I just got a 2002 Dodge Van 1500 last week. I'm looking to make somewhat of a mild Dajiban out of it.

I've been looking at 16x8 wheels. I saw a pic of a van with 245/55 r16 tires on it but when I look at tires in that range I'm seeing regular passenger tires. When I read about recommended tires, I see that most people recommend LT and XL range tires.

My van is a 1500 conversion van. I'll be towing an occasional single axle trailer with a zero turn on it, and I'll be putting some tool boxes in the back, maybe 200 lbs or so. I'll be taking the rear seat out to make some room. So not a ton of weight.

I guess I don't understand how in Japan people are moving motorcycles in these van and then racing the vans on a track, but over in the usa everyone requires xl tires.

Help me understand please because the tires on the van are from 2016 and need to be replaced asap...

Thanks in advance for any help

 

LT tires are heavier construction, which is pretty much a requirement for a heavier vehicle...... If you are going to be hauling weight, and/or towing, the LT tires are what you want.

 

You'd probably want to make sure that 16's will clear your brake calipers before pulling the trigger on rims/tires. I could be wrong, but I don't think they will fit.

 

I guess that's the root of my question, how are these guys racing these vans on regular tires and hauling motorcycles? I would think that racing puts a huge stress on the tires...

And are there low profile LT tires available to purchase?

 

The stock rims are 15's, wouldn't 16's clear no problem? I should have an extra 1/2 inch of space. I don't understand

 

Oh, you're good. My mistake. For some reason, I thought mine had 17's but they're actually 16's.

 

OK, you were confusing me lol

 

What size are your tires?

 

lt245/75r16e

 

LT tires do not handle like street or P tires...

There isnt a best of both world tires...the closest you will find are something like I have on my van...an AT tire that is standard load but has a load index of 112...(2500lbs/tire) I regularly pull my 6000lbs trailer with those and they work well and the do handle well too - but NOTHING like a performance tire

LT tires have extremely still sidewalls that cannot flex as well in corners like performance or P tires...they are basically made to hold heavy loads and go down the road straight

You can race anything you want...most people who want to do what you want to do have two sets of tires and rims...one for racing and one for hauling....that is what you need to do if you want to do what you want to do