Tires.... Load Range -Vs- Tread Wear Rate

[Katmandu]

I've been out shopping for tires and a few shops are INSISTING that OUR 2500 Rams w/Cummins engines REQUIRE at least LOAD RANGE E tires.


My 2500 currently has 265/75-16s w/Load Range E tires. I want to Upsize to 285/75s or maybe 305/70s.

They say the other Load Ranges (C,D) will physically fit with no problems, but they do NOT have enough sidewall stiffness to meet the weight of our trucks.

They also say going down to Load Range D tires will result in SIGNIFICANT DECREASE in tread life (Especially on the front axle).

They say the tires need to have a load rating of 3350lbs/pair per axle.

What is your experience with this ??

.

 

[Mundgyver]

A set of 285's in a D rating should be = or just a little more than a set of 265's in carring ability. I run 285 and have had no problems for over 135,000 turns now.

 

[EricBu12]

OK, here goes another tire debate... .



Now, what is best and what will work depend on what you do with it... . If you just go to work and play on the weekends, no towing, no heavy loads in the bed..... then a regular "D" tire will do it as long as the weight of the tires support the weight of the truck.



Now if you tow AT ALL, then you will need stiffer tires for the side to side stress...



For towing, I use michelin 245 / 70 R 19. 5" "F" rated 12 ply. rated at 4480# @ 95 psi



for winter time, I right now have the stock michelins but want to go to a desert tire like a 285- 16" because I don't tow in the winter and want the big tires to last.....



You have to look at the tire and try to figure out what the manufacture meant for that tire. Even if the load rating is high enough, it might have a soft compound made for off-roading... hence the shorter life... my 19. 5's are supposed to last 130 K because of the 21/32 nds tread depth. So look towhat you do regularly and get the right tires for the job.

 

[keimmmo]

Legality is another matter. Our trucks are specified with load range E tires. If you put on anything else and the tires result in an accident, there could be legal problems. A large load range D tire will work fine as long as you do not tow or load heavy... but they are not legally the right tire for the truck.



Steve Keim

 

[steved]

As long as the weight rating of the tire is equal to a load range E... run it.



I ran several load range D and even a set of load range Cs at one point. With the CTDs on the nose, you need the extra weight rating over a "P"-series... if you use the truck as a car, a set of load range Cs seem to work fine... You will be hard pressed to find anything bigger than a 265 in an E... there are a few, but not many.



steved



steved

 

[Big Sur]

Because of a death wobble that had me thinking I wouldn't make it home yesterday, I stopped at Walmart and had them put on a set of 285/75/16 Uniroyal Liberators. $108/tire and load range "E" with a very smooth ride. 50,000 mile warranty.

 

[Big Sur]

Went out to adjust tire pressures yesterday and learned they are load range "D" and can carry a max load of 3305 pounds. Kid at Wally Word said they were 10 ply but I couldn't find them on the Uniroyal site

 

[Beast2B]

Went out to adjust tire pressures yesterday and learned they are load range "D" and can carry a max load of 3305 pounds. Kid at Wally Word said they were 10 ply but I couldn't find them on the Uniroyal site

The sidewall will have the breakdown of plies on it. So many plies tread and so many plies sidewall, as well as what materials are in them.

I won't get into the debate, but my tire buying is based on the weight specs for the tire and vehicle usage. My 37" BFG's are "D" rated, but run 3525 lbs max load at 50psi. Better ride than stock, a little squishy on the sidewall even at max pressure, but NEVER a heat issue (and I have used a IR themometer loaded and empty)

 

[Big Sur]

The Liberator tread ply is: two polyester, two steel and one nylon; the sidewall is two polyester.

 

[therabbittree]

my Interco Truxus Mud Terrains 285/75/16's are load range E... 3750 I think at 80 psi... I have fround a few others in load range E Toyo and BFG's make E range bigger offroad type tires. . I wouldn't play with lower load ranges. . not worth the hassle if it blows or you get a accident. .

later

Deo

 

[TNowak]

Ive experienced this issue ranging from puchasing my truck with only a C rating tire that is absolute junk. To the 285/75 D rated and the 265/70 E rated and my suggestion is that if you do not haul or tow extreme loads the D rating is sufficient.

