Sponsored

Tire recommendation for towing

BReeves61

Well-Known Member
First Name
Bobby
Joined
Sep 12, 2022
Threads
14
Messages
77
Reaction score
80
Location
North Carolina
Vehicle(s)
2022 Ford Ranger
Occupation
Retired
I have a 2022 Supercrew XL and tow a 4000 lb camper. The OEM tires are Bridgestone Dueler 685 HT and they are terrible for towing. The truck wanders and feels like riding on jelly. I increase tire pressure to try and stiffen up the sidewalls which helps but its still not comfortable. Can anyone recommend a good strong tire that would solve this problem? Thanks!
Sponsored

 


Mustang2Ranger

Well-Known Member
First Name
Garrett
Joined
Mar 20, 2019
Threads
7
Messages
691
Reaction score
1,135
Location
Southern California
Vehicle(s)
19 Ranger Lariat,06 Escape Hybrid,01 Sienna,06 TSX
OP - I tow a similar weight camper, 40 psi up front, 42 psi rear

I usually have about 500 lbs in the bed which helps. I also have air-lift air bags

You might want to look into the many threads on replacing your rear shocks for towing and ride quality, makes a difference on these trucks
 

Bsthroop

Well-Known Member
First Name
Brian
Joined
Oct 4, 2022
Threads
6
Messages
479
Reaction score
2,263
Location
New Mexico
Vehicle(s)
2019 Lariat 4x2 Sport
Occupation
Broadband/ Microwave Engineer
I would agree that an LT would improve your stability. Like to hear a recommendation from discount tire but on my previous HD truck they were 10 ply and could run up to 80 PSI, and were super stable towing 12k trailer. Stock tires are 4 ply?
 

RangerPNW

Well-Known Member
First Name
Thomas
Joined
Nov 7, 2020
Threads
4
Messages
689
Reaction score
1,486
Location
Santa Fe, NM
Vehicle(s)
2019 Ford Ranger Lariat FX4, 2022 Ford Explorer ST
Occupation
Project Manager
I have not heard good things on the factory duelers, i had a buddy whose wore out in less than 35k. I'd say swing into a Discount Tire and talk to them, every time i've gone there they've given me good honest advice, and never tried to sell me on stuff I didn't need.

Hell they even gave me a loaner set of tires for a week so I could visit family while my replacements were being shipped in (my Focus ST wasn't terribly nice to the front tires...go figure)
 

Big Blue

Well-Known Member
First Name
Lee
Joined
May 5, 2020
Threads
16
Messages
3,927
Reaction score
9,352
Location
Wisconsin
Vehicle(s)
2019 Ford Ranger XLT FX4 Supercrew lighting blue
Occupation
Retired mechanical designer
First a few questions. What pressure are you running, and are you using a weight distribution hitch with sway control. What is your tongue weight? When pulling a camper your rig really needs to be setup/balanced correctly.

A camper that size really needs a properly setup WDH. Not enough tongue weight will make the trailer very squirrely. A trailer that size should have at least 400lbs better yet 500lbs tongue weight.

That said I pull a similar size camper. I have LT tires and changed out my rear shocks for Bilsteins. I normally run my tires at about 35 psi all around. I up the rears to 38-40 when towing. My hitch is also set to get some of the weight back on the front wheels to help steering control.
 

Grumpaw

Well-Known Member
First Name
Steve
Joined
Jul 1, 2021
Threads
84
Messages
5,860
Reaction score
29,198
Location
Fishersville, Va.
Vehicle(s)
Previous 2021 Ranger, Now 2019 Ford Expedition
Occupation
Navy Vet., Retired Police Sgt., Grumpy Old Senior Citizen
I will be ditching the Duelers on my 2021 before next April, befor our first outing. I've added the shocks, active suspension addition, and the stock 2 ply/4 ply rating on the Duelers just isn't up to the task towing our rig.
Will be looking at a set of LT tires with the same diameter as the stockers. No recommendations now but still studying different brands.
 

Jimmy07

Well-Known Member
First Name
James
Joined
Feb 19, 2020
Threads
13
Messages
84
Reaction score
163
Location
Sacramento
Vehicle(s)
2019 Ranger XL/STX
I went with General Grabber HTS60 and very happy with them. Pulled a single axial travel trailer similar to yours 7,000 miles round trip to Alaska from CA. Used WDH and mostly highway miles.
 

JimG_AZ

Well-Known Member
First Name
Jim
Joined
Aug 25, 2019
Threads
2
Messages
565
Reaction score
922
Location
Phoenix, AZ
Vehicle(s)
2021 Ranger XLT FX4
I would follow Big Blue's recommendations on this. You need to determine if your weigh distributing hitch is properly set-up. Also, tire over-inflation will cause major stability issues with towing. An over-inflated tire will have less tread contacting the road. You can do the chalk test on the tires and that will easily tell if your tires are over, under, or properly inflated. Just Google the tire chalk test and get a box if sidewalk chalk from Walmart.
 

Grumpaw

Well-Known Member
First Name
Steve
Joined
Jul 1, 2021
Threads
84
Messages
5,860
Reaction score
29,198
Location
Fishersville, Va.
Vehicle(s)
Previous 2021 Ranger, Now 2019 Ford Expedition
Occupation
Navy Vet., Retired Police Sgt., Grumpy Old Senior Citizen
I would follow Big Blue's recommendations on this. You need to determine if your weigh distributing hitch is properly set-up. Also, tire over-inflation will cause major stability issues with towing. An over-inflated tire will have less tread contacting the road. You can do the chalk test on the tires and that will easily tell if your tires are over, under, or properly inflated. Just Google the tire chalk test and get a box if sidewalk chalk from Walmart.
Agree about hitch, tire pressure ect...
But, the Duelers are only 2 ply sidewall with a four ply rating....still 2 ply's of material. If you pump them up to the max of 51 lbs the ride is just plain bad.
My set up is properly set up. but my hitch weight is near max, and the 2 ply tires don't cut it.
That's why I'm looking at a set of LT tires with a 6-10 ply rating...much less flex and much more stable than the Dueler's which are basically nothing but big car tires, never ment to tow a 7000 lb trailer with a 700 lb hitch weight.
Sponsored

 
 








Top