LT Tires on Nissan Titan

[newroswell]

The OEM Goodyear Wrangler SR/A's tow like crap. After a long hot summer of towing, they flatten down and wiggle at their rated PSI, and are far too worn out after just 20,000, and I just don't feel safe with them anymore. We're heading out again in a week, so I need to do something soon.

I think I'm set on LT tires. I need something close to a 265/70-18, but no luck on an LT in that size, a 275/70-18 is about .5 x .25 bigger and should fit nice.

I'm looking at the Nitto Dura Grappler, Toyo Open Country H/T and a few others. But wanted to get some other ideas. The two worst set of tires I have owned where Goodyear so I'll probably take a break from them for now.

Are LT tires too much for my half-ton? What do you like?

[moosetags]

With a late model 25 footer, you are probably towing over 7000# with an 800# tongue weight.

You OEM tires are probably load range C, and are not really suitable for the weight that you are towing. I would not tow that much without load range E tires. Size is not as big a deal as the load range.

Brian

[kevin242]

I agree with Moosetags. Stick with the tire size rated for your TV, but increase the number of plies (increases load range and psi ratings). Your rig will likely tow way more stable. The downside is it will ride more rough empty.

[newroswell]

That's what I'm thinking also. Going with the LT unless someone can somehow convince me I'm safer without. The money we're talking about doesn't change my choice. My daily drive is so short and we go so often, I'm actually towing about 50% of the miles I put on it now.

I think the deciding moment was when we we're towing back from Pismo this last (very hot) sunday and I was thinking about the low tread and melting road, when the truck pulling a massive boat in front of us had a blow-out. Yup, that's when I decide.

So what's on the 3/4 tons now days?

[wingfoot321]

Just to feel safer, I would check Nissan and see what those rims are rated for in psi. A load E tire is what is called for to tow a 7000# trailer but, the rim could be the weak link?

[moosetags]

GM 2500's including the 3/4 ton Suburban come with 245R75/16E's.

E's are 10 ply, D's are 8 ply, and D's are 6 ply.

The weight your pulling and loading needs E's.

Brian

[68 TWind]

I have had a lot of experience with Toyo's on a number of vehicles. My neighbor is the local dealer so it is hard for me not to buy from him. I have never had a failure with them but they just don't have the tread life they should.

[moosetags]

You also need to check the weight rating on your OEM wheels. They may not be rated for the weight that you are hauling.

Brian

[newroswell]

I'm sure the wheels are good up to my trucks tow rating, but I will be checking tomorrow. That's why I haven't bought the tires yet. If I had to get new wheels, I could go 17's and have more options with the tires, but would rather keep the OEM 18's.

I'm actually thinking that with a LITTLE help from better tires, I could get my towing MPG up to 12! Yeah, maybe not.

[3Ms75Argosy]

Maybe call the Tirerack (tirerack.com). They have very knowledgible folks that could give you info about whay load ratings are available in comparable sizes for your Titan. I too was noting that there aren't many load rated low profile (60 series) tires. They also have some nice prices.
Marc

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, your truck has a tow rating that includes the tires it came with. LT tires will not increase your tow rating. If you need stronger tires to tow your trailer then maybe your truck isn't rated high enough for the job. My example is this: My Lincoln [with "P" tires] is rated to tow 8,900 lbs. My trailer is rated at 6,300 lbs. There is nothing in my owner's manual stating that I must change to LT tires for towing. My tires have a max air pressure of 44 lbs. Ford says to set them at 26 lbs front and 33 lbs rear and this is where I set them. I on my own decission set my tires at 35 lbs front and 40 lbs rear when towing. Seems to me you need to adjust your tire pressures for towing. Note: I travel on eight Goodyear tires, four on my trailer and four on my tow vehicle.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by wingfoot321

Just to feel safer, I would check Nissan and see what those rims are rated for in psi. A load E tire is what is called for to tow a 7000# trailer but, the rim could be the weak link?

