Michelin XL tires

[eric67camino]

What's the consensus on the Michelin XL tires at this point?

I ran across what looks like a decent deal on a set. For a 5 ton that won't see much "real" use, would they be ok? Or are they past the point of safe use?

 

[98G]

14.00's?

Unless they're cheap I'd pass. If they're cheap and the truck doesn't spend much time above 40mph I'd consider it.

In today's market if I'm buying tires for a 5ton I'm buying 395 XZLs or if I have $ to spend then 16.00 AT3s.

 

[eric67camino]

They are 16.00s. Bigger than I need, but for 100 each I thought I might try them.

With the 11.00s on it now, its topped out at 50, but cruises best around 45. And I rarely go more than 15-20 miles with it.

I was looking to put on some of the 395s, but haven't found any semi-local or at that kind of price.

 

[tobyS]

By the time you are done, the ticket price will seem small no matter which you choose. Yes, it's a great deal on the tires if cracking has not started. You will gain top end but loose the low end.....then you can play with fuel and rpm, etc.

 

[eric67camino]

First gear is so low, I figured it may compensate for the effective change in gearing. And I don't actually haul anything with the truck, so the power loss probably won't be a huge concern.

 

[tobyS]

It certainly makes a difference if you haul a load. Buy the tires if their condition is good as an "investment" that you can probably resell at profit if you don't use them. Be sure to store correctly, out of sun and relatively cool, if you don't put them on right away.

 

[98G]

At that price they're tempting. Also, being 16.00s the weight rating is higher which makes failure less probable in your use.

What do you have for wheels? On 939series trucks hemtt rims are needed for 16.00s or they rub. I don't know if this is applicable to your M51...

The loss of low end power with 16.00s is pretty pronounced...But for a truck that's a toy, they're still my #1 choice.

 

[eric67camino]

I don't have any wheels yet. Was looking at lmtv wheels to go with the 395s.

I have the new lug nuts already, but would I have to change the studs if I went with the hemtt wheels?

 

[98G]

Presuming the m51 is like the 809series , there's an offset lugnut that allows you to use the existing wheel studs. This is a picture of the offset lugnut and hemtt rim on the back of my M925, but they also work on the front. I have them on the front of my M818 with hemtt rims.

Although they look inset, there's full thread engagement.

To use the normal lugnuts and hemtt rims on the front of 809series trucks, you'd have to swap out the wheelstuds. I'm presuming the M51 is the same as the 809series. (The 939series is different up front. The 939series has longer wheelstuds.)

 

[98G]

First gear is so low, I figured it may compensate for the effective change in gearing. And I don't actually haul anything with the truck, so the power loss probably won't be a huge concern.

Your speedometer will be off by something like 24%. If you do end up with the truck loaded, you'll probably end up using low range to take off.

 

[eric67camino]

Where would one find the offset lugnuts?

 

[98G]

Where would one find the offset lugnuts?