Tires: 315/E Range - Any out there?

[zippinbye]

I probably sound like a newcomer. I am. I am finally bailing after two dozen Ford Trucks! Although it was the most expensive and powerful Ford I owned, the F-350 Power Stroke I just got rid of sucked in many ways. My 10k tow toasted the transmission just out of warranty. That's right, 37K miles. Anyhow, I digress. So you long time Cummins Dodge folks will be disgusted to hear I may be one of the first recipients of a 600-powered truck! It was built 1/5 and my dealer claims it will be 1st in the state. Wants me to parade it around and do promo stuff, etc. It's a 3500 SWR 4x4 Laramie. I'm drawing blanks in a search for load range E 315/17 tires. I go off road, but want no more aggressive than A/T tread. I think I've seen Goodyears on an H2 Hummer, but maybe it was a wishful hallucination! Any ideas? Also, should I find such tires, is anybody running them on stock rims, safely? Is a 2" leveling kit in front with airbags in back (only for load leveling, not actual everyday lift) sufficient with 315s?



Thanks in advance for any guidance.



Rich

 

[JRG]

All the 17" tires I have seen are rated at around 2995#-3195#. How much are you towing?

Type in tires in google and it brings up all the manufactures, lots of info. A 315 has a 34" od. My 33" needed the extra 2". Depends on the rims backspacing. 315 is a little wide for stock rims IMO.



JRG



ps congrats, and welcome!

 

[JARichard]

Glad you bought a Cummins!!! I have sent inquiries to most of the major tire makers. I myself would love a 34" to 35" tire with factory tire width. There are none available at this time. I find it hard to believe that the 315's do not rub myself. With or without the 2" leveling kit. There are no 315/70/17 tires available at this time in load range E. Cooper and Goodyear both replied to my e-mails and said they are working on several tires that would be in Load range E for this year. I have about 15,000 to 20,000 on my factory tires before thay are bare. I hope some one has something by then.





PS Why doesn't everyone wanting bigger tires in load range E post it here. Then i can send this thread to the to the tire mfg.

 

[AndyMan]

I would certainly like a 35" tire with the factory width in a load range E. Keep us posted as to what you find out.



Thanks,

Andy

 

[Blakers]

Lots of guys on here running the BFG 315 ATs on stock rims - some with 2" up front and some without.



I believe the 315s have higher load ratings than some load range E tires.



I'm hoping the tire manufacturers will start making some 315-75-17, 305-75-17, 295-75-17 and 285-75-17. And maybe even some 80 and 85 profile 17s.



Blake

 

[thejeepdude]

Interco is supposedly releasing a 35x12. 50-17 E rated trxus tire... interco I may consider these eventually. The STS radial (more AT instead of MT tire) is already out in that size.

 

[JARichard]

OK guys. I have never heard anyone talk about these tires.

Goodyear Wrangler Mt/R in 305/70R17. According to the specs they are 34"x12. 2" on a 9" rim. They say they can handle 3000lbs. @50 psi. thanks for keeping the post going. I personally have had good luck with Michelin tires. They have not returned my e-mails for a week and i waited on hold for about 45 min. and no one picked up. I have 55000 miles on original tires. It is ashamed they are A!!holes.

 

[JRG]

I saw that Goodyear, looked like a cool tire.



JRG

 

[GColeman]

My truck will be here the first week of Feb. It's already built. I ordered some 17X8 Amer Racing Wheels and we will try to fit BFG 315 under it. Although not E rated, they have a pretty high weight rating. Anyway, if I have to, I will add a Tough Country 2" leveling spacer (steel) to make them fit. If that won't give me enough clearance, I will just go back down to a BFG 285. I have used them before on stock suspension with 8" width rim and no clearance problems.



Besides looking way cool, the BFG 315 is $40 per tire cheaper than the BFG 285. I was told it was because 315 is standard size for Hummers and therefore produced in larger quantity.



If anyone has experience fitting BFG 315s on 17X8 wheels under a 2003-04 Ram, I would sure appreciate some input.



