Best tire for towing...

[Sea Monkey]

It's time for new tires on my '05 Titan but I need some advice.

I tow a relatively light weight RV (4300# loaded, 550# tongue weight). When I load the family in for the weekend I am approaching/exceeding the payload capacity of the truck. I use a WD hitch and the truck is fine 99% of the time. Every now and then at highway speeds, the trailer causes a slight wobble in the truck that is enough to instantly send a shot of adrenaline through my system. (Although my wife has never noticed this while riding next to me.) My other issue is that I sometimes seem to get sucked over into the lane next to me.

I'm looking at doing a few things to tighten up the rear suspension. 1st I'm going to add a roadmaster activesuspension. 2nd I'm going to add an anti-sway bar. Lastly (since I need them anyway) I'm going to get new tires. Together this should stiffen up the suspension and eliminate my towing issues.

So my question is, what tires (brand/size) have you all had success towing with?

[Derwud]

Originally Posted by Sea Monkey

It's time for new tires on my '05 Titan but I need some advice.

I tow a relatively light weight RV (4300# loaded, 550# tongue weight). When I load the family in for the weekend I am approaching/exceeding the payload capacity of the truck. I use a WD hitch and the truck is fine 99% of the time. Every now and then at highway speeds, the trailer causes a slight wobble in the truck that is enough to instantly send a shot of adrenaline through my system. (Although my wife has never noticed this while riding next to me.) My other issue is that I sometimes seem to get sucked over into the lane next to me.

I'm looking at doing a few things to tighten up the rear suspension. 1st I'm going to add a roadmaster activesuspension. 2nd I'm going to add an anti-sway bar. Lastly (since I need them anyway) I'm going to get new tires. Together this should stiffen up the suspension and eliminate my towing issues.

So my question is, what tires (brand/size) have you all had success towing with?

My Trailer is much heavier, but I now have these items and it's night and day difference:

BFG A/T's LT(most important part)285/70-17
Equal-I-Zer hitch W/D and sway
Donahoe Racing rear shocks
Air Lift rear air bags

[goldwing]

You say you have an '05 Titan. Assuming you still have the OEM wheels and tires I would recommend to stay with the 18" wheels and the same passenger rated tires. Currently no one makes a light truck rated tire in your size. Be sure and inflate all four tires to 44 psi. If you change sizes the odometer and speedometer will be in error.
Two other things: It is normal for your rig to be noticably swayed when a vehicle the size of a semi passes you in the same direction. This can be diminished by anticipating the pass and moving closer to the outer white marker line. This gives the on-rushing air a larger space to escape. Also the '08 Titan with the added 500# payload cap. has the same "P" rated tires as your truck...the same leaf springs but a noticably larger disk brake. As long as you have good trailer brakes you should be ok with your payload. I would not carry the extra payload when simply hauling something.

[Smoke05]

Originally Posted by goldwing

You say you have an '05 Titan. Assuming you still have the OEM wheels and tires I would recommend to stay with the 18" wheels and the same passenger rated tires. Currently no one makes a light truck rated tire in your size. Be sure and inflate all four tires to 44 psi. If you change sizes the odometer and speedometer will be in error.
Two other things: It is normal for your rig to be noticably swayed when a vehicle the size of a semi passes you in the same direction. This can be diminished by anticipating the pass and moving closer to the outer white marker line. This gives the on-rushing air a larger space to escape. Also the '08 Titan with the added 500# payload cap. has the same "P" rated tires as your truck...the same leaf springs but a noticably larger disk brake. As long as you have good trailer brakes you should be ok with your payload. I would not carry the extra payload when simply hauling something.

There are 18" LT tires on the market that should fit the 18" rims. BFG makes the TKO in 275/65 R18 and Goodyear makes the Wrangler AT/S in 265/65 R18. Both are load range E. I have a request out to verify them fitting but they seem like they would work out. They calculate out as a zero oversize for diameter. The stock Goodyear SR/A's have sidewalls like nerf balls. I am towing a 7500lb TT with dual cam sway control and the tires at max pressure. They do ok. FWIW I have loaded the truck close to at max payload and the most unstable part of the truck was sidewall flex when rocked. SOme sway is normal like when a large truck passes, but IMHO the Titan can be more solid. The P rateds are more an SUV tire geared towards ride than they are for loads. The stock tires aren't even listed as all terran either. They are horrid in mud and snow.

[loufish]

BFG A/T's LT(most important part)285/70-17
Equal-I-Zer hitch W/D and sway
Donahoe Racing rear shocks
Air Lift rear air bags

I agree...

I towed with the stock tires(aired up) and I could feel the sidewalls allowing for some rear end wiggle. Went to a LT tire and no more wiggle.
The rear shocks are JUNK...Unless you plan on lifting more then about 2" get the DR's. I'd get them before the airbags.

[goldwing]

Glad to hear of success with putting LT tires on. Unfortunately any change from the OE will affect the odometer and speed. This is probably of little concern except when odometer readings may be important later on. Nissan still uses the "P" rated tire on the one ton load rated truck. Mind you the 18inch rim raises the total load carrying ability to 5200#. As far as highway sway, I've pulled several trailers with different tow vehicles and have gotten some sway...the least amount has been with my 5th wheel. It seems that sway is worse with a TT. A 29ft Airstream and a 26.5ft Jayco both exhibited sway and anti-sway mech. was used with both.

