I took the truck to a local shop to have 265/70SR17 tires put on this morning. The shop says they can't do it because the ABS system is setup for 275/60SR17's (whick the truck currently has) and it could possibly damage the system or cause problems.

What do you all think? I know plenty of people on here have changed their tire sizes. Have you seen any problems?

I ordered the tires from tirerack.com. So I am stuck with them unless I can sell them.

 

I'm sure if your tire dollars had went into their cash register instead of TireRacks, they'd be singing a different tune, don't you?

 

I agree that this could be why they wont do it.

 

Yeah, I agree. Go some where else. I went from a 30 inch tire (255/70-16) to a 33 inch tire (285/75-16) and have never had a brake problem.

 

Well, they did install them. I called Ford to verify there wouldn't be an issue with the ABS. They said there wouldn't and I passed the info on to the tire shop.

The shop is very reputable. They truly were worried about the ABS functions. And in reality are only covering their own tails.

 

From what I understand, the ABS system measures rotation of the tires, similiar to how the limited slip in the back of a 4x4 works. Except, ABS is computerized. In a 4x4 with the limited slip, if one axle shaft turns at a different speed than the other, it activates. There's a little more too it, but that's the jist of it. On an ABS system, the computer determines braking by measuring if one tire is moving faster than another, etc. Tire size for all four tires is one variable in the computer. What I mean to say is, that for the system to work right, the computer assumes that all 4 tires are the same height. If one tire is smaller than the other, it'll spin faster, leading the computer to think that something is wrong. This is why they give you a fullsize spare.
I guess what I'm trying to say, your computer doesn't know whether you have 265s, 275s, 285s, 325s, etc. All it knows is how fast each tire is rotating. So basically, as long as you have the same size all around, you are a-ok.

At least, that's my understanding.

 

I had the service manager at the Ford Dealership tell me that the 265/70-17 was what he recommended as a replacement tire for my 99 F-150 Sport! He felt the 275/60-17 was actually to wide for the rim it was installed on. Which makes sense because it's the same rim used on the 99 4X4 with the Off Road Package, and they come with 265/70-17's! I say find another place to have them installed. I bought mine from Indy Tire, and they had no problem selling them to me or mounting them on my truck! As another thought, Tire Rack does provide recommended installers on their web site, use on of their recommended installers, you shouldn't have a problem!

 

I have four tires in the basement for my wifes vehicle. One shop wouldn't install them on her van even though I bought them there 6 months earlier for my truck. Her van uses 70's and these are 75'. Another place where I bought the tires that replaced the tires in the basement advised they would install them, but he said he did a similiar thing with his wifes car and it caused the ABS pump to go out (chevy) and it was expensive to fix. I decided it was not worth the $270 I spent on the tires to risk damage to my wifes van. She still needs new tires, and I dont know what to do. Any other thoughts on this?

 

Are the tires brand new (i.e. still have the little nubs)? Can you exchange them for a different size at the place you bought them? Or, sell them and apply the money toward a new set! Seems a waste to just have them sitting in the basement! Good luck!

 

As long as all of the tires match, I wouldn't think it would cause anything to go out. If that guy's wife was driving a Chevy, I wouldn't blame the tires for the ABS pump going out.
Seriously, if they all match, the ABS should not be affected in any way.

 

I used the tires for about 6 months, so I may just sell them, or remount on my trail rig so I dont wear out my BFG's between trail rides. Thanks for the replys.

I too was shocked to think such a small tire size change could cause a problem, but these new vehicles sometimes have surprises like that.

Thanks

 

Gee, if this were true, don't you think that everybody who has changed tire sizes would be yelling and screaming ???? Or the makers of *chips* would be flaunting the benefits of their product as * reconfigures the ABS brain to allow for bigger/taller tires* ?

But,guess what? Each and every tire circumference is not exact. WHAT? You mean every tire isn't perfect ? Just watch a car race and listen to the crews bitch about a bad set of tires. *Meaning one or more was different in circumference* right? Or what if the tire pressure was lower on one tire? That could/would put the height/circumference at odds with the other tires, wouldn't it? Whoops, the ABS light should be on, or worse, the thing fails....

I had the local Firestone franchise owner give me the same BS when I was shopping locally for a new set of tires and wheels for my '02 SCrew at xmas time. I promptly discussed his qualifications from oil changes to tires if he truly believed that. After a bit of stuttering, he acknowledged that "he had heard it" somewhere. Yeah right..... You won't touch my truck pal... or even my lawnmower for that matter.

I recently changed from the 265/70/17 with factory 10 spokes to 305/70/116 BFG's on Pacer wheels. Basically from 31" to 33" *average* per tire height/circumference. They weren't *exact* when measured prior to mounting. That also explains why each wheel may get different amounts of weight to balance them.

My thought is this: *if you deal with a business that doesn't know their business, then you deserve what you get.* Dealer or private enterprise.


Had to vent. I hate hearing my brothers dealing with ignorant shops... just my $2 worth....