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Why the passenger car tires on new trucks?

Discussion in 'Wheels & Tires' started by ricsha, Jul 7, 2019.

  1. Jul 7, 2019 at 8:14 PM
    #1
    ricsha

    ricsha [OP] One is none, two is one.

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    Anybody know if ANY 1/2 ton truck comes from the factory with real Light Truck LT tires rather than P rated Car/SUV tires?

    Bought a new 2019 Limited Tundra Off Road a couple of months ago with the standard Michelin P275/65-18 M&S tires, which I learned are 2 ply/4 ply SUV and passenger car tires. Not suitable at all for a truck which will be used as a truck. Just upgraded to Cooper Discover AT3 XLT LT 275/70-18 M&S 10 plys. That's a truck tire!

    I'm guessing the manufacturer does it to save $$ and because they ride nice; they're just not suitable for a truck. My tire guy says they all do it, even though it doesn't make sense. He would give me exactly zero for my new Michelin take-offs because, at least in my area of Oregon, nobody wants them.

    IMG_3902.jpg
     
  2. Jul 7, 2019 at 8:40 PM
    #2
    Big J

    Big J New Member

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    It is typically the same reason they put some tiny 30psi in the tires as well. That being it gives a softer ride. I always run 4-6 pounds less than max psi and a heavier tire. Never had problems doing so. :thumbsup:
     
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  3. Jul 7, 2019 at 8:50 PM
    #3
    Jengel451

    Jengel451 Misanthropist

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    Because 90%+ of all trucks purchased are being used as cars.

    And I may be conservative with my guesstimate
     
  4. Jul 7, 2019 at 8:50 PM
    #4
    realtorblake

    realtorblake Tundra Thunda

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    This and they are usually cheaper.
     
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  5. Jul 7, 2019 at 8:56 PM
    #5
    ninjajay

    ninjajay Posting from the toilet

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    Tundras with the TSS wheel/tire package come with LT tires, I believe 285/55/20 KO2
     
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  6. Jul 7, 2019 at 9:46 PM
    #6
    escuzi_me

    escuzi_me Shut up baby, I know it!

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    Also, it helps boost mileage ratings on their spec sticker sheets so you don’t fall out and die at the dealership.

    “See, babe. At least the mpg isn’t THAT horrible....”
     
  7. Jul 8, 2019 at 4:18 AM
    #7
    Justin Case

    Justin Case New Member

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    I think they do it for ride quality, and to give people the option of running a P rated tire if they want. If they put an LT LRE tire on it from the factory, you may have issues getting a tire shop to put lesser tire on. The P rated Michelin LTX At/2 are not exactly cheap... My 2019 TSS came with 275/55/20 Duratracs. No P out front but no LT either. Max load of 2500 lbs and 50 PSI. Still plan to replace them with AT3 XLT or STMaxx as soon as I can track down factory steelies for a good price.
     
    Black Wolf likes this.
  8. Jul 8, 2019 at 4:57 AM
    #8
    TundraMcGov.

    TundraMcGov. Your friend. Your foe. Not yo Ho.

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    1,000,000% truth ^^^.
     
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  9. Jul 8, 2019 at 5:11 AM
    #9
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer Vinyl Spinner

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    Because 98% of buyers would hate the truck if it didn't come with street tires.
     
  10. Jul 8, 2019 at 5:22 AM
    #10
    Shanesyota

    Shanesyota Midnight

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    I have some kind of Dunlop 5000 tire on my truck that has a decent tread pattern I'm wondering when winter hits and we get snow how they do...
     
  11. Jul 8, 2019 at 5:40 AM
    #11
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer Vinyl Spinner

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    I've seen deep snow across Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, buy yourself some snow tires.
     
  12. Jul 8, 2019 at 8:07 AM
    #12
    15whtrd

    15whtrd Mr. Blonde

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    While I agree they are pretty skimpy for a true truck tire, they are spec’d to all the weight ratings the truck can handle and tow. And so far mine have been good to me. I will be upgrading when the time comes but I’m going to get my moneys worth out of them first. So it just doesn’t make sense for the manufacture to put on an overkill tire for the majority of people that won’t even be using it that way. It would kill the mpg numbers on the sticker as well.
     
  13. Jul 8, 2019 at 8:10 AM
    #13
    Hbjeff

    Hbjeff New Member

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    Cost
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    Not sure which is the primary reason but toyota see’s them all as win win win.

    The payload of our trucks is relatively small so we likely don’t “need” lt tires, but i feel the truck handles much better and takes the loads better with them
     
  14. Jul 8, 2019 at 8:17 AM
    #14
    Trooper2

    Trooper2 Premium Lone Star Member / SSEM #13

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    +1 This ^^^

    We had a 4 cyl. Honda Accord a while back that had Z rated Michelins!!! WTF car may touch 110, would never see 150!!! We had a blowout and had to replace it, wasn't cheap. Figured Michelin gave Honda a good deal / buy to supply with so owners would think that's what they needed to replace with at big $$$.

    One would think that tire MFG's could do the same for trucks; supply a real truck tire........:notsure:
     
  15. Jul 8, 2019 at 8:29 AM
    #15
    LSUTundra

    LSUTundra New Member

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    Total side question OP, did you add a level or did they fit stock. They look great!
     
