Better tire size for towing

[dddoug]

If you take 2 same brand rated E sidewall and overall height tires; but one is a 18" diameter wheel and the other a 20"; which one will feel better towing? Buy feeling better; I mean fighting trailer sway.

I believe the 20" should, but I'm asking anybody with hands on experience.

 

[jetrinka]

All other things equal I'd think the 20" wheel with a shorter sidewall should squirm less which may translate into a more secure feeling while driving. It won't fight true trailer sway in any noticeable way though.

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

One inch more or less sidewall, as measured from the ground to the hub, will be negligible difference at proper load PSI in my opinion. I would assume they would require different PSI to carry the same load.

If you have trailer sway, new truck wheels and tires aren’t going to fix it. You have other problems to sort out.

 

[jkempken]

One inch more or less sidewall, as measured from the ground to the hub, will be negligible difference at proper load PSI in my opinion. I would assume they would require different PSI to carry the same load.

If you have trailer sway, new truck wheels and tires aren’t going to fix it. You have other problems to sort out.

I had the stock TransForce tires on my truck before upgrading to 35x12.5R20 Ridge Grapplers with 20x9 wheels. The TransForce did not inspire much confidence towing, the new Ridge grapplers feel more stable while trailering. May be just in my head but any sway in wind has pretty much gone away with the new tires and wheels. Having a couple more inches width wise on the ground may have helped too.

 

[dddoug]

One inch more or less sidewall, as measured from the ground to the hub, will be negligible difference at proper load PSI in my opinion. I would assume they would require different PSI to carry the same load.

If you have trailer sway, new truck wheels and tires aren’t going to fix it. You have other problems to sort out.

Thanks for your input - I do not have a sway problem, I want the best control possible for passing eighteen wheelers. Most all E rated use 80 psi from what I have researched.

 

[dddoug]

I had the stock TransForce tires on my truck before upgrading to 35x12.5R20 Ridge Grapplers with 20x9 wheels. The TransForce did not inspire much confidence towing, the new Ridge grapplers feel more stable while trailering. May be just in my head but any sway in wind has pretty much gone away with the new tires and wheels. Having a couple more inches width wise on the ground may have helped too.

Thanks, good info - I like personal experience feedback. I still have the 20" TransForce with 26,000 miles. I pull a TT @ 11,000 lbs. I like the 18" tall sidewall look, but do not want to give up control.

 

[dddoug]

All other things equal I'd think the 20" wheel with a shorter sidewall should squirm less which may translate into a more secure feeling while driving. It won't fight true trailer sway in any noticeable way though.

Thanks - I think so also; but maybe I will get more input from others.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

18” will be fine no negligible change in feel except they will handle the bumps better. You do not need to run 80psi you run whats on the door thats for max weight your truck can handle so any more psi is just wearing the tread center down for no reason

 

[Bombaman]

Whilst 10 ply tires are rated to 80psi, it might not be best to run them at those pressures.

Most good manufacturers provide a load rating chart so you can dial in your pressures based on your Axle weights across the truck. Having too high of tire pressure can reduce ride quality, but also increase wear and reduce contact patch. You might have the stiffest sidewall possible, but if there is only 60% of the contact patch, it doesnt do much good.

On the trailer, there are a couple trains of thought, as the side loads can be different, most people are max cold all the time, but even Goodyear post an inflation chart for their endurance range - https://www.goodyearrvtires.com/pdfs/rv_inflation.pdf