Folks, time to replace the crap General AmeriTrac tires that came on the dually (only 31K and they're worn out). I was looking at putting on Dayton Timberline A/T 235-85-16's. My dad has used them for years and swears by them.

We use the truck to pull a 37' fifth wheel that weighs about 13.5K loaded with a king pin weight about 1850. I've got a couple of questions and need some input:

1. Do others like the Dayton tires, especially in the rain (lots in FL)?

2. Will I have to have speed re-calibrated with the taller tires?

3. Will the tires (.6" wider each by spec sheet) require a spacer in rear?

I'd put the stock size on if I could get the Dayton tires in E but can only get 235's. And I won't put D with the fifth wheel we have.

Folks, time to replace the crap General AmeriTrac tires that came on the dually (only 31K and they're worn out). I was looking at putting on Dayton Timberline A/T 235-85-16's. My dad has used them for years and swears by them.

We use the truck to pull a 37' fifth wheel that weighs about 13.5K loaded with a king pin weight about 1850. I've got a couple of questions and need some input:

1. Do others like the Dayton tires, especially in the rain (lots in FL)?
No idea how well the Daytons work.

2. Will I have to have speed re-calibrated with the taller tires?
Most say that the 235's actually make the speedo more accurate...according to GPS readings.

3. Will the tires (.6" wider each by spec sheet) require a spacer in rear?
If you run max pressure...80psi....you may not have any issues.....empty. However, I see that you tow heavy. You'll have to see how they work out for you, but I'm bettin' you'll need spacers. Look here for 2" spacers--> http://www.wheeladapter.com/

And I won't put D with the fifth wheel we have.
Exactly right!


JP

i PUT 235s on with a 1/4 inch spacer used firestone transforce at, 10 ply have enough room between pulling a 3100 lb pin weight fifth wheel, 75 psi nitrogen filled so no pressure difference at 10 degrees or 100. call with any questions 205-283-0433

the timberline's are a junk wheel, worse than the wild countries, u will get just a hair more miles out of them than your ameritrac's. tires are something you spare no expense on, the bfg ko's are a great all around tire, toyo open countries are decent, yokohama's, and the geolander series are also good. try to stay away from the timberlines, they are a fast wearing tire and they ride rough even in the 235 range.

I'm going to get the bigger tires (current front tires are done for) and look at them when I put the fifth wheel on. I'm leary about putting in the 1/4 spacer and taking that out of the lugs. Especially with the weight I yank around. I'll get the 2' spacers instead.

My dad has run Dayton Timberlines on his dually's for years (three Dodge's - can't change his mind:cool: ) and has never gotten less than 50K out of them. He pulls a 22' gooseneck horse trailer loaded about 12K. Curious that they would wear faster on a GMC than a Dodge...

And I do not run anything else but Nitrogen in my tires now. This is the last vehicle to get the Nitrogen treatment. And the two local dealers I get my tires from will top off the Nitrogen any time I pull in. Infact I'm getting ready to have the wheels on my fifth wheel rotated and balanced and will have them drained and refilled with Nitrogen.

the 2 inch spacers are a waste of money and look like crap with 235s, 1/4 inch spacers dont loose enough threads to worry about i still had 7 complete turns on the lugs, i tow a 16000lb jayco designer, no problems.

You should'nt even need any spacers for 235's.

I have 235s on my 03 GMC. I pull a 16k 5er with 3200lbs of pin wt and my tires rub all the time under load. Where do you guys get nitrogen, and is it readily available, since I travel a lot.

Had 235 85r 16 Timberline A/S put on today. The truck looks A LOT BETTER with the bigger tires filling out the empty space. I have just about an inch of space with the truck unloaded and the tires at 75 psi. The A/S is about 1/4 inch slimmer than the A/T was. The more agressive tread on the A/T was the difference.

I'll find out about the rubbing in a few days. We're going camping next weekend about two hours away. I'll find out on Sunday when I drag the fifth wheel out of storage.

We have a Goodyear store a couple of miles away that has the Nitrogen system. Costco also has it. I actually bought the tires someplace else and and am having the Goodyear dealer drain them and refill with Nitrogen. Cost is $7 a tire. Most Goodyear's are putting the system in.

Once they are filled they won't lose the Nitrogen very fast at all. Since we only use the truck to pull the fifth wheel I'll leave them at 75 psi all the time. My last truck (Yukon XL Denali) had Nitrogen and I lost a pound of Nitrogen about every three months. Here is a good link on it..

http://www.rvlifemag.com/file346/rvtip346.html

No problems with these tires rubbing together. I've got about 1/4 " between the tires when fully loaded on the top of a speed bump (stopped the truck on the top and got out and looked).

junk tire.....you'll be regretting it

Get a good tire, like the Michelin XPS or Goodyear G647RSA. They'll cost you $200 per, but they are both steel sidewall commercial tires. Bridgestone also makes one called the R250.

thank you...at least someone agrees with me

i third the junk classification, youll be regretting it,

I had the 285/75/16's before. I got about 30,000 miles out of them but I would not classify them as junk. They did not fall apart had handled the wet road fine just do not have a long thread life. They are not as good as the BFG KO's but they also cost half as much.

true, but you get twice as much use and life out of the ko's vs. the timberlines, so in a sense, why not just spend twice as much on one set, rather than half as much on two sets?