  16. Jul 8, 2019 at 8:40 AM
    #16
    Stumpjumper

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    Sure does. That is reason I went with TSS over TRD OR. In the early 80s Ford put BFG ATs on their 4x4s. Reason manufacturers don't do it today is CAFE law . Probably also the reason Toyota is happy with their current truck sales. When I was looking at GMs they are different tire pkgs. Not sure they still do. Normally swapping tires on a new truck is a losing proposition
     
  17. Jul 8, 2019 at 8:56 AM
    #17
    Shanesyota

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    Believe me last year it was bad I had Duratracs on my f150 and loved them I'll probably go to the KO2s
     
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  18. Jul 8, 2019 at 10:30 AM
    #18
    ricsha

    ricsha [OP] One is none, two is one.

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    Lots of folks are happy with leveling kits (because they're relatively inexpensive) but I decided that leveling kits were not for me so went with Bilstein 6112's on the front at second notch, 1.3" lift with 1 Coachbuilder shim on Driver's side to take care of lean; Bilstein 5160's on the rear with Coachbuilder 1" Shackles giving .66" lift which levels truck somewhat but leaves a little rake. Removed the small front mud flap, but probably didn't need to. It cost a lot more, thanks to this forum (!) but the ride is excellent, and I like the look, nothing radical. The Cooper AT3 xlt's are super tires.
     
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  19. Jul 8, 2019 at 10:44 AM
    #19
    Rex Kramer

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    I leveled mine with a rear lowering kit, and I love how it rides & handles on warm weather performance street tires.IMG_6982.jpg
     
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  20. Jul 8, 2019 at 11:30 PM
    #20
    kgb4187

    kgb4187 New Member

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    I just bought a set of the Michelins with 5k on them for $100 in Medford
     
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  21. Jul 9, 2019 at 4:52 AM
    #21
    TundrAU

    TundrAU New Member

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    MPGs are biggest reason followed by ride quality/lower sound. Tundras are losing the MPG optics battle against the Fords and Chevys so they're just trying to stem the losses.

    I'm okay with using P-rated as stock but I think they should consider larger size stock tires for the TRD Pros, similar to what Ford does with the Raptor and the 315s.
     
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  22. Jul 9, 2019 at 4:58 AM
    #22
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    That was a score! Medford, Orygun?
     
  23. Jul 9, 2019 at 8:15 AM
    #23
    Stumpjumper

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    Should be expanded to all 4x4s like Ford use to do many years ago. Of course there go the fleet MPGs.
     
  24. Jul 9, 2019 at 8:57 AM
    #24
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    Mileage, cost, ride.

    Some manufacturers come with LT tires depending on tow packages. Ford has the Max Tow package. Not sure if they still offer the odd 7 lug wheels. Now with the Ford Limited F150, one cab option out the HO Raptor motor. For the cost, (73000.00) I would just get a F350 and have almost double the torque.
     
  25. Jul 9, 2019 at 9:00 AM
    #25
    ToyotaTundraMike

    ToyotaTundraMike Not A New Member

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    Your tire guy sounds like a jerkoff if he wouldn’t give you a dime for them. They aren’t BAD tires. You could easily sell on Craigslist for a couple hundred bucks.
     
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  26. Jul 9, 2019 at 9:12 AM
    #26
    ricsha

    ricsha [OP] One is none, two is one.

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    You are probably right, if I lived in one of Oregon's larger cities. In the rural areas they are worth nada to most people. Probably should have tried though.:(
     
  27. Jul 9, 2019 at 1:20 PM
    #27
    Tzvia

    Tzvia Just an old woman in a pickup truck.

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    I had thought the same, WTF with the car tires??!! And my truck is a 4x4 :facepalm:Epic fail IMO. Easy fix with :spending:. So after some poking around here and the Tacoma forums, I bought 4 Cooper AT3 XLT tires in 275-70-18. Look much better, and I feel better knowing they are a beefier tire but not as heavy as many of their competitors. I get what Toyota is doing, making the MPGs a bit better, the ride softer, and frankly I would not have changed them if it was a 2 wheel drive truck and I had no intentions of going off road. They worked great in the epic rains we had in February, I was impressed with the Michelins as city tires and would recommend them for people with SUVs that only see the urban jungle. They aren't bad tires, just the wrong tires in my case.
     
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  28. Jul 10, 2019 at 7:55 AM
    #28
    texasrho83

    texasrho83 DGAF#1

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    May wanna ask why they use the steering rack from cars as well...? :crazy:
     
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  29. Jul 10, 2019 at 8:43 AM
    #29
    Trunk Monkey

    Trunk Monkey Truck's

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    Same here, I'm going to run them until they need changing. It also gives me a baseline of what the tire can do (Ride Quality, MPG, Road Noise) before I upgrade to a more All Terrain tire.
     
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  30. Jul 11, 2019 at 9:45 PM
    #30
    graphguy

    graphguy New Member

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    They don’t do it to save money, they do it to make more money off you buy selling you sets afterwards.
     

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