New Tire Time -- Have a ~6,500 lb travel trailer...stick with 18s or get 20s?

[BoostIt]

Mostly an everyday driver, and prefer to grab an SL-rated, 116T, 18" like the BFG Trail-terrain TA or KO2, Bridgestone Dueler, or maybe even the Cooper Discover All-Terrain LT265/R65 18.

Had thought about just getting one of those, and grabbing a used pair of F150 20"ers for towing excursions, but don't want to put up with the hassle of swapping and storing. First time getting new tires, and dealing with the towing factor, so looking forward to some input. Thanks!

THoughts? Trying to avoid a heavier tire, but it is what it is. Don't do any serious off-roading.

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[SpaceWhiteF150]

Maybe look at a Cooper AT3 XLT, or 4S tire.

 

[amschind]

The KO2s are loud vs street tires, they aren't mud terrains and will drop your mileage, but they have been really popular for decades for a reason. They have a key benefit over MTs in that if you should happen to apply the brakes while the road is wet, your truck will stop.

 

[dmac]

General Grabber HTS 60 is strong and stable for towing even in P rated form. Quiet and fuel efficient with good wear.

Also walmart has cheap runs on the Cooper Discoverer All Terrain tire (almost as nice as the AT3).

If you're not offroading though, HTS 60 is hard to beat on road esp with towing alot.

 

[CaptainAmericaRob]

i will never be a fan of anything over 18" wheels on a truck!
there are REAL physical advantages of 18's over 20's.
there are NO real advantages of 20's over 18's, other than "looks"
in a truck, unless it's literally justa mall crawler, you want and need that extra sidewall protection, ride quality, TRACTION, and rim saving advantage of a taller side wall that an 18" tire provides.

 

[Timtoolman]

I tow a 7000 lb travel trailer , I almost went back to the 116 load mine came with from factory , took a chance and went with the discount tire Goodyear ultra terrain load E 275/65-18

 

[Brad34]

I'll be going with an XL rated tire when my stock tires are worn out. They are a nice compromise for a daily driver that does some towing. I tow a travel trailer about the same weight as yours. E rated truck tires are overkill for a daily driver. No doubt they will perform the best for towing, but still overkill. I agree with the post above that there is really no reason to go with 20s other than looks. Stick with the 18s.

 

[Mosey]

I agree - XL rates. Anything that has a max load at 51 psi should be an XL. They have stronger sidewalls than a standard P rated tire without the weight penalty of an E.

 

[DT444T]

I tow a 26' Toy Hauler that's about 5000 empty. And then I add a few motorcycles and gear and I'm easily up there over 6500. I have 18s and don't think they're too soft and squishy or anything. I don't think you need 20s but that's my $0.02.

 

[Buyer2021]

No "reason" at all to go 20's except to satisfy the urge to spend many dollars (with fair chance of regrets).

Lotsa "reasons" to stay with 18's IMO (many already mentioned above).

 

[Calson]

With the 18" rims you have far more tire choices available and usually higher load ratings as the 18 and 16 inch are commonly used on commercial delivery vehicles.

A 6500 lb trailer is going to place at most a 1000 lb load on the rear tires or 500 lbs per tire and even the P rated tires can manage that amount of load.

 

[Walter Townsend]

Since my truck came with 20" rims, I stayed with 20s and put the Falken Wildpeak ATW3 tires on it. LT285/60R20 tires.

These tires have very low road noise, and have good load carrying capacity and are rated better in snow than the KO2.

Since you have 18" rims, I'd stay with the 18 tires.

 

[TheGoatman]

I went with these. Good price quiet and like riding on pillows
33.43” 40lb
https://www.goodyear.com/en_US/tires/wrangler-territory-at/24354-73408764000000.html?back=tireFinder

 

[BoostIt]

OP here. Still haven't bought tires yet, but closer than ever.

Anyone ever went with a C(6ply) AT tire? Looking at some of these as they seem to be a compromise of safer for towing half a dozen times a year and daily driving. Anyone else done this? They do seem to be 'light truck' rated as the tire info line is:

LT275/65R18 113S

Oddly enough the load index for these C's is only 113, so 2,535 lbs. My PB currently has the 116(2,756 lbs) tires it came with(GYWranglers). These are only the 4-ply of course, so I guess in the end they have a higher load rating, but aren't as solid in construction? Or something else??? Noticed last night on these Wrangler ATs:

Plies:
Tread 2 polyester + 2 Steel + 1 Polyamide (looks like 5 ply now that I count!)
Sidewall: 2 Polyester

The C has an 'S' for the speed rating, and are cheaper too, for the same tire make, size, and model, which seems odd to me. Maybe they just charge more for the popular/common pick to make more money. The C is rated slightly lower on the speed index, at S, rather than T, and it seems as a tire gets heavier this drops. I'm guessing due to centrifugal force on a heavier tire spinning.

So, in coming back, has anyone went with a C rated AT tire? Any reason to avoid? Thanks in advance, and hope everyone has had a nice break, and happy NY! :-D

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