A friend of mine upsized to 265/75/16. and now claims to have a handleing problem while towing a 30 " tag a log trailer. Has anybody had a problem.? thanks Joe B

Joe B,


Welcome! Need some more info on the truck, and his current mileage?


Right off the bat, I'd say "Have him check his shocks".....the stockers are horrible....


I currently have 265's and have no problems at all.


Tom http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Pig.gifEdited by: TheBac

A friend of mine upsized to 265/75/16. and now claims to have a handleing problem while towing a 30 " tag a log trailer. Has anybody had a problem.? thanks Joe B

Huh ?
Does he believe that it is due to the tire swap ?
Does he want to NOT believe that it is due to the tire swap unless/until someone in this forum agrees that it is (or isn't) ?
Either way he'll get no help from the dealership or GM unless he puts the original size back on.

The problem started after putting on the new tires. The truck has 30000 miles on it, and still has oringal schocks. Thanks for the replies. Joe B.

What was the brand name of the tires?? Wondering if maybe the tread design is different causing different handling charactoristics. Also, what load range did your friend go with??

No surprise.
If he runs them at the same pressure the footprint will be the same area, but wider and shorter. If you meant "Tag along trailer" (with no weight distributing hitch) the tongue weight could be making the front end a bit light. I s'pose he could would expect vague steering, especially on wet roads.

My two cents...I don't know what kind of tires he went with but the last set I had on mine the truck would sway back and forth like the side walls were weak...and it was HORRIBLE pulling a trailer...might check that...

My two cents...I don't know what kind of tires he went with but the last set I had on mine the truck would sway back and forth like the side walls were weak...and it was HORRIBLE pulling a trailer...might check that...

As a sweeping generalization... Yes, you gan expect "PHAT" tires to be relatively weaker (less stiff) in the sidewalls. Think of it as a fatter donut... sortof.

I have 305's on my truck with no problems ever with a 24' trailer and race car...

It is the profile number combined with the width that is a clue as to how stiff a tire might be. For instance a 285/75 would not be as stiff as 285/70 of the same load rating. My 365/65's are way stiffer side to side than the stock 245/75's

I have 305's on my truck with no problems ever with a 24' trailer and race car...


same thing for me, 305 buckshots, a race car and a 24' trailer.

The tires are Firestone just like the orignal only 265. Load range E. Tried BF Goodrich first but they were worst !!!! Has sway control and load equalizing hitch. The trailr is 30' tag and no problem with the 245. Thanks Joe B

Just thought of this. I had to adjust my tongue height to make up for the bigger tires I put on. Maybe, just maybe the toungue is too high now. It may have been marginal before and the additional height (I know it is only 1/2-3/4 inch) may have created a problem. Just a guess and worth checking.

The tires are Firestone just like the orignal only 265. Load range E. Tried BF Goodrich first but they were worst !!!! Has sway control and load equalizing hitch. The trailr is 30' tag and no problem with the 245. Thanks Joe B


Interesting. My 2002 F-250 with 265/75-16 Firestones was a bit squirrelly towing the TT. My 2003 K-2500HD with the 245/75-16 stock Bridgestones was stable as a rock towing the same trailer. I recently replaced the stock Bridgestones with 265/75-16 LR-E Michellins. I'll be towing the TT over Labor day. I'll follow up.

Just got back from the labor day trip. TT and truck handle as well with 265/75-16s as when the truck had the stock 245/75-16s.


I think fingers had it when he suggested checking the tongue height.

I agree with Fingers.

Cranking up the torsion bars on the trailer helped alot. Thanks for all the replies. Joeb