"Squishy ride" with bigger tires? What should I do?

So I purchased some 30x9.5 r15 BFG Ko2s and wanted to throw them on the stock 5 lug rims.

Bought them from Bj's because it was a good deal, but they wouldn't mount them because Bj's only mounts OEM size.

So I brought the tires to Tire Pros today, and they recommend I don't install them on the stock rims, because "the truck won't ride right" and I will have a "squishy ride" because the stock rims are 6 inches wide, where they recommend a 6.5 inch rim.

Here are my options:

A. I can drop a few hundred on new rims, even though I like the stock rims better than what rims I can afford

B. I can (hopefully) return the tires and switch them for 235s, even though Im really in love with the size and look of the 30 x 9.5s

C. I can go back to tire pros and make them install my 30s, and suffer the supposed "squishy ride" and other bad ride consequences, (which I doubt my father will let happen because he thinks its unsafe...)

Now that I look at BFGs website I see the tire calls for a 6.5 rim minimum, but Ive seen people fit 31s on the stock rims all the time

 

Compare tire sizes here - numerical and visual comparison.

http://tire-size-conversion.com/tire-size-comparison/

Pinching the bead in to force a tire to fit an under-sized width of rim does put stress upon the sidewalls. In an extreme pothole situation, it could unseat the bead... way beyond tire 'squishiness'.

I would recommend keeping to recognized safe maximal design specs..

 

Listen to your father.

 

The only reason why I'm doubting that the stock rim can't hold a 30x9.5r15 without an issue is because I've seen a few 5 lugs on here running a 31x10.5, which is a full inch wider....on the stock 6 inch rim!

Chances are I will get a cheap set of steels, mount on the 30s, and cross my fingers and hope everything works out.

 

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/crr-3425712/overview/

It worked for me.

 

you'll be fine. a 6.5" rim will be 1/4" narrower on each side. Pull out a ruler, you'll laugh at how small that is.

Have you seen race cars run a slightly narrower front tire than should be put on the rim in order to flex the sidewall the wrong way? They do it to keep the tire stiff. If you doubt me look at the front tire of any Lexus ISF.

What you're doing is essentially the opposite. I say put them on, drive it, see how it feels to you. If it feels "squishy" just start saving for new wheels and buy them as soon as you can.

 

The ISF has stagger fit wheels and tires. The front wheel and tires are a completely different size than the rear. Wth are you smoking? Lol

But im sure in the OP'S situation it won't matter but I've never had the issue he has.

 

Those Cragar D windows aren't too bad looking... I feel like it probably looks better in person than in pictures because of the gloss black finish

Ive never been the biggest fan of black wheels, but I feel like if I got some cragar D windows or soft 8s I will learn to like black wheels.

I wonder how cheap steels would look with a TRD center cap?

Anyone else have suggestions on some good looking cheap steel wheels that fit (for the 5lug that will fit 30x9.5)?

 

Any idea if these U.S, Wheels Stealth Crawlers will fit? They look just like soft 8s except come in gunmetal gray

 

I had the 30" for over ten thousand miles and went to the 31/10.5" on stock wheels which have another ten thousand on them. You won't feel any squishyness, it will probably ride stiffer in fact!

 

That's it in black next to my sons 4x4 AC in grey. They were identical in height, the one on the right is just on higher ground. Customized front spacer (shorter), and AAL. I'm toying with trying a 32-11.5 on it too. If they had a 32-10.5 I'd be running it. I think the 33-10.5 is going to eat up too much of my wheel wells.

 

Your truck looks great man! How are the wear patterns on the tires? Do you have to rotate them more often than stock tires?

for my purposes however, I want to get way more than 10,000 miles on my brand new tires, and I decided I'm better off sticking to the tire manufacturer's recommendations on rim width. So I returned the 30s while I make up my mind.

I'm probably going to get 235s, and hope I won't be kicking myself once they are mounted... Cuz I'm still not sure if I want to lift or level later down the road.

unless I find a rim that is exactly what I need(has to fit the stock TPMS), 235s are the only option that makes sense.

 

I call BS on the "squishy" ride. For years I had a 15.5" wide tire on a 10" wheel.

 

Ok, you misunderstood me. My 30/9.5-15 were fine, looked new at 10,000 miles. I did 4.88 rear gear and was a little too short for where I wanted to be so I replaced them. The 30" tires are not actually 30" in reality, more like 28!

I have 10,000 on the 31-10.5-15 and the right front got a ramping wear pattern on it. That's with no rotation as I prefer to see issues with one corner as they appear. With ritation at 5,000 I might have missed the bad strut!

My truck has 30,000 miles and it needs struts and shocks. That's the tire wear issue, I rotated it and reversed it to the left rear and it'll probably go another 30-50,000 miles anyway. No appreciable wear, just that funky ramping from the strut.

 

What was the difference in ride between the two sizes? Did the 30's slow down the truck to the point where it needs new gearing? I know 31s make everyone want to regear...

 

I felt it needed 4.10 with stock tires, and I had it that way for awhile. If it still had stock rubber I'd advise you to get 4.10 gears anyway. The truck should have been delivered with that ratio bone stock.

It feels more planted with the bigger tires, less roll like the tires will peel off in corners. The stock rubber is just inadequate IMO, and the gearing comical.

 

I had a similar feeling going from a 215/70/15 to a 225/75/15 (both Firestone Destination) on the stock 15x6 steel wheels. I ran a higher tire pressure which helped a little but it never felt right. Same 225/75 tire on a 15x7 wheel made all the difference in the world.

Squish is gone and I ended up with additional benefits:

• Truck feels planted. Prior to it felt like the front was pushing under harder cornering.
  
  
• Lighter wheels (8 lbs. per wheel) made a difference accelerating (a tad) and braking (definitely; feels like 20-30% less effort and less nose dive/movement in truck).

I went with the KMC 15x7 Enduro’s from Tire Rack, $515 shipped with new lug nuts. Firestone then swapped the tires out for another $40. I think they look better than stock rims and I could still use my same tires so it was a win in my book.

I would rank this right up there with the LCE Header and Hellwig Rear Swaybar upgrades in terms of best bang for the buck.

Something else to think about is what’s the easiest to get out from under if it doesn’t work for you. ​

 

Not smoking anything. I'm aware it has staggered fitment, doesn't change the fact the front tires are slightly stretched.

 

A 9.5" tire not fitting on a 6" wide wheel? I guess I better take my 12.5" wide tire off my 8" wide wheels.

 

Total BS, that tire will work fine on that rim. Taller side wall to take up the narrowness of the wheel, no probs.