20% larger tires = 20% truck price

katie-bug · August 27, 2003

When I return from Saudi Arabia in two years, I will be able to afford larger tires. The break point for required suspension lift seems to be LT285/75R16.

1) Good all terrain tires mounted on one-piece forged alloy wheels are approximately $500 per wheel.

2) Prefer sub frame with drop bracketry (California Super Truck, SuperLift), in lieu of drop spindle/steering knuckles (most manufacturers), to preserve OEM suspension/drivetrain geometry. That is another, approximately, $500 per wheel.

3) Dual shocks, steering stabilizer, Deaver spring leaf in lieu of lift block, traction and sway bars, polyurethane, etc. is another, approximately $500 per wheel.

4) Brake upgrade, need I repeat myself? Another $500 per wheel.

5) Let us not forget gearing...$$..

So, that is $500/Wheel x 4 wheels x 4 line items plus gearing = approximately $8,000. That is about 20% of a LT D/A CC. I have a regular cab base model 8.1L/Allison 4x4, 8 grand is about 30% of my trucks cost.

The per cent of truck price is even greater when I opt for Nitto Terra Grapplers in LT 325/60R18 D mounted on Weld Cheyenne F1 18'' x 10''.

So, instead I went to Les Schwab Tires, here in the Pacific Northwest:

a)bought their best shock (Gabriel), about $33 per wheel (buy 3, one free).

b)their second best(?) truck tire, US Forest Service specials: Toyo M-55 Hyparadial ST in LT235/85R16. About $170 per wheel. (The engineer in me beleives OEM 6.5J yields flattest tread and best performance with the 235).

Tires are great compromise offroad, gravel, snow and pavement and work well for me. Hunting, fishing mainly on Forest Service and logging roads roads with lots of rain and some snow in winter.

Tomorrow, back to Les Schwab for

i) Lord Corp. Velvet-Ride Shackles, about $40 per wheel, on sale. (I know, only two, but I'm continuing the "per wheel" analysis)

ii) Hellwig anti-sway bars, replace front and add rear, about $70 per wheel.

iii) Traction bars, about $60 per wheel.

So that's ($33 + $170 + $40 + $70 + $60) x 4 = about $1,500 or a heck of a lot less than what I really want (Nittos, Welds).

Anyhow, thank you all for spirited, informed discussions on matters dear to our hearts, our HDs. I have learned much from you folks, discarded some of my misguided intentions and adpoted others from you'all.

See you in two years. No DSL in the desert where I am going as a civilian electrical engineer. Teenage daughter gets truck for two years.

Richard Jones

ps: another $5,000+ for marine cylinder heads, exhaust manifold and hopefully (in two years) a programmer that can crack Allison's code for that acheivable 500HP.

HendyPhoto · August 27, 2003

If you are leaving your truck to your teenage daughter, hopefully you will still have a truck when you get home!!

Good luck!!

katie-bug · August 27, 2003

HendyPhoto,

Thank you for the wish of good luck. I was not as mature or responsible as my daughter when I was a teenager, her losss!

Richard

HendyPhoto · August 27, 2003

LOL

Me either, thats why I was a little worried for you there for a minute or two!! And yeah, the good luck wish is for you in Saudi, not for your truck!!

AND it's better to leave a truck with a teenage daughter than a teenage boy! (from experience)

Shaners · August 27, 2003

Good Luck in Saudi, and I'm sure your daughter will take good care of your truck!!!

Make sure you stop in here when you come home to visit!!!

katie-bug · August 28, 2003

Shaners,

Thank you. I will visit this site while home on vacation. Probably will take hours to catch up on all discussions I will have missed. I find this forum very addictive. Hopefull you will still be quietly espousing the virtues of the Michelin LTX M/S in LT 265/75R16, load range E. Have come very close to buying a 16'' x 8'' wheel for just that tire.

Richard