Need help with tires for a Chevy duallie

[Bex]

Research, sometimes I get the "paralysis from analysis" syndrome and can't make a decision. I spent an hour in the tire shop yesterday explaining what I learned here because the assistants just didn't know what I was talking about (they were supposed to have been trained).
The next closest pricing though was $1700, so I HAVE to stick with these tires from this shop and I know they are good tires, I have had them put on my two cargo vans for the last 5 years. They are made by Cooper Tires, if that means anything to anyone.
The aspect ratio thing comes into play on a duallie of course. I am hesitant to go with a wider tire although I do have spacers. Would there be a benefit on a duallie to having wider tires? I know duallies are not as good as a SRW truck in mud and snow (unless you have some weight on them) is wider better in this case?

[Bex]

Research, sometimes I get the "paralysis from analysis" syndrome and can't make a decision. I spent an hour in the tire shop yesterday explaining what I learned here because the assistants just didn't know what I was talking about (they were supposed to have been trained).
The next closest pricing though was $1700, so I HAVE to stick with these tires from this shop and I know they are good tires, I have had them put on my two cargo vans for the last 5 years. They are made by Cooper Tires, if that means anything to anyone.
The aspect ratio thing comes into play on a duallie of course. I am hesitant to go with a wider tire although I do have spacers. Would there be a benefit on a duallie to having wider tires? I know duallies are not as good as a SRW truck in mud and snow (unless you have some weight on them) is wider better in this case?

[Phoenix]

The http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes price for six Michelin LTX M/S, load range E tires in size 225/75x16, is $1,004, which includes a $70 rebate (for four tires). This doesn't include shipping, or mounting and balancing; but even so, $1,700 for Cooper tires seem pretty high. Just my opinion, but I'd shop around a little. Do you have Discount Tire, Costco, WalMart/Sam's Club, etc. near you? There is enough difference in price to make a day trip worthwhile.

Others may provide better insight, especially since I have never owned a dually pickup, but I would think with four drive wheels in the back, wider tires may be unnecessary. Also, 4WD would even strengthen this argument.

As an aside, if Michelin and Cooper tires were the same price, I'd get the Michelins; but that's just my preference.

[Bex]

We have a Costco and Walmarts but the tire bays in WM are run by KalTire locally, I checked Costco, the Michelin LTX are $243.00. I guess thats the result of living in an area that about 60-80 percent of vehicles are trucks.
I agree regarding the Michelin choice. What I am getting is the Canadian Tire "own brand" tires, made by Cooper and they are $134.90 each, so a pretty good price for E rated 85k KM warranty. The set for $1700 was Toyo tires from OK tire.
From what I have read, a duallie gives less traction than a SRW truck, even with 4WD.

[rumrunner]

Actually the aspect ratio can become critical in the case of dual rear wheels. Picture it this way, the bigger and wider the tires are the closer together they become in the space between them. this space is critical for proper cooling of the tires by air flow. Worst case scenario is if they actually touch. When this happens heat builds up very quickly and a blowout is inevitable. Even if there is a gap when installed the sidewalls flex under load and even more due to road conditions so what might seem safe originally can become unsafe very rapidly. Still sounds like you are doing the right thing so this is more in the way of information
tim

[Bex]

I ordered tire. Still not arrived and thats now 3 weeks. One thing I was wondering was about the rims.
Can I get the smaller tire onto the existing rim?
Remember I am going from 245/75/r16 back to the stock 225/75/r16
Thanks!

Bex