Do I need an "E" rated tire?

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I am looking to go with the 285's and it seems that no one makes one with a load range E. I have a 2500 that I pull a 30' 5'er with, we have always been under the 8800 gross weight rating.
Does one take the rating of a tire and multiply by four to determine the allowable total weight(regarding tires only here)? Or is there more to this equation? A 3000 lb. tire x 4 =12,000 lbs. certainly more payload than my truck will ever see.
Thanks,
Wes

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2001 Quad Cab 4x4 ETH

 

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You should be ok with 285's in load range D, just double check the load rating. I have 285's that are load rated at 3305 lbs per tire. This will be marked on the sidewall. I like having the extra margin on the tires versus 3000 lbs tires. And yes, total capacity is a sum of each tires' load rating. Thus, my truck's tires can handle a GVW of 13,220 lbs.

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Scott Collins
'98 Ram 2500 4x4 12 Valve Cummins.
Renton, WA

 

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1big44,
Don't go under the load range rating you have. Firestone makes a heavy rated truck tire for our rigs, I had a set on my 98 with about 40k on them and they looked new.

 

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Bottom Line

Weigh each axle, cost $6. 00 at most truck stops, and make sure the tires will carry the load for the axle with a little to spare if the mother in law is along.

The 285 Bridgestone has a 'D' rating but a load capacity of 3305 pounds each or 6610 pounds for each axle. This is more than the rated capacity of the truck and should serve well

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Denny
'99 2500 4X4 White short Q cab to much added to put here

 

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Been wondering this same thing myself. Does anyone know if the "D" range tires would help smooth out the ride on my 93? The ride is pretty harsh with the "E" range. (I know-- the 1st gens are just rough riding) #ad


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Stan
93 2WD extended cab, Banks Power Pack, K&N Air Filter, PW Injectors,Auto w/4. 10 rear with limited slip, US Gear Exhaust Brake, 31/2" Exhaust, 5K air bags, Boost/Pyro/Tach Gauges, Green/Silver, new 40-20-40 bucket seats, 149K

 

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My $. 02.
I think that the load range E tires are a little bit less prone to getting holes in them than the load range D s'.

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"Roadrunner"-96 4X4 club cab-12v-auto-3. 54 gears-Amsoil bypass filter - all Amsoil fluids-trans filter-britebox-shelfit-DeeZee boards-Rhino liner-Rancho 5 speed shocks-Hellwig rear antisway & overload springs-Warn 12000 lb. winch-dual redtop optimas-combo gauge and trans. temp gauge in pillar mount-255/85R16 Kelly MSR tires-custom pinstriping- Walker muffler-Cummins mudflaps-Tuff Country control arms-2" coil spacers

 

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Originally posted by Josparkz:
I think that the load range E tires are a little bit less prone to getting holes in them than the load range D s'.

Aw, that's baloney! At least, that is what most folks tell me when I say exactly the same thing. #ad
I can see the disbelief in their eyes, even when they don't tell me to my face.

Kidding aside, I agree 100% with Josparkz. Myself and several friends who drive a fair amount of gravel roads as weekend warriors have found that when you upgrade your Load Range, C to D or D to E, the number of flat tires caused by rocks goes down dramatically - like from one every 6 months to zero. Given that, I am very reluctant to change from factory installed "E" tires to anything with a "D" rating, even if the load in #'s says it should be OK. If you stick to the pavement, you might be OK with "D", but why take a chance? I've tried to read up on what these ratings mean, but don't have a real good answer for why some "D" tires seem to be almost equal to "E" tires in the same size and load range. The "simplified" explainations you find most places don't get down to the nitty-gritty detail, so I'm stuck with just having to "believe" in "E's" until someone proves me wrong.

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2001 ETH, QC, LWB, 4WD, 3. 54, SPA Pyro & Boost, K&N RE-880 w/foam pre-cleaner, ARE Z-series Cab-high shell, Rear ARB locker, and all kinds of synthetic fluids...

 

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Thanks for your input. I ran the BFG on my old truck with no problems, but I am trying to chose between them and the Goodyear Wrangler both have a load rating at 3300 lbs.

One other question when you talk to tire houses they all refer to the E rated tire as a 10 ply tire, but my factory Michelin don't list 10 plys when I checked the sidewall. I guess I am wondering do all E tires have 10 plys.
Wes

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2001 Quad Cab 4x4 ETH

[This message has been edited by 1BIG44 (edited 12-10-2000). ]

 

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One other question when you talk to tire houses they all refer to the E rated tire as a 10 ply tire, but my factory Michelin don't list 10 plys when I checked the sidewall. I guess I am wondering do all E tires have 10 plys.

This is second hand information, but my tire man told me that "6 ply", "8 ply", and "10 ply" was the way tires were rated before they came out with the current system of Load Range "C", "D", "E", etc. A load range "E" is roughly equivalent to the old 10 ply, but with the new miracle fabrics like kevlar, a load range "E" may or may not have 10 plys in a modern tire.

 

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My $. 02 worth

I run 255/85r16's on my ex-cab long-box 4x4.
This fall we returned from central Idaho with a full load that consisted of a 25 ft. tongue pull travel trailer hooked on, a honda 4x4 atv, 2 full-grown cow elk and 3 or 4 jeep cans full of fuel. I run the D rated tires and never worried. I did, however, be sure that my tire pressure was suitable for the load. These tires also offer a nice ride when empty, which is what my truck does about 95% of the time anyway. The nicer ride keeps mama happy, and ya know what happens when mama ain't happy.

Hope this helps.
RPh

 

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The nicer ride keeps mama happy, and ya know what happens when mama ain't happy.

Yeah, we know what happens. NOTHING! #ad