17.5 tire question

4wlow · 08-02-2014, 02:59 PM

I just ordered a set of 17.5 wheels, but I am not sure which size tires to get. The 215 75's or the 235 75's. Either size appears to be slightly larger or smaller than my current 235 80 16's. Is one size better than the other and I was hoping to keep my current size spare to use in a pinch.

hddecker · 08-02-2014, 03:27 PM

How does the load capacity of the new tires compare to you old ones.

You are going up in tire size, the 215 75s probably have a higher load capacity than the stock size. If the 235s will fit that even more load capacity and that's never a bad thing, but there comes a time when the cost benefit doesn't make sense.

I went from a Load Range E to a G 16" tire on my TT and have been happy with my tire choice, so for me it just wouldn't make sense to go up in a wheel size to run a tire that probably has a similar load capacity.

Fanboy · 08-03-2014, 05:06 AM

If your happy with the load ratings on both 215 and the 235 think of how your trailer sits on the truck. Can you afford to lose or gain a bit of height. If you can lose I would do the 215. Trailers are tall enough. That said keeping the 16" tire as a spare being a different size I am not to sure how that would go.

DesertRat · 08-04-2014, 03:58 PM

I went with the 215 17.5 tires. As far as the 16" spare goes it's a spare. With 17.5 on now you shouldn't ever have any need for it unless you pick-up a nail.

4wlow · 08-04-2014, 04:55 PM

I was looking at getting Sailun S637 tires. I have not found anything bad about them and simpletire.com has them for a pretty good price. The 235's are significantly more expensive though.

DesertRat · 08-04-2014, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4wlow

I was looking at getting Sailun S637 tires. I have not found anything bad about them and simpletire.com has them for a pretty good price. The 235's are significantly more expensive though.

How about the wheels? I got my wheels here 17.5 Aluminum Trailer Wheels free shipping on orders over $75.

I bought Hankook tires for $230 delivered to my house. Cost me another $35 to get them mounted & balanced at my local tire shop..

4wlow · 08-04-2014, 07:16 PM

I found aluminum Hispec wheels on eBay $205 each shipped. That was the best price I could find.

ducmons · 08-13-2014, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4wlow

I found aluminum Hispec wheels on eBay $205 each shipped. That was the best price I could find.

Seems quite reasonable. Here's what I'm running.

Grass · 08-21-2014, 06:00 PM

Could you go with a 16 tires that has more ply like 14 or 16 and would that be just as good as going with 17.5 tires just wondering

hddecker · 08-21-2014, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grass

Could you go with a 16 tires that has more ply like 14 or 16 and would that be just as good as going with 17.5 tires just wondering

That's what I did when I replaced my tires, went from a Load Range E to a G.

dougs2 · 08-21-2014, 08:46 PM

I went with a 16" 14 ply tire. Really like them! A lot of times taller rims don't mean the tire is any taller usually the tire sidewall is shorter, so actually the 16" is probably close to the same height as the 17.5 and could have more sidewall strength. My local Firestone dealer recommended Gladiators and I went with the 235 R 85 16. 14ply. He said he has sold a ton of these and has had no problems. They ran about $190 each put on the Voltage. He found a buyer for my 10 ply Westlakes for 50 each. While they were changing them they rolled the two tires up side by side for me to compare. The Gladiators were way heavier and when you pushed down on the top of the tire you could push the Westlake way down but the Gladiator hardly any. Put them on my original wheels and refilled them with nitrogen.

hddecker · 08-22-2014, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dougs2

I went with a 16" 14 ply tire. Really like them! A lot of times taller rims don't mean the tire is any taller usually the tire sidewall is shorter, so actually the 16" is probably close to the same height as the 17.5 and could have more sidewall strength. My local Firestone dealer recommended Gladiators and I went with the 235 R 85 16. 14ply. He said he has sold a ton of these and has had no problems. They ran about $190 each put on the Voltage. He found a buyer for my 10 ply Westlakes for 50 each. While they were changing them they rolled the two tires up side by side for me to compare. The Gladiators were way heavier and when you pushed down on the top of the tire you could push the Westlake way down but the Gladiator hardly any. Put them on my original wheels and refilled them with nitrogen.

