285/75R18 Toyo ATs w/ newer 18x8 Ram rims - desirable for 2003/early 2004 Dodge 2500?

[char_ls]

I tried posting this question in a Dodge-specific forum, but got very little feedback there. Someone suggested I post it here, since it is an expedition-related question, so here I am, with my first post in this forum.

Would it be a good thing to put these tires on new steel rims from a 2014 2500 to be mounted on a stock 2003/early 2004 2500, or would the 285/75R17 Toyo ATs (on stock 2003/early 2004 steel wheels) be preferable?

The truck is a 4x4 with 3.73 gear ratio, the Cummins diesel engine and manual transmission, will not do any towing and will be used for long distance expedition travel, carrying a camper shell with sleeping/storage platform, various equipment and supplies, will weigh from 2,000 to 2,500 lbs. total, seeing 80% highway/city streets and 20% gravel roads.

I know that the 285/75R17s will fit no problem. And there's only a 2-lb difference between the two tires, the 285/75-17s are 63 lbs and the 285/75-18s 65 lbs. Not sure, though, about how the 2003/2004 2500 stock 17" steel rims compare in weight to the 2014 steel 18s.
Being the Toyo AT 285/75-18 a 35" tire (34.8" x 11.3" measured) with a weight rating of 4,080 lbs, while the same Toyo AT in 285/75-17 is 34" tall (33.8" x 11.3" measured) and with a weight rating of only 3,195 lbs, I'm thinking that there would be a lot to be gained in going for the taller tire (might even improve the mpg).
I'm just not sure, though, whether the 285/75-18s would work properly on a stock 2003/2004 2500 (I suspect they would) for the use I have in mind and if there are any considerations making the 285/75-17s a better choice.

What's your opinion and personal experience in this regard, and if you have pictures of these tires on 3rd gen 2500s, it would be great to see them here, too.

 

[Mountainhound]

Steel no problem. As for dodge cant say but am on second set on my 11 f250. I am only getting about a year or so out of them so............

 

[kris]

Can't help you with your dodge specific question but I run the 285/75-18 Toyo AT2 on my f350 and and it's a fantastic tire. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another set or reccommend them to anyone with a full size.

I will also say...
When I bought my set last year I kept an old tire (non Toyo) as a spare, and it recently had a catastrophic failure under the back of the truck. I called my local tire shop to buy a spare and found that they are currently on national back order in that size. Not one to take no for an answer I called several online outlets and another national chain and only found 4 on the east coast.

I couldn't wait and ended up buying the MT as a spare.

Back order schedule is currently about 3 weeks. If you decide on the 18's and find a set in that time, grab them.


k.

 

[rayct77]

I run them on my 2014 Ram 2500. No issues, but I do have a front leveling kit. I think think they would fit without it too.

 

[Regcabguy]

The steel rims are 7.5" I believe. Due to the camper weight,I keep my 285-75-17 AT2's inflated to 60 psi. I have experienced premature center wear with the stock 8" rims.
Next time around(it's gonna be awhile) I'm considering 285-75-18 or 295-70-18 on 18 x 9 Method Double Standards w/5.75 backspace. I don't think these will fit in the stock location so will keep a 285-75 17 spare on a stock wheel back there. The open front axles or freespins in my case will handle the smaller tire until you can get the larger one fixed/replaced. Longer control arms will be necessary with the 18's.

 

[Regcabguy]

The steel rims are 7.5" I believe. Due to the camper weight,I keep my 285-75-17 AT2's inflated to 60 psi. I have experienced premature center wear with the stock 8" rims.
Next time around(it's gonna be awhile) I'm considering 285-75-18 or 295-70-18 on 18 x 9 Method Double Standards w/5.75 backspace. I don't think these will fit in the stock location so will keep a 285-75 17 spare on a stock wheel back there. The open front axles or freespins in my case will handle the smaller tire until you can get the larger one fixed/replaced. Longer control arms will be necessary with the 18's.
The newer 18" ram wheels have a whopping 6.50" bs making them really hug the body on the 3rd gens. Bent control arms are helpful.

 

[char_ls]

The steel rims are 7.5" I believe. Due to the camper weight,I keep my 285-75-17 AT2's inflated to 60 psi. I have experienced premature center wear with the stock 8" rims.
Next time around(it's gonna be awhile) I'm considering 285-75-18 or 295-70-18 on 18 x 9 Method Double Standards w/5.75 backspace. I don't think these will fit in the stock location so will keep a 285-75 17 spare on a stock wheel back there. The open front axles or freespins in my case will handle the smaller tire until you can get the larger one fixed/replaced. Longer control arms will be necessary with the 18's.
The newer 18" ram wheels have a whopping 6.50" bs making them really hug the body on the 3rd gens. Bent control arms are helpful.

On your 2007, you have the 3.73 gear ratio, right? What speed are you getting right now at around 2,000 rpms (with the 285/75-17s)? What benefits from the 285/75-18s do you think will justify the higher cost of the new tires/wheels/longer control arms?

Thanks a lot for your very informative reply.

 

[char_ls]

Thanks a lot, everybody, for your feedback. Please keep it coming.

 

[huntsonora]

I had Toyo AT's on my 2003 Dodge 3500 and they only lasted about 35,000 miles. Cooper makes a better tire IMO and I went back to them

 

[Regcabguy]

The AT2's have a longer lasting tread compound than the AT's they replace. They have a 3-ply sidewall vs 2-ply on Coopers AT3's.

 

[Mountainhound]

And they still have a very short life span.

The AT2's have a longer lasting tread compound than the AT's they replace. They have a 3-ply sidewall vs 2-ply on Coopers AT3's.

 

[Regcabguy]

My neighbor's 2000 F-350 chewed through a set of Falken's @ 22K. Discount comped him toward a set of Nitto G2's of which he's had two replaced already.
I should easily get in excess of 40K safe miles out of my AT2's but I do rotate and rebalance every 6K. Camper's on 24/7 with axle weights of 4K and 4.4K#
I had Toyo MT's before this and had 11/32" at 19K when I sold them to a friend. Couldn't handle the growl anymore.
Yeah,I'd be nice to get more miles out of them for what we pay.

 

[Mountainhound]

Don't judge the at2 longevity on what you have gotten on your muds. I had a set of the muds on my 94 land cruiser and they wore like iron at 25 k they still had half tread but blew one out so replaced all. Those tires spent most there life at very low psi and still wore great. The at2 on my 11 f250 wear out after 25k. Don't get me wrong I like them on second set but they wear quick.

My neighbor's 2000 F-350 chewed through a set of Falken's @ 22K. Discount comped him toward a set of Nitto G2's of which he's had two replaced already.
I should easily get in excess of 40K safe miles out of my AT2's but I do rotate and rebalance every 6K. Camper's on 24/7 with axle weights of 4K and 4.4K#
I had Toyo MT's before this and had 11/32" at 19K when I sold them to a friend. Couldn't handle the growl anymore.
Yeah,I'd be nice to get more miles out of them for what we pay.

 

[Regcabguy]

On another tangent,I rode in an 11 F-250 with a Carli 2.5 Pintop system w/full leafs. Absolutely amazing ride at the mini offroad course the shop I use,uses as a test run. I was grabbing the seat and grab handle in anticipation of getting launched. It had Aluminess bumpers fore and aft and an aluminum contractors rack with a Leer cab high shell. The owner elected to go with the supplied 6.2 gasser and save $10K. The only bummer was the 8.7 mpg. Very nice truck.

 

[rayct77]

Toyo AT II's should last 40,000 when rotated and aired up properly. Mine wore much, much better than the MT's.