98 6.5 'burb 1500 needs new tires, currently it has 265/75/16. Stock is 245/75 and I'm thinking about going with 235/85s. Stock gearing is 3.42 and according to the on line calculators, it would go down to 3.28 with the 235/85s. I expect to flat tow my Jeep YJ (between 4500-5K lbs) maybe once a month, MAYBE. The trans is the 4L80E.

This is my DD so the gear reduction would be a good thing :) I know 235/85s are pizza cutters, not only do I like the looks, after having them on the YJ for years, I also like how they perform in rain/snow.

Or should I just go back to the stock 245s?

After hearing only good things about Hi Tec Retreads, these are the ones I'm leaning towards - http://treadwright.com/Tires-235_85R16_ATD-P34.aspx

Andy

265/75/16 is only a little bit smaller (shorter) than 235/85/16 about .02 inches. But 235 is narrower. I think you should be fine.

I knew the height difference between what it has now (which was on it when I bought it) and the 235/85 is negligable. I was more concerned with towing the heep with what works out to be 3.28 gears. For as infrequent as it's gonna happen, how bad can it be? And I'm certainly not going to be hot rodding down the road flat towing and knowing I have only the brakes on the 'burb to stop the whole thing.


Andy

Subrbans came with 235/85 tires stock on them. The trucks got the 245/75 tires.


when you say 4500-5000lbs for the Jeep does that mean trailer included or not? I have pulled a few things with a truck that had 3.42 gears and taller than stock tires (up to 6k lbs) and it didn't have any trouble at all, on open roads it stayed in OD the whole time. It did have an exhaust and chip on it, though.

Also, do you have any issues with the 265 tires rubbing at all?

Subrbans came with 235/85 tires stock on them. The trucks got the 245/75 tires.



Huh?


when you say 4500-5000lbs for the Jeep does that mean trailer included or not? I have pulled a few things with a truck that had 3.42 gears and taller than stock tires (up to 6k lbs) and it didn't have any trouble at all, on open roads it stayed in OD the whole time. It did have an exhaust and chip on it, though.


No trailer, I'd love to get one, but the ~2k isn't in the budget at all :( I've never actually weighed the heep, but with all the add ons added to the tools and spare parts, it's no lightweight.

Also, do you have any issues with the 265 tires rubbing at all?

Yeah, at full lock they will rub slightly. So I back off a hair when the wheel hits the stop :D

Regardless of tire size, I would lean against using retreads. I skimp on other things, but never safety items like tires, brakes, etc. If I'm tight on funds, I skimp on things that don't affect safety, like seat covers, or the stereo.

Be safe!

Rob :)

I used to race in a stock class, (1/3 mile circle track with a stock 350 SBC) and we were allowed only a stock tire, no spec or racing tires, only DOT. the fastest laps were turned on retreads, our average lap speed was 70MPH and I never experienced any safety issues, ie tire blow outs etc. We/I could destroy a tire if the car was not set up properly, the right front was usually the first to go (new goodyear regattas or retreads it did not matter) It would blow if you wore it down to the belts, and it did not matter if it was new or a re-tread .pressures would grow from 40psi at the start of the race to 60psi!! at the end.
Tthe reason for running a re-tread was they were actually wider than the stock carcass it was on, sometimes as much as 1.5 inches. tire bonding has come a long way since, from re-treads first came out.
thats been my experience, I think you'd have more to worry about if you had Firestones (ford re-call for tires blowing)

Subrbans came with 235/85 tires stock on them.

The 2 'burbs I've bought, the 97 and an 06 2500 had 245/75/16 on stock. I *think* the duallys came with 235 85 16.

Were your burbs 2500 HDs with the 8600 GVW?

Were your burbs 2500 HDs with the 8600 GVW?

Mine is, and has 245-75's on it.

I am gonna stick with that size, and pickup a set of Bridgestone Dueler REVO's in the next week or so...