[cardman]

You can get the same sizt tires in LT or P. You might have to shop around bit to find them. If you REALLY want to get technical even though the tire size is lets say 285/70/17. Differant manufactorers of the same size tires might be slightly differant.The diffeance in the speedodmeter will be minimal if only changing up or down a size. This change is usually around 3mph at 70mph. The LT is made for a light truck. The P rated tire is that of a passanger vechile. The differance is in the number of sidewall plys. So most of the P rated tires come with 4 plys. The LT come with between 6-10. The more the plys the stronger the tire so therefore the more weight it can handle. There is a trade off though. The LT tires will make your truck ride stiifer and you will feel those bumps in the rode a little more than before. So it just comes down to your personal preferance.

[Sea Monkey]

I have the 285/70-17 (32 3/4" diameter) tires now and will not be looking to go to the 18" rim. I am thinking about going to a 305/65-17 or a 310/65-17 size if I can find an LT tire in either size (and if they will actually fit.) I figure these are within +/- 1/8 of an inch of my stock tires. I've probably lost more than 1/8" in tire wear.

[cardman]

Originally Posted by Sea Monkey

I have the 285/70-17 (32 3/4" diameter) tires now and will not be looking to go to the 18" rim. I am thinking about going to a 305/65-17 or a 310/65-17 size if I can find an LT tire in either size (and if they will actually fit.) I figure these are within +/- 1/8 of an inch of my stock tires. I've probably lost more than 1/8" in tire wear.

See the tires above in my signature....Those are 305/70/17 they fit just fine. Even before the PRG mini lift. If you went to a 315/70/17 you would have to remove mud flap and what is know as the pinch weld mod. Again, differant makers,same size tires are always really the same size. But, I know for a fact that a 34" tall tire will fit with no issues.

[Steamguy]

Originally Posted by goldwing

stay with the 18" wheels and the same passenger rated tires. Currently no one makes a light truck rated tire in your size.

I disagree. Two years ago I got a set of brand-new Continental 18" E-range takeoffs from an F350 for $125 a tire. I got those because LT-rated C-range tires were available even then in 18s, but a set was $1200! These have been great for towing. Yeah, they're a little stiffer, but that had the advantage of really tightening up the steering. The truck steers like my wife's Maxima did.

Originally Posted by goldwing

If you change sizes the odometer and speedometer will be in error.

True, but this did not change the odometer/speedometer. The new tires are just the same size as the old ones. Also, I have a set of 17" snows for the truck, and they were bought so as to be the same diameter. No change in the odo/speedo for these either.

Originally Posted by goldwing

Two other things: It is normal for your rig to be noticably swayed when a vehicle the size of a semi passes you in the same direction.

I respectfully disagree. I have an Arctic Fox 26J, which is 27' long, and weighs in at 7000# on the scales, ready to go. I have a Reese dual-cam hitch, and I live in the Columbia Gorge where we have ferocious gusty winds. I have very little trouble with the truck and trailer combination no matter where I go. Now I'm going to qualify that in that you will feel the air from the truck and you will feel side drafts. Neither should move you around. You should NOT experience sway to any great degree.

You need more than just an equalizing hitch. You need to have a sway-cancelling hitch and then to load your trailer correctly; which is at least 10% of the total weight in front. Then you'll have a very easy time of towing. I've been in that bad place you describe. This truck will do a great job of towing if it's set up right. You just need the right gear.

Hope this helps.

[COTitan]

If you need a stock sized E rated offroad tire you could get the Toyo M/T's in 33-12.5/18R. I like how quiet they are, and are get for towing heavy loads.

[loufish]

It comes to this:

The factory "P" rated tires are capable of carrying anything the Titan is rated to carry or tow...Why do they come with ""P" tires? First, price much cheaper then a LT tire and second is ride, a lot of people don't really load up their truck so to keep these guys happy, "P" rated tires...If you want a firmer towing experience the LT tires will provide, but the trade off is a firmer ride...Your choice.

There have been replacement tires the same size as factory in a LT rating for years. NO speedo issues!

The Ply rating is just that, a 8 ply rated tire does NOT actually have 8 plys, it's just rated strong as one that does.

[goldwing]

I am happy to hear that there are LT tires in 18" that are identical in size to the OEM. Hopefully when my original tires need replacing I will put on the LT's. Can you tell me the brand and what they're called. All I've been able to find is 17" tires that are 265/70. Thanks.

[royr]

Originally Posted by goldwing

I am happy to hear that there are LT tires in 18" that are identical in size to the OEM. Hopefully when my original tires need replacing I will put on the LT's. Can you tell me the brand and what they're called. All I've been able to find is 17" tires that are 265/70. Thanks.

The BF Goodrich T/A KO tires are available in 285/65 18 load range D LT rated for towing and fit the Titan's 18" rims perfectly. Same diameter as the OEM goodyears my 2005 CC came with - so no speedometer error to deal with. I have been running my set for a year now at 40 psi and am pleased with the results.

[Sea Monkey]

I'm thinking of going with the BFG All-Terrain T/A KO in 305/65-R17. They look awesome and are the same diameter as my stock tires.

Does anyone run these tires on their truck?