Tow Vehicle Tire Load Capacity

[howie29]

Hello, can someone enlighten me on what load rating tires one would need for GCVWR of 14000lbs?  Do the tow vehicle tires need to be rated at 3500lbs each (x4=14000) or is that the wrong way to look at it?

Thanks in advance!

[Sehc]

There is a tag on the door frame. It will tell you what size and pressure tires you need for the ratings of the tow vehicle. That is what determines what you can tow. Over sizing tires will help, but not makeup for wheel bearings, brakes, transmission and other stuff.

[howie29]

I see, thanks!

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

The tires on the tow vehicle need to handle the Gross VEHICLE Weight, not the Gross COMBINED Weight.  This of course includes the 10 - 15% Tongue Weight of a regular trailer, or the 25% Weight of a fifth wheel that rides over the rear axle.  The rest of the trailer's weight is carried by the trailer's tires.

Safest thing is to make sure the tow vehicle's tires match the Gross AXLE Weight Ratings for both front and rear axle.

[howie29]

2 minutes ago, Optimistic Paranoid said:

The tires on the tow vehicle need to handle the Gross VEHICLE Weight, not the Gross COMBINED Weight.  This of course includes the 10 - 15% Tongue Weight of a regular trailer, or the 25% Weight of a fifth wheel that rides over the rear axle.  The rest of the trailer's weight is carried by the trailer's tires.

Safest thing is to make sure the tow vehicle's tires match the Gross AXLE Weight Ratings for both front and rear axle.

So if the GVW of the tow vehicle is 7300lbs, each tire needs to be minimum rating of 1825, correct?

 

[trailertraveler]

35 minutes ago, howie29 said:

Hello, can someone enlighten me on what load rating tires one would need for GCVWR of 14000lbs?  Do the tow vehicle tires need to be rated at 3500lbs each (x4=14000) or is that the wrong way to look at it?

Thanks in advance!

The tow vehicle tires need to be rated to carry at a minimum it's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). The tires of the Towed Vehicle/trailer need to be rated at a minimum to carry it's Maximum Axle Ratings.

[trailertraveler]

5 minutes ago, howie29 said:

So if the GVW of the tow vehicle is 7300lbs, each tire needs to be minimum rating of 1825, correct?

Not necessarily. Many pickup trucks have more weight on the rear axle than the front. The tires are typically sized for the load on the more heavily loaded rear axle. The front tire pressure recommendation may be lower than maximum to get better ride, handling and tire wear. Look at the plate inside the driver's side door. It should give you the recommended tire size, Load Range and tire pressures.  

[Kirk W]

2 hours ago, trailertraveler said:

Look at the plate inside the driver's side door. It should give you the recommended tire size, Load Range and tire pressures.

Everything that has been posted is correct, but this is the key. You could go with higher rated tires, but not lower. Some people intentionally go to higher rated tires which won't harm anything so long as you do not exceed the ratings of the wheels you are mounting them on.  But higher rated tires will cost more and give a stiffer ride and they do not change the vehicles weight ratings. 

[jblo]

For a load rating of 14000, if you had 4x3500=14000, you would be maxxed out on the tires at gross weight--that is why that GVWR will come on a dually pickup...

Why do you ask? Are you wanting to run rear singles on a 450?