 

[JLovas]

Since we're all discussing tire load ratings and what we need when it comes to towing, I'll throw this question out there. Has anyone ever blown a tire that has a stock load rating (3200 lbs for 3G's) while towing??? I would love to put 19. 5's on my pickup, but I really like the mud/snow capability of my BFG 315, D rated, 3200 lb capacity. I've often wondered if a tire like this (315 BFG's) will hold up to the occasional heavy tow (in excess of 25,000 gross)? I'll also say that so far my 315's are holding up pretty well. I've got 20,000+ miles on so far and over half my tread left, so I'm assuming I'll probably get 40,000 miles out of a set, which is what I expected.

 

[EricBu12]

For Light towing like 10K or less, A heavy D tire would be OK... Not great but you will have side to side squish from the softer sidewall. That is what I found out with my 285 75 16 BFG TA's The tread is good, sorta soft but for towing a 10K trailer, I went back to the stock michelin E tires. .....



Now If you want good traction... Not a 315 mind you but the tires I have are a good trction/comercial tire. 245 70 R 19. 5"... . (33" tire) this is bigger diameter than a stock tire but the same width. These are "F" rated 12ply, all steel plys. ... 21/32 nds tread depth... . Rated at 4480# @ 95 psi..... The 2 good things on this tire when towing heavy (mine is 23,500 # total) side to side stability, good , low rolling resistance... . I only have these tires on in the warm months for towing otherwise I have a normal stock E... and later going to go to a D off-Road tire... Probably the 285 16 tires again for winter use only so the 19. 5's last longer.....



Here are my rims and tires



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You see these rims use the stock center cap...



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Here is the difference between the 265 E tire (left) and the 19. 5 "F" tire (on truck). The tread is almost identical width but the sidewall is def. more straight up... almost 2" narrower



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Here is the view down the side... the tires are out a little from stock but the vertical sides make it just right...



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And here is the rig I tow... it is 15K loaded... it is a toyhauler with 2 quads in back. I plan on getting "E" rate 15" tires for the trailer as it has "D's" now and they are at the limit...



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[rivercat]

My coopers are rated at 3525#s but only load range D and only 50 #s max

 

[steved]

My coopers are rated at 3525#s but only load range D and only 50 #s max

Each tire manufacturer can rate it's tire differently... the lettered range is exactly that, a range that the tire falls in that the feds set... I can't remember what the ratings ranges are anymore... but I seem to remember, for example, you could actually have a D range rated tire that fell into the weight carrying capacity of an E range tire... it is based on tire construction.





steved

 

[BK]

The letter range also denoted the sidewall plys, at one time meant to denote strength, as I understood it. . ??



My original stock Mich's E load rated tires that came with the truck went 30K miles, were cracked to heck by 18K miles. barely legal at 30k miles.



I'm now running PJ 33x12x16 ATs on 16x8 AR, They are E rated 10ply.

20K of wear still looking good, should make 30K out of them.



Lots of around town, towing on and off road, when on the beach down at 15lbs of air.

I think running down the stock Mich's to 12lbs when towing on the beach really beat the daylights out of them and is where all the sidewall cracking happened.

 

[Matt400]

And here is the rig I tow... it is 15K loaded... it is a toyhauler with 2 quads in back.

Wow, I didn't know you could tow a trailer like that with a short bed. I wonder how your 12 plys compare stability wise with an E dually? Nice set up!

 

[bkroupa]

I'm on my second set of 285 D's. The first set (Yokohama HTS) had 60k on them when removed & were not down to the wear bars yet. No issues with them at all. My current set are Michelin LTX rated at 3305 @ 65psi each & they ride/drive great. I tow an 8k 30' TT with my 800lb motorcycle in the bed.

The tires total 6610 capacity & that exceeds the GAWR by ~10%.

 

[EricBu12]

The shortbed is an issue but I got the RV5 10" pin extention... . Still can't do a 90 degree but it is alot better... .



The 12 plys are VERY stable... Much better than even a 10 PLy "E". The pin is not all that heavy, the most of the weight is over the axles and rear. I am at like 12,300 on the axles. ... . The tread is 21/32nds and at first there is alittle wobble from the thickness of the tread but after like very little miles like a thousand or 2, it drives nice and rolls very well, no squishy...



I need to go to a better tire for the trailer and I found a 10 ply "E" 15" tire for them.....

 

[rivercat]

As rough as my 10 ply swampers rode, I cant imagine a 12 ply LR-F tire especially empty on the back. How do you stand it Eric? Must ride like a toyota or a jeep with High arch springs