After several years of wanting to go this route I finally pulled the trigger.On a normal camping trip I am between 5800-6500 on the rear axle, generally at 6000 with careful loading. Since I have 6390 lbs worth of tire I have been wanting more "buffer" room, short of a few tires there are really few options for more than 3195 lbs/tire in 17".Additionally LT tires are too soft, and tire life was dismal at best with how/where I use my truck, mainly where... lots of dirt and towing on dirt. I really don't get more than 25K useful miles out of a set of tires.This is why I started researching 19.5s a few years back. They are plenty strong, the wheels are strong and the rubber is hard enough they should last at least 60K miles.I ordered my wheels yesterday. I went with the Vision Type 81 cast aluminum, 19.5x7.5" rated at 4,500 lbs. I went with the black ones, and ordered 5. They should be here next week.For tires I will be going with Toyo M608Z in 245/70R19.5 LRG tires rated for 4,540 @ 80 psi. They are a 33" tire and roll at 624 rev/mile, 1 rev/mile different than my winter tires and should improve 5th gear towing while and empty cruise in 6th.I also have a set of Centramatic wheel balances on the way, as well as a set for the travel trailer.More to follow when they get mounted around the new year.

There are several OEM aluminum wheels, I have one set that has solid spokes, I think forged, and one set that has the back of the spokes shaped like a bowl (those are obviously lighter) which I believe are cast.

 

My truck came from the factory with Steel Wheels, they weigh 42lbs and the OEM 265/70R17 LTX's weigh 48lbs so my OEM weight was 90 lbs.

 

I swapped to OEM forged aluminum wheels and best I can tell they are 24.5 lbs, with my 255/80R17 KM2's at 54lbs for a total weight of  78.5lbs.

 

I also run the cast alum OEM wheels with OEM tires for my summer setup, those wheels are 28.2lbs for a total of 76.2lbs.

 

The new setup will be 45lbs for the wheel and 79 for the tire, for a total of 124lbs. A 37% increase over stock, and a 57% increase over what I run now.

 

Nearly all accounts are that the rolling resistance is enough lower that the increase in unsprung weight doesn't decrease economy, and generally mileage improves.

 

As far as the weight on the wheel bearings, and ball joints I don't think it's an issue either. The balljoints are already Dynatrac's, and the front wheel bearings are a bit bigger with the Spin Free, and spaced better to handle the weight. In doing some research it seems the bearings used on the Yukon kit are also used on the rear of some F-450's...

I called Schwab and had them order the tires, I have an appt on the 3rd for tires and an alignment check.

Good news: Truck is at Les Schwab right now.

Bad news: For liability reasons they will not remount the tires with the centramatics. Seems silly to me, but oh well. They are putting counteract beads in the tires, so the effect should be the same. I will sell the centramatics, they are a great product but I am not going to install them myself every time I do a winter/summer swap. $180 shipped, my loss your gain.

I like them!

Well, they look alright from what I can barely see!

Yeah, crappy light today.

How will/would the centramatics perform in mud or snow or slushy snow or freezing mud and snow etc. when that stuff gets in and around the centramatics???

I don't think it would be any different than without them. They do block the caliper so you should get less in the brakes. Any change in balance from mud/snow will be compensated for instantly, one of the reasons I originally wanted them.

I will move the mudflaps out a little to match the offset.

Good news: Truck is at Les Schwab right now.

Bad news: For liability reasons they will not remount the tires with the centramatics. Seems silly to me, but oh well. They are putting counteract beads in the tires, so the effect should be the same. I will sell the centramatics, they are a great product but I am not going to install them myself every time I do a winter/summer swap. $180 shipped, my loss your gain.

I'm kind of surprised they even mounted the 19.5s if theyre playing the liability card. As you well know alot of your common tire chain stores will not install anything other than what is on the door sticker. Why didn't you just install them yourself?

Yeah it is interesting. The beads seem to work, smooth as glass at up to 75.

 

I like the service that comes with Les Schwab, and the free summer/winter swaps if I put the tires in the bed. I don't want to have to that every year, my gym is 100 yards from Schwab so I just drop it off and walk over to workout for rotations etc.

 

Every rotation, any flat repairs, etc would me me having to remount them at home afterwards.

 

They gave me a good deal on the beads, and I will sell the Centramatics. Only issue with the beads is they only work on 1 tire. It sucks after I spent all the time fitting them, but this is just as smooth.

Wow! I gotta get my hands on setup like that! How much are you in for it total?

$630 a corner, ouch....

Damn I wish I had the money for your centramatics. :cry:

Man, new rubber, new wheels, newly rebuilt engine... are you single?

Did you have any trouble getting the spare up into the storage area?  Is it tight and did the little tire winch pull it up alright?

 

What are your first impressions of the ride without any real weight on the truck?  Is it notably harsher than with your LRE tires?

 

They look nice on your truck.  Hope they work out well for you.

I haven't swapped out the spare yet, that will be today. I don't expect any issues, the tire is almost exactly the same dimensions as my 255/80/17. I do use a ratchet strap to hold it aft and away from the MH diff cover.

Initial impression is good, on normal roads they track very well, ride is smooth and stable. They do track a crappy road more than expected, but they are new and the road out of kuna is horrible and failing again. On I-84 into town they were as smooth as any tire I have ran, a friend with them had them traditionally balanced and it took multiple trips so I highly recommend a form of dynamic balancing.

They are really reduced body roll around town, not quite as much as the swaybar did, but noticeable. They are at 50psi in all 4 corners where the KM2s were at 50/35, but even with them aired up these are more stable.

They are stiffer, and it's noticeable but harsh is not what I would say about them. Truck probably weights 4900/4000 running around right now.

I am going to email Toyo for an inflation table.

When are you getting your installed?

John I tried sending you a PM but cant...maybe your box is full?

John I tried sending you a PM but cant...maybe your box is full?

Yup it was full, I fixed it.

The new software has a much lower limit than the old software and I didn't notice it was full.

The spare is in place, I tried putting it up with the outside wheel face hidden but the offest wont allow it.

 

It's a tight fit with the Titan Class V Receiver, Hellwig Sway-Bar, and MH diff cover but it's all buttoned up.

 

I do pull it aft about 2" with a strap to allow the suspension to cycle with the MH cover.