Need advice on tires and towing
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Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 114
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From: Houston, TX
Need advice on tires and towing
I have an 02' Screw with a dog of a 4.6L motor. I know that this motor has very little power. But my question is two parts here.
First of all, I need to know what 20" tires would ya'll recommend, I want to have a bit of an aggresive tread pattern, and I need something suitable for towing a 20' boat back and forth to the bay about 3 to 4 times a month (120 mile round trip), this is also my daily driver, so I need something that is durable on the road as well?
Second question is since the motor is the small motor, what kind of mods would most benefit me while towing? I figure the boat and trailer prolly weigh no more than 3 to 4K lbs. and thats on the high side. What mods should I do and how would they benefit me?
First of all, I need to know what 20" tires would ya'll recommend, I want to have a bit of an aggresive tread pattern, and I need something suitable for towing a 20' boat back and forth to the bay about 3 to 4 times a month (120 mile round trip), this is also my daily driver, so I need something that is durable on the road as well?
Second question is since the motor is the small motor, what kind of mods would most benefit me while towing? I figure the boat and trailer prolly weigh no more than 3 to 4K lbs. and thats on the high side. What mods should I do and how would they benefit me?
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,202
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From: Buford, GA
I am on my 3rd set of Falken STZ01's:
http://www.falkentire.com/tires_stz01.htm
They are a high performance tire, unidirectional tread, great traction wet and dry, and I am averaging 45-50K miles per set. I tow a 22' ski boat with mine with no problems. And they are not very expensive either - my 18" are around $130/ tire.
http://www.falkentire.com/tires_stz01.htm
They are a high performance tire, unidirectional tread, great traction wet and dry, and I am averaging 45-50K miles per set. I tow a 22' ski boat with mine with no problems. And they are not very expensive either - my 18" are around $130/ tire.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,200
Likes: 39
From: Easton, Pa.
First I would take issue with you on your opinion of your truck capability for towing. Why? Because I have the same one as you and tow at combined weight of nearly 12,000 lbs with 3.55 gears. So it must be one of objectivity. My engine does an amazing job here in the hills of Pa.
As for tires, I went all thru the research on tire capacity, size, build and makes and loading.
I looked al all the factory data for this truck with different engine /trans and weight combinations and become very instructional.
I have the 16" rims stock with the 255x75 stock size tires and find them to be fully within my towing limits for weight and loading. The OEM Goodyear RTS is very good for all general dry/wet and all around uses as well as load capacity.
The factory really knew what tire to fit them with in this case.
If you go larger, the spedo goes less accurate and pulling power is less yet.
The larger rim diameters are lower rated for weight capacity as well.
With what you say your towing will be, take a good look at all this and don't depend on a local tire shop to tell you because they don't know as much as you might think, without looking quite deep into it.
If you are going to aftermarket rims and all that then you really need to look deeply into all this for towing use.
Just giving an informed opinion and practical advice.
Next how about trans cooling? You need it.
As for tires, I went all thru the research on tire capacity, size, build and makes and loading.
I looked al all the factory data for this truck with different engine /trans and weight combinations and become very instructional.
I have the 16" rims stock with the 255x75 stock size tires and find them to be fully within my towing limits for weight and loading. The OEM Goodyear RTS is very good for all general dry/wet and all around uses as well as load capacity.
The factory really knew what tire to fit them with in this case.
If you go larger, the spedo goes less accurate and pulling power is less yet.
The larger rim diameters are lower rated for weight capacity as well.
With what you say your towing will be, take a good look at all this and don't depend on a local tire shop to tell you because they don't know as much as you might think, without looking quite deep into it.
If you are going to aftermarket rims and all that then you really need to look deeply into all this for towing use.
Just giving an informed opinion and practical advice.
Next how about trans cooling? You need it.
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Joined: Jun 2001
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Screwed2002,
By 20" tires I assume you actually mean 20" rims. I am not familiar with the actual tire sizes available for 20's, but...
if the new tires are larger in diameter than your current ones, then by far the most effective mod you could do to help the 4.6 tow the load would be to regear your rear axle (or both axles if it is a 4x4). Increasing tire sizes will work your motor and transmission harder than before even without towing a load, and will make your truck feel less powerful than before the tire switch.
Another suggested mod (if you don't already have the factory tow package) would be an auxiliary transmission cooler. Obviously this won't give you any power boost, but it will help keep you from cooking your transmission when towing the boat.
By 20" tires I assume you actually mean 20" rims. I am not familiar with the actual tire sizes available for 20's, but...
if the new tires are larger in diameter than your current ones, then by far the most effective mod you could do to help the 4.6 tow the load would be to regear your rear axle (or both axles if it is a 4x4). Increasing tire sizes will work your motor and transmission harder than before even without towing a load, and will make your truck feel less powerful than before the tire switch.
Another suggested mod (if you don't already have the factory tow package) would be an auxiliary transmission cooler. Obviously this won't give you any power boost, but it will help keep you from cooking your transmission when towing the boat.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,334
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From: Lexington, KY.
Correct me if Im wrong but the supercrew is only available with the 5.4 engine. I have an 03 model 2wd and pull a 6300 pound travel trailer unloaded, more like 7100 with all the gear and have no problems.
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Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Houston, TX
Thanks for the info Bluegrass
I really appreciate your reply. It does a ton for my confidence in my truck. I have an 04 Tahoe that will smoke the doggie dookie out of my Supercrew. I can rest at ease now knowing that the little 4.6 does have some huevos. BTW, just to help my confidence, I just ordered the Troyer XCal II programmer with an 87 octane tow, 87 performance, and 93 maximum performance tunes on it. I know this has to be able to help my truck with the get up and go.
As for the 20's, I already have 20's on my truck with low pro Goodyears on them. I was looking for a set of 20" tires that had a better weight rating, and a little more aggresive tread pattern on them. I went tire shopping and think I am prolly gonna go with a Cooper Discoverer ATR in a 285/55/20, they look like they will provide me with the functionality of an A/T and the looks of 20's with low pro's, and they are reinforced with a better weight rating than regular low profile tires.
As for the 20's, I already have 20's on my truck with low pro Goodyears on them. I was looking for a set of 20" tires that had a better weight rating, and a little more aggresive tread pattern on them. I went tire shopping and think I am prolly gonna go with a Cooper Discoverer ATR in a 285/55/20, they look like they will provide me with the functionality of an A/T and the looks of 20's with low pro's, and they are reinforced with a better weight rating than regular low profile tires.