10 ply tires on a 1/2 Suburban?

[Bonestock]

The time for times is quickly coming. I'm seriously considering the Falken Wildpeak at3w but they only come in 10 ply for a 285/70r17. Curious as to how much mpg I'll give up and how rough the ride is. I'll be adding Bilsteins at the same time.

 

[Matahoe]

For what it' worth I am running Michelin LT 265 70 R17's on my 1/2 ton tahoe at 40 psi. I can't tell any difference in ride harshness. I'm sure I would notice if I fill them to 80 psi but I am only going to do that when towing my 7800 lb travel trailer. Even then with all that tongue weight it still shouldn't be much difference.

I have read so many articles and many people recommend the LT tires for full size suv's for piece of mind and for stiffer sidewall leading to enhanced towing stability. Each tire is 8 lbs more so factor in a tad worse mileage.

 

[chevy529]

I fill them to 80 psi but I am only going to do that when towing my 7800 lb travel trailer

I hesitate to ask as I am new here but is that a typo or do you actually put 80 psi in your tires? That seems a little excessive.

 

[Matahoe]

I hesitate to ask as I am new here but is that a typo or do you actually put 80 psi in your tires? That seems a little excessive.

No. Not excessive. E rated tires are designed that way. Most people are used to SL rated passenger tires at 36 psi. But these are E rated LT tires we are talking about.
www.discounttire.com/learn/load-range-load-index

 

[HiHoeSilver]

What's the range on the TPMS? I'm sure that running them at 80 to tow sets the alarm. No biggie, you did it on purpose to tow. But does running them at 40 for DD purposes set the alarm? That would drive me nuts.

 

[Matahoe]

What's the range on the TPMS? I'm sure that running them at 80 to tow sets the alarm. No biggie, you did it on purpose to tow. But does running them at 40 for DD purposes set the alarm? That would drive me nuts.

tpms wont alarm unles pressure falls below 29 or so psi. i dont think there is a high threshold

 

[HiHoeSilver]

tpms wont alarm unles pressure falls below 29 or so psi. i dont think there is a high threshold

I know for sure there is a high side, just can't find reliable info on what it is. Some say 44, others say up to 85. Just was curious if you got at alarm at 80.

 

[Matahoe]

i can definitely let you know. i just got the tires a few days ago. i will start at 80 and work up from there not to exceed 90.

 

[Bonestock]

I don't have a tpms on my 03 so I'm in the clear there.

I'll probably do the 10 ply because I prefer a stiffer ride over the marshmallow feel it has now. Combine these with all new bushings, shocks and atomics coil over front suspension.

 

[chevy529]

I only asked as I have ran LT tires on my pickups for 30+ years but never ran over 50 psi under any load. You must either be packing a lot of weight in your unit or have a very large tongue weight.

P.S. I had to look up what SL meant as I have never seen a tire with that designation in it's size. At least not here in Canada. Learned something new

No. Not excessive. E rated tires are designed that way. Most people are used to SL rated passenger tires at 36 psi. But these are E rated LT tires we are talking about.
www.discounttire.com/learn/load-range-load-index

 

[BigDaddy13440]

Currently have General Grabber AT2's in LT285/75/16's, have run them at NO LESS than 45 psi in the winter, currently have them at 50 psi for the rest of the year. Probably giving up 5k in mileage wear, as the centers have about 2/32nds of an inch less than the edges.... but I personally like the feel of a stiffer sidewall. I've driven trucks that the owners have kept at 32psi (as per manufacturer's recommendations....WTF!!), and it seems like they wallow badly through turns.
I'm sure when I put the 20" Denali wheels on, the shorter sidewall will be stiffer, and I won't HAVE to run them at 50psi....

Wife had some Michelin E rated's on her '98 Expedition. Ran them at 70 psi year-round, got over 65K on them, and they were on it when we bought it.

 

[Matahoe]

The spec sheet shows the maximum load carrying capacity using 80 psi. Capacity drops as psi is reduced. Lets just say I need all of that capacity.

 

[swathdiver]

... towing my 7800 lb travel trailer.

What is your trailering capacity with that truck?

Any of you fellas have experience with LT "C" ply tires?

I just bought a set and will have them put on later in the week.

 

[dirtydenali07]

Stay away from C load range tires. They are not meant to carry the weight of our full size SUVs. Do the research on the LT C's and compare the load carrying capacity to E's. every brand/style of tire is different.
Why full size trucks and suvs ever came from the factory with P tires is beyond me. My brother in law has a '11 1500 sierra and it had P265/70 17 on it. I bought him used LT 's in the same size. He works for a contractor installing flooring and he has to carry the materials sometimes. I even bought him air shocks for the rear after he sent me a pic of the squat with the bed loaded. Maybe he should have bought a 2500.

 

[BigDaddy13440]

Been scouring the internet everywhere for cheap tires for my buddy that just bought his 06 Z71, here's the best deal I found anywhere:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/162526928238

 

[thunderdawg]

I put LT load range E tires on my 1996 Tahoe after one too many sidewall punctures from greasewood where we hunt in WY. The corral legend is the tougher sidewalls resist the greasewood. Now I have a 2016 Tahoe with OEM tires. One season so far with no punctures. BTW, as others have stated, the tires can handle up to 80 psi inflation pressures, but I ran 40 to 55 psi to avoid wearing out the center treads since most of the miles were with little or no load.

 

[dirtydenali07]

Been scouring the internet everywhere for cheap tires for my buddy that just bought his 06 Z71, here's the best deal I found anywhere:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/162526928238

There's a place in New Columbia PA called Tire Depot that sells Trail Guide tires. I bought a set of LT265/75r16 Trailguide All Terrain for IIRC $508, mounted balanced and tax included.

 

[My99Yukon]

I have been running 10ply 265/75/16's for years and when I am loaded down I will routinely put 60psi in and it feels fine, not too harsh, and gets better mpg than running down at 36. I put poly bushings on body mount, motor, transmission and sway bar. It definitely makes for a firmer ride but I love not having a marsh mellow and the piece of mind of the 10 ply when I am off road.

I will do a torsion key lift and put 285's in when I need new rubber but for now the 265's are a good compromise. check out the rest at the Project 99 Yukon.

 

[Matahoe]

What is your trailering capacity with that truck?
.

I did some research. It looks like trailering capacities for most Chevy Tahoe and Silverado 1500's from 1999 until 2009 without 4.10 gears are around 7600 lbs. My trailer is 7800 lbs dry (empty) from factory and guessing about 8600 loaded 1200 lb tongue weight. I am now possibly thinking of getting a 12,000 lb Equalizer hitch. The one I currently own is a 10,000 lb Equalizer. 2500HD trucks are heavier on the whole. The best deal seems to be the 8.1 liter 2500 variants. A 8.1 liter 2500 Avalanche looks like a good contender.

 

[Matahoe]

I know for sure there is a high side, just can't find reliable info on what it is. Some say 44, others say up to 85. Just was curious if you got at alarm at 80.

I filled my tires to 75 PSI today and towed our trailer for a few hundred miles. The TPMS never even alarmed when the pressures got to 82 PSI on the DIC. I am thinking there is no upper limit. And if you think abut it..why would there be? TPMS is designed to alert the driver that the tires are low.