45 & 50 Series 20s

I've been running some 20x10 rims for a little while with used first-generation Toyo Proxes S/T tires, which in general have been OK except for some balance/shaking issues. Before that Eagle GT2 285/50/20 which were lousy and out of round. I'm not sure if because of the lighter weight rating the stress has caused the Toyos to deform, because the back tires started reasonably smooth but then after having some fun on a real twisty road lately I have a lot more vibration in the back. Driving 1800 mi to Cali and back was miserable paint shaker ride the whole way.

I have 295/45/20 on the front, 285/50/20 on the rear. The fronts are slighly lower weight rating, but they ride smooth. I had a 6000 lb trailer on once and a good load in the bed but that didn't seem to affect them.

I want to start with a fresh set and take care of them, but my concern is to spend significant bucks on new tires then have them tweak out again.

I want to go with 295/45/20 all the way around so the height matches the OEM tires. Here's the tires available in 295/45/20 with XL (114) load rating:

Falcon Ziex S/TZ-05
Yokohama Panda Spec-X
General Grabber UHP, favorite tread pattern
Sumitomo HTR Sport H/P

Has anyone run any of these tires? I may also go with 285/50/20 all the way around which gives more options. Does anyone tow or haul much with low profile 20s? Another concern is heat, we see 100s quite often here in SE Washington. . .it was 105F on Monday.

Here are a couple pics of my truck when I did a fast run to California last weekend.

subscribed, i got the toyo proxy st in a 325/50/20 and havent put them on yet because im waiting for my trans to be done so i dont grenade my stock one with stickey tires how do they grip tho? and nitto st420s are a decent tire i know a few guys that have 305/50/20s on their third gens and like them

The Toyos grip quite a bit better than OE tires.

I really like the 275 60 20 michelin ltx at2 tires on mine. This is with a 9" wheel.


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I probably had the best luck with Kumho Ecsta. I always ran 305 widths but they balanced good and never got weird on my crew cab F250

I've been happy with my nitto 420S. I'm running a 305/50R20. I went with them because they were cheap.




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Thanks for the input everyone.

APWCU you can never go wrong with Michelins, generally expensive but high quality. 285/60 is taller than I want to go though. Good looking truck there, I'm partial to short box 4x2s, real happy with my '98.5 club cab.

Unbroken I was thinking about Kumho, good to hear someone with actual experience that's positive.

High Cotton I'm not much into blackout but your truck looks great. I'll check into Nitto 420s.

One more comment, I know 305/50/20 is a popular size and a benefit of this size is it's close to the same load rating as an E tire. OEM 265/70/17" E tires are 3195 lbs, the 305/50/20s are usually 3086 lbs.

High Cotton said:

I've been happy with my nitto 420S. I'm running a 305/50R20. I went with them because they were cheap.

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High Cotton I see the Nitto 420s are cheap! How do they do in the rain? How long have you been running them, is this your first set?

Thank VMacKenzie. This is my first set. I love them so far. I have had them about 1.5-2 months. They do much better than the federal couriga's I had before. I hated those tires with a passion between. They do very well in the rain. The only thing they don't do well are the deep puddles during heavy rains. I have ran aggressive A/T's or M/T's for a long time and they tend to do better in that situation. I paid $820 installed with road hazard and tax from Walmart believe it or not.


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Now I'm running into difficulty finding a shop that'll sell and install low profile 20s, even 305/50/20 which is basically a Load Range D if you go by the load rating. Shops seem more CYA than when I had my current tires mounted up a couple years ago. The shop that did them isn't willing to again. They will sell me BFG ATs 275/60/20 but that's a 33" tire, a lot taller than I want to go on a 2wd.

Shops around here give me greif with putting low pros on 20s due to being 8 lug. Last set i actually had to pull the wheels and take them in, no one would touch them on a 3\4 ton. Mind you i have a rcsb that is slammed. Itd not like i got a goosneck on it.

If you dont mind me askin, whats your backspace on your wheels?

VMacKenzie said:

Now I'm running into difficulty finding a shop that'll sell and install low profile 20s, even 305/50/20 which is basically a Load Range D if you go by the load rating. Shops seem more CYA than when I had my current tires mounted up a couple years ago. The shop that did them isn't willing to again. They will sell me BFG ATs 275/60/20 but that's a 33" tire, a lot taller than I want to go on a 2wd.

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camarokiller said:

Shops around here give me greif with putting low pros on 20s due to being 8 lug. Last set i actually had to pull the wheels and take them in, no one would touch them on a 3\4 ton. Mind you i have a rcsb that is slammed. Itd not like i got a goosneck on it.

If you dont mind me askin, whats your backspace on your wheels?

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GVWR and insurance issues is why. If the sticker in the door and the VIN number reference a truck capable of carrying more than the tires can and you get into an accident the insurance company is looking for anybody to pawn it off on. The tire shop is an easy target.

zfaylor said:

GVWR and insurance issues is why. If the sticker in the door and the VIN number reference a truck capable of carrying more than the tires can and you get into an accident the insurance company is looking for anybody to pawn it off on. The tire shop is an easy target.

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Oh i know thats why. It just aggravates me because im obvisouly not towing sh.it

I guess I lucky when I got mine mounted.


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Yeah I may just take the wheels in. Same deal here, I won't ever be loading it up heavy, at least a lot less than I've seen people do with their half tons

I found a tire I may run instead though, Hercules TerraTrac AT, which is available in a LT285/55/20 E range. Not that crazy about the looks of the tire but I could live with it http://www.herculestire.com/results.aspx?w=285&ar=55&d=20
Pic of 285/55/20 https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xaf1/t51.2885-15/e15/11357410_1021043354573568_648430225_n.jpg

Camarokiller the wheels are +10mm offset, they are 10" wide rim with almost 6" backspace. That is another maddening thing is finding a 10" rim with decent offset, without a hideos design. I prefer a 10 versus 9" because I don't want the tires to look pinched in at all, but I want +25-30 offset to pull the wheels in more. No such animal that I've found. If I go with a 285 tire I'll have to change the rims otherwise it'll rub. It's why I have 295/45/20s in front. I have my eye on a set of 20x9s with +30 offset. The other maddening thing is finding rims that aren't riddled with faux bolt heads!!!

I am running 285/50/20 nitto 420s on my 2wd dodge. I am very pleased with how they ride and handle. I am running a 20x9 with 0 offset and have very slight rubbing at full lock on on the back side of inner fender.