Sorry "Zippinbye" for getting a little off topic.

 

[nickleinonen]

If anyone has experience fitting BFG 315s on 17X8 wheels under a 2003-04 Ram, I would sure appreciate some input.

those are under my truck now [factory wheels] no lift, no rubbing, looks just right #ad

 

[GColeman]

Originally posted by nickleinonen

those are under my truck now [factory wheels] no lift, no rubbing, looks just right #ad
[/BT]

Thanks for the info. It's good to know that if the Custom wheels are too wide, I can still fit the cool tires with stock wheels.

 

[JARichard]

My local Sam' s Club can order the BFG's and have them in 4 to 5 days. I do not know if they will install them. They have some funny rules. $115. 00 a tire is an awesome price. I know Sear's can order them too. If you bring your Sam's quote to Sears they will beat it by 10%

 

[Blakers]

Originally posted by GColeman

I ordered some 17X8 Amer Racing Wheels and we will try to fit BFG 315 under it.

The problem you may have with the aftermarket wheels is the offset is such that they will stick way out from the truck and you'll need fender flares. I don't think anyone makes wheels with the correct offset yet.

 

[DPelletier]

FWIW, the weight ratings are somewhat irrelevant. D rated tires are not stable enough for heavy hauling or towing. Too soft.

You need to be aired up to the full 80 PSI rating of an E tire when running at max GVWR, especially with a slide-in camper or other heavy load. The D rated tires (regardless of weight capacity) do not have stiff enough sidewalls both due to construction and maximum air pressures. A friend of mine just bought a new F-350 (Yeah, I know ) and immediately put on a larger set of D rated Yokohamas. He then was complaining to me about how he was "all over the place" when hauling his 12,000 lbs trailer. I walked over to his truck and gave it a good shove on the rear box side, then went to one of our 2500's with E tires aired up to 80psi and did the same thing. The difference is substantial.



Before anyone has a cow, I'm not saying that the D rated tires are no good, I'm just saying they are not suitable for max GVWR loads. Don't think just about the weight rating of the tire, this is a common mistake.



Dave

 

[GColeman]

Originally posted by Blakers

The problem you may have with the aftermarket wheels is the offset is such that they will stick way out from the truck and you'll need fender flares. I don't think anyone makes wheels with the correct offset yet.

Concerning offset and width, I'm keeping my fingers crossed. The Wheels are 1/2 in wider and offset is +1/2". I am looking at rim sticking out 3/4" over stock. I will have different size tires to try and me even consider stock wheels for now. I will also have the option of 2" leveling kit at the shop when we start.



I'll post what finally works the best.

 

[TShaver]

Parnelli Jones offers a 35/12. 50/17 tire that is E rated. You can check them out here:



http://www.dirtgriptires.com/

 

[DMyran]

Going to ad my two cents. here we go



I have goodyear 285/70r17 and i love them. they are MT/R's



I regularly tow upwards of18,000 to 22,000 pounds and they feel

like they handle the loads better than the stock michelins. .

also their traction is awesome. Plus with the white lettering facing out on my white truck they really look cool



That is what i got

thanks

Dane

 

[jcfarms]

My 2 cents also

I have LT275/70R17 Goodyear MT/R tires on a '03 3500 QC SRW 4X4. I pull a couple different gooseneck trailers. The tires are LR D (3195 lbs @ 65 psi). I like the traction as well. The truck handles well with the trailers, but I have noticed a little squirmy feeling with a 2000 lb pallet of feed in the bed. The MT/R tires are advertised to have a 3 ply sidewall for off-road durability. I think they Discontinued the 275 LR D for the 285 LR D.

 

[Hunter1]

I agree with Dave above, if anyone can show me a E rated tire in 17" bring it on!



Hunter1

 

[rbattelle]

I notice Interco has Trxus A/T tires in 35-12. 5R17 load range E here. The specs are impressive (3640 lb load rating). But they recommend a minimum rim width of 8. 5".



Anyone have any experience with these? Can you put them on an 8" wide rim?