I myself bought the BFG KO's 265/75-16's and regretted the size I chose. My original size was also the 245/75-16's and I also had the 3.42 gearing. My regrets were because as soon as I put those tires on the truck it was noticeable that I lost some torque. The truck was quicker and seemed to have that little bit more of a punch when I had 245's on it. My recommendations if you have 3.42's is to stick with the same height as the 245/75's.

The 2 'burbs I've bought, the 97 and an 06 2500 had 245/75/16 on stock. I *think* the duallys came with 235 85 16.


I'm pretty sure GM put 215 85R16 on the duallys . That's what mine came with and what I've read several others have.

I did the gear ratio computer thingy and found out my 4:10 gears and stock 245 75 16 are 30.4 in tall. with a 265 75 16 or 31.7 tall tire the gear is lik a 3:90 and with 235 85 16's ( there 33.1 in's tall) it will be like about 3:79 or so. I'm thinking if the 235 85's will fit my stock rims,,, that will be my choice for new tires. =)

Were your burbs 2500 HDs with the 8600 GVW?

My 97 was not, it was a 1500 like yours. It's in my sig. The 06 burb was, plus we owned a 2500 pickup that was traded in on the LBZ, and all three came with 245 75 16 from the factory.

I'm pretty sure GM put 215 85R16 on the duallys . That's what mine came with and what I've read several others have.

Oops, got it mixed up with something else. :o: My wife was right. :rolleyes:

my 2500 burb came with 245/75/16. I upgraded to 285/75/16 and no rubbing and I love the looks but mileage went down about 2 mpg

I ran 235's on my '95 2500 with 4.10's, and also ran them on my folks '99 1500 with 3.42's. My mom drives the truck, so it basically just hauls three dogs around, but it didn't seem to lose much grunt by the seat of the pants... This truck has never been hooked to anything. 235's do well in the snow, too. I think it's a very well suited tire for the 'burbs.

I know '95 up, all 'burbs came stock with 245 75 16's.

Regardless of tire size, I would lean against using retreads. I skimp on other things, but never safety items like tires, brakes, etc. If I'm tight on funds, I skimp on things that don't affect safety, like seat covers, or the stereo.

Be safe!

Rob :)



I don't intend to start a pi$$in' match, but here's what the DOT says -




From: George.Gillespie@dot.gov [mailto:George.Gillespie@dot.gov]
Sent: Tue 12/11/2007 8:21 AM
To: Murphy, Andrew
Cc: Ovsc.Public@dot.gov
Subject: RE: Retreaded Tire Question


Dear Mr. Murphy,

There are no federal regulations on the use of retreaded tires on passenger car steer axles. FMVSS No. 117 concerns safety compliance of retreaded passenger car tires, but does not address vehicle applications, other than use on a passenger car.

FYI, the use of retreaded truck tires is regulated on bus steer axles; refer to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations 393.75 (D) which states “ No bus shall be operated with regrooved, recapped or retreaded tires on the front wheels.” There are no federal regulations restricting the use of retreads on truck axles or passenger car axles.

Sincerely,
George P. Gillespie
Safety Compliance Engineer

U.S. DOT / NHTSA
Attn: NVS-222GGi
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20590

202-366-5299 (voice)
202-366-7097 (fax)
george.gillespie@dot.gov


From: Public, Ovsc <NHTSA>
Sent: Monday, December 10, 2007 1:54 PM
To: Gillespie, George <NHTSA>
Subject: FW: Retreaded Tire Question





From: Murphy, Andrew [mailto:Andrew.Murphy@Tiffany.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2007 10:05 AM
To: Public, Ovsc <NHTSA>
Subject: Retreaded Tire Question


I was looking through Motor Vehicle Standard No 109 and 110, and couldn't find the answer to the legality of retreaded (or recapped) tires used on the steer axle of a passenger vehicle. Is it OK to use these tires?





Thanks,



Andy Murphy