manageable. Perhaps it was the 285/55s with the short sidewall making for a rougher ride. I don't need to tow much as my '87 F-250 is far more suited to towing anything over 5k lbs but I am often running about fully loaded in this truck.
I am looking for something along the lines of a Continental TerrainContact A/T but am leery of the E rating. Seems counter productive to size down then get a tire with stiffer sidewalls. I've also considered the NITTO Terra Grappler G3 in a 275/70R18 instead. Seems like that's the right size but only 5 offerings in SL on Tire rack.
So long as I don't get a loud tire I'm not wed to any style or brand. Those who have gone down wheel size or gone for a taller tire, has switching from SL to LT made a significant difference in ride? Even with an extra 2" of sidewall?
Thanks for any help you guys can provide.
So far I've swapped rear shocks for Bilsteins, added Steeda sway bar, both heavily and lightly weighted down the bed and I believe the only components left to change are the wheels and tires.
Ideally I'd keep 33" tires but pickins are slim in non LT sizes. On my previous truck I had 20" E rated Recon Grapplers which looked great but the ride wasn't my favorite although noise levels were manageable. Perhaps it was the 285/55s with the short sidewall making for a rougher ride. I don't need to tow much as my '87 F-250 is far more suited to towing anything over 5k lbs but I am often running about fully loaded in this truck.
I am looking for something along the lines of a Continental TerrainContact A/T but am leery of the E rating. Seems counter productive to size down then get a tire with stiffer sidewalls. I've also considered the NITTO Terra Grappler G3 in a 275/70R18 instead. Seems like that's the right size but only 5 offerings in SL on Tire rack.
So long as I don't get a loud tire I'm not wed to any style or brand. Those who have gone down wheel size or gone for a taller tire, has switching from SL to LT made a significant difference in ride? Even with an extra 2" of sidewall?
Thanks for any help you guys can provide.
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