I put the Gladiators on as well. The tire shop had two tires that would fit my rig, the same sort of comparison between them. But I see how much sidewall deflection I can do grabbing the bead and pushing on the sidewall with my thumbs.

arlan in arizona · 08-22-2014, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dougs2

A lot of times taller rims don't mean the tire is any taller usually the tire sidewall is shorter, so actually the 16" is probably close to the same height as the 17.5 and could have more sidewall strength.

Put them on my original wheels and refilled them with nitrogen.

I went with the Goodyear G614's. For the ply and load range

increase and while they have been good for me. Looking back I should have bought new 17.5 wheels and tires. The shorter sidewall is the reason. Way less sidewall flex

when making really tight turns.

The atmosphere is 78.08 percent nitrogen so that's how much nitrogen that is coming out of our air compressors. I got caught up in that nitrogen thing with my Mini-Cooper and the Voltage. Not a big deal either way and if you have to add air you aren't depleting much of your 100% nitrogen.

Hope all are 16" tire upgrades are good to us.

dougs2 · 08-22-2014, 02:02 PM

You probably have triple axles and you would get a lot more stress on your wheels in tight turns. I have dual axles and carry a lot of weight and as rough as some roads are need some sidewall flex to help the ride.

As far as nitrogen I went with it to help stabilize tire pressure from extreme cold to warmer temps all in the same day.

4wlow · 08-22-2014, 02:17 PM

So far with my 17.5 upgrade I noticed a big difference in flex while turning. The old tires do not compare at all to the 16 ply 17.5 tires. The 16 inch tires had about one inch more in circumference compared to the 17.5. The switch is not cheap, but I just sold my old tires and wheels so the cost was not much more than if I had gotten new 16 inch tires. I kept the 16 inch spare since the overall size is very close. From what I read about the 17.5 set-up I hopefully will not need it.

Mr. Cob · 10-16-2014, 02:03 PM

Howdy All,

I am dragging up this old thread as I am very seriously considering going to 17.5 wheels and tires, I have had my truck-trailer weighted here at the HDT rally and the stock tires while meeting the specs of my loaded trailer are right at the limits and I do NOT like this.

Would those of you who have switched to 17.5 wheels and tires please advise me on where to get the best deal and which brand of tires did you go with. I would like to stay as close to the stock tire diameter as possible as my trailer now sits level when loaded. I could on the way home go past this shop ( Trailer Wheel & Tire Superstore. We offer trailer rims, trailer tires with Free Shipping over $50. ) in southern California and get tires and wheels, has anyone bought tires and wheels from these folks, if so did they treat you right, would you recommend doing business with them? Thanks for any advise you can give.

Dave

DesertRat · 10-16-2014, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Cob

Howdy All,

I am dragging up this old thread as I am very seriously considering going to 17.5 wheels and tires, I have had my truck-trailer weighted here at the HDT rally and the stock tires while meeting the specs of my loaded trailer are right at the limits and I do NOT like this.

Would those of you who have switched to 17.5 wheels and tires please advise me on where to get the best deal and which brand of tires did you go with. I would like to stay as close to the stock tire diameter as possible as my trailer now sits level when loaded. I could on the way home go past this shop ( Trailer Wheel & Tire Superstore. We offer trailer rims, trailer tires with Free Shipping over $50. ) in southern California and get tires and wheels, has anyone bought tires and wheels from these folks, if so did they treat you right, would you recommend doing business with them? Thanks for any advise you can give.

Dave

That's were I bought my wheels from. Had them shipped at no cost to my home. Yes I would recommend them.

4wlow · 10-16-2014, 03:18 PM

I got my wheels off of eBay and tires from simpletire.com. I had a local truck service center mount all 4 for $50. I think in total I spent around $1600

Mr. Cob · 10-16-2014, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DesertRat

That's were I bought my wheels from. Had them shipped at no cost to my home. Yes I would recommend them.

Howdy DesertRat,

Thanks for your post, what brand of tires did you go with, have they held up?

Dave

Mr. Cob · 10-16-2014, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4wlow

I got my wheels off of eBay and tires from simpletire.com. I had a local truck service center mount all 4 for $50. I think in total I spent around $1600

Howdy 4wlow,

What did you look under on ebay to find the wheels, what brand of wheels and tires did you go with?

Dave

You may also like: