2020 F-250, Fx4,
Goodyear Wranglers, Kevlar, 265/70R18. Load Rande E. 3640 Lbs single @ 80 lbs. air Max cold. when @ 80lb, forget it, you can't ride in it when not towing. No exaggeration. If not towing I drop air to 60lb, ride is better but still terrible. Now I know the 3/4 Ton will not ride anything like a 1/2 Ton, (I've owned both in the past). A friend has a F-150 1/2 Ton, was considering an F-250 for his lawn care company...until he rode in mine, says no way!! I rode in a RAM 3500, 1 Ton, that rides far better than my F-250. Like the truck except for the ridiculous ride.
Another friend just bought new F-350, 1 ton. Quite a lot heavier springs. Wife and I rode in his, back seat and it rode smooth as glass!! His tires same size, Continental Contact, Load range E. Max air 80 cold, but 1640 max weight @ 80. He runs max air loaded or empty!! Like I say rode as good as any 1/2 Ton I ever owned/rode in!
2 questions..1/ How can the Continentals be load rate E, rated only 1640 at Max air?
2/ Are the side walls that much harder/stiffer on my Wranglers??
I will add I haul a 36' 5th wheel, 2300 lbs pin weight. I only run 70 Lbs air and tires show NO squat! Ride isn't bad loaded @70lbs.


I say the ride difference is attributed to the tires and am thinking I don't need the Kevlar Wranglers. Thoughts please! Thanks

 

You are comparing a three year old apple to a brand new orange. I don't totally agree with your synopsis.

 

There are no suspension upgrades/changes between the 3 yr old apple and new orange, they are the same today as 3 yrs ago.P lus the 3 yr old apple rides the same today as it did 3 yrs ago. What amazes me is both tires are Load Range E, 80 lbs Max Air but yet one is Max load 0ver 3000lbs, the other just over 1600!

 

Just three years of wear and tear on your suspension system. . How many miles are accrued on your truck? Did you even compare spring rates between the two trucks by looking on the tag on the door placards? Usually there is a code for springs listed. It is obvious that your tires are stiffer as there is a big difference in maximum poundage between the two. Look at the amount of plies listed between each tire forget the load range E.. If you still are not convinced, go buy new tires a see for yourself. You may get disapointed afterwards when you hook up your trailer and the truck is sqwirming all over the road. Maybe you will get lucky.

 

....31,000 miles on the truck, if the suspension is worn out thats another of the many reasons Ford needs to hang their heads! So what does load range E mean? Suspension springs get weaker with age, like you and I not stronger, hence softer ride, not harder. IF suspension was bottoming out yes it would pound, obviously it is not! The ride is as hard as it was in the beginning. Thanks for confirming my suspicions, it's the tires.