Hi, from what I have seen, most "P" tires have a max air pressure of 44 lbs and "LT" tires have a max air pressure of 80 lbs. You really don't want one of your wheels to blow up in your face, do you?

Your trailer should be rated at 7,300 lbs and your truck, if I found the right one, should be rated at 9,500 lbs for towing. This should work fine as built from the factory.

[richinny]

some pressure info:

Tire Tech - Tire Specs Explained

[85MH325]

If you've got the Big Tow package (like mine) your tow rating is a ridiculously high 9500 lbs. I'm sure your wheels are up to taking E rated tires. That's probably what I'll put on mine as well. My rear tires are wearing fast as well. I'm going to have them rotated before I tow our Bigfoot on our vacation to the east coast in October. I don't drive my Titan much, so I won't be replacing mine soon, but when I do, I'll get heavier rated tires.

Rog

[newroswell]

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, your truck has a tow rating that includes the tires it came with. LT tires will not increase your tow rating.

I understand. I'm not trying to increase my tow rating. I'm just looking for something that's more firm under load and more resistant to road debris when it's 110 and the road is 140.

Kind of like that thin spring mattress that came in the 25FB is rated for 6'2" 250, but the 12" memory foam is a lot more comfortable.

[newroswell]

I'm always disappointed when I read a thread and it doesn't have an ending. So just to update, I bought the General Grabber HTS in a LT275/65R18. It's nearly identical in size to the P265/70R18 that came on the truck. It's a little wider so a little more meat on the ground. So far I've got about 30 miles of empty unloaded driving around town and they are very nice.

My concerns with any LT tire was that they would be flintstone tires, granite hard, but not so. I'm sure they are more firm, I can tell there is a lot less rolling resistance. I've crossed the rail-road tracks a few times, and some of the paved roads are pretty rough, but I don't sense they are hard or that I'm feeling more of the road up through the suspension. No tracking down the freeway grooves.

I also don't hear any road noise at all, and I did hear a little road noise with the Wranglers. The real test is Saturday for a 120 mile run to Pismo for an 8 night. I'll give a tow update after that.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, we would really like to hear about a 1200 mile trip on your new tires, but we will settle for the 120 mile trip. What tire pressures are going to run in these new tires and are you going to run different pressures while towing versus not towing? Have a great time at Pismo, we stayed there three times last year. Nice place.

[DrPlay]

Itowed 5000 miles this summer --- NJ to Colorado/Wyoming and back -- with the exact same factory setup on my Titan. Tires inflated about 5 psi below max. Towed a 25' CCD International and never once had a problem or felt unsafe. I'll get LT's once these wear out. And at 24k on the truch they have loads of tread life remaining.

[Ray Eklund]

The Goodrich A/T Load Range C tires that come with the 2008 Toyota Tundra are a light weight tire to get you off of their parking lot. The tires never did fail on the paved highways, but they did wear quickly and became a liability on my frequent non-paved road trailer towing, all from rock punctures when the tires were 50% worn.

Costco now offers a Michelin LTX A/T2 LT275-65R-18, Load Range E with a maximum load rating of 3415 pounds. I travel with 43 psi cold of Costco Nitrogen in the tires. The tires ride firm, but that is why I drive a pickup truck and want tires that I can depend on getting me where I need, or want, to travel. Each tire cost $235.00, less coupon for $80.00 off of a set of four tires purchased. I know, not inexpensive, but neither are the less than expected performance Goodrich Load Range C original equipment so generously provided from the Toyota factory. Much like the generous Goodyear Marathons tires provided for the Airstream trailers from the factory. I bought a fifth matching aluminum wheel for the truck and mounted a Michelin on it as well. I may not get 50,000 towing miles on these tires, but if the tires remain trouble free, I plan to replace them with the same. The tread is aggressive for rain, mud and snow and are less noisy than the AT Goodrich treads. It has already snowed on the Front Range of Colorado, with plenty of snow in the mountains at tree line!

When I bring the truck into Toyota for oil and filter changes, they do not mess with the tire pressure when they see the green valve caps on each wheel.