3/4 ton 5 Lug

[29chico]

Just about ready to go with these,  https://www.walmart.com/ip/General-Grabber-AT2-Light-Truck-and-SUV-Tire-255-70R15/14964177
Anybody have something they like better?

I went to Tire Rack and checked out the specs on that tire.  The good news is that the minimum rim width is 6 inches so there is a good chance the rims you have are wide enough.  The bad news is that the tire is SL (standard load) rated.  Not so tough.

Found the Scorpion ATR by Pirelli 235/75 15, Load range D & 2335 pounds weight rating on Tire Rack.  Won't be as tough as Load range E but should be lots tougher than the above noted SL tire.  Less chance of having clearance issues also compared to the 255 width tire.  Six inch min rim width also. $114.47 each before shipping.

 

[DannyB1954]

Load index on the General tire is 108 which is 2,205 lbs. I looked at the Scorpions and thought the tread pattern may not be suitable for off road. Thanks for taking a look for me. The van has this size tire on it already, so I would think the rims are compatible. 255/70/15

 

[SternWake]

Load ratings of passenger tires need to be reduced 10% on taller vehicles like trucks and vans. LT tires are already derated.
Lt
30 9.5 15
Have my speedo dead nuts accurate. 235 75 15 read too fast

 

[DannyB1954]

I noticed that the next tire size up have higher weight ratings in all manufacturers. The 265/70/15 have a rating about 2,500lbs. These are about a half inch taller than what my van came with. I don't know how much harm the additional 1/4" of radius would hurt anything. Except for clearance of fenders and such I don't think the vehicle cares what is above the center of the tire. My speedometer would read a little low and I would lose a little torque. By the time the tires wore a little, it would be pretty close to the stock size.

Found a nice tool for comparing sizes. It says between 255/70/15 and 265/70/15 at 55mph the speedo would be off by 1 mph https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc?tires=255-70r15-265-70r15

 

[Gary68]

i was looking at the general grabber and hankook all terrain but when i went in the guy who deals with tires all day every day recommended the bfg ko a/t and gave me a discount to bring them into my price range and thats what i got,guess where i will send my mom and sisters for tires

the more info i get on dodge the less i am liking them

 

[DannyB1954]

i was looking at the general grabber and hankook all terrain but when i went in the guy who deals with tires all day every day recommended the bfg ko a/t and gave me a discount to bring them into my price range and thats what i got,guess where i will send my mom and sisters for tires

the more info i get on dodge the less i am liking them

Not available in my rim size, but thanks for the reply.

 

[akrvbob]

My B250, 1987 has a maximum weight on the front of 3300 pounds, and the rear of 3700 pounds. This is with 235/75R15 tires. That is what the manufacturer designed. Safely carry the designated weight with 15 inch tires. All the 250 dodges had 15 inch 5 lug rims. My 300 had 15 inch 6 lug rims.

It probably weighs 5000 pounds empty but wet and probably 3000 of that is on the rear axle. If you put 1400 pounds in it, virtually all of it will go to the rear axle. You will be under GVWR, but rear axle will be overloaded and those rear tires will be over-weight and very dangerous. 

Your 3/4 ton has almost exactly the same weight rating as my 1993 F150, and it was over weight every day I owned it. I searched everywhere for a 15 inch tire that wouldn't be dangerously overloaded and never found one. 

Granted, it's much easier to overload a pickup, but the odds are most of those Dodge vans were overloaded as well. My G3500 weighs 8400 pounds loaded with everything i need to live indefinitely. If it had 15 inch tires I'd be afraid for my life! 

There is a reason van and trucks no longer have 15 inch tires--they are very dangerous! 
Bob

 

[akrvbob]

You're betting your life, spend $10 and get your van weighed at a scale that gives you both axles weight. It's scarry!

Calling a van with a GVWR of 6200 pounds a 3/4 ton is criminal as far as I'm concerned. No wonder it can have 5 lug wheels, it's a 1/2 ton with a lying name plate.
Bob

 

[ccbreder]

you win. i quit. too many miles on 15 inch tires to argue about it. nlm.

 

[DannyB1954]

I went to the dump today, (free weigh scale). What I got on the van was front tires 2,700, Whole van 5,040, rear tires 2320. To stay legal I have 6,200 - 5040 = 1,160lb for my stuff. So the van is basically a half ton, (or even less. The payload of a 1/2 ton pickup is usually above 1,000 lbs).

If I put all of that on the rear it brings my rear weight to 3,480 or 1,740 per tire. If I put on tires rated 2205 lb, that gives me a safety margin of  2205 X 2 = 4410 - 3480 = 930 lbs. I am told that in California the CHP goes by the tire rating and not the truck. I may go with the 1/2 inch taller tires rated for 2,469 each. Then my safety factor would be 1,458lbs.

I went to Walmart to see if they would put the larger tires on and the guy that would have to OK it was off till tomorrow. They did say I could bring the old tires in, (without the vehicle), and they would put on just about anything.

Going with a tire with a 1/4" radius larger would not significantly change my final gear ratio, (tire is 2% larger). Half of that would be above the center of the axle, so in effect the drivetrain would see a 1% increase in size. NBD

  

 

[DannyB1954]

I went back to Walmart today and was told that the only way they could offer road hazard is if they put them on, and their books called for that size tire.

Found a tire that seems to fit all aspects of what I need. 15", All Terain, Rated LT, load index 116, (2,756lb), Nokian Rotiiva AT https://www.walmart.com/ip/Nokian-Rotiiva-AT-LT235-75-R-15-116-113-S-Tires/50296307 I haven't heard of them before, but they are from Sweden, (not China), which gives me confidence. in Youtube Videos they look impressive.

Thanks all for the help.