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

[EricBu12]

When empty, I lower the air to 60 or so. I think one time I had the rears at 50 or 55..... Still a little rough, but not as bad...

 

[BBridgeman]

Well, I have been lied to about the GVWR / opposed to actual pay load and everythang in between concerning axle ratings tires motor home Payload trailer payload etc: SCALES DON'T LIE.

The tire is NOT ALLOWED to PURPOSELY lie.



If you are concerned about which tire C, D, E etc to put on your truck, weight your axles, separately, at either extreme of your driving, towing or solo or commuting never tow what ever.



You are kidding yourself if you think I can "seak by once in a while" on a "C" when you should be in a "E".



If your axles wheigh more at a given point than those tires should carry, asking for trouble big time.



Letter load rating and "plys" are a misnomer, plys any more are not "plys" they are "ply rated" and "load rated".



Example, I put out in a previous thread, the Kelley Safari AWR has a weight load capacity equal to an "E" but it is a "D" rated tire (ply rating? I don't know). And I will say I put "E" rated Firestone Steeltex ATs on the duallie to replace those Kellys, and the Kelly actually was truely a more stable tire.



There ain't no guessing weight. Cost you probably $5 per weight reading, you can actually weigh each tire postion, which I do on my Motor Homes, costs $20, and I KNOW where I am (overweight), but at least I am not guessing... .

 

[icarus33]

My Experience...

After the OEM tires retired, I installed a used set of 265 BFG AT/KO's Load D. Liked them enough that when they retired, bought a new set of the same from Costco. I did not have a camper at the time and towed once from NM to WA and back with a 16ft cargo trailer.

At around 24K miles on new tires while running 70 on the freeway unloaded, the left front let go. As I started to feel the truck pull left and say "It feels like... " WHAM flying rubber and smoke everywhere. That wheel was on the rim in seconds. Complete seperation of the sidewall from the tread surface.

Costco would not replace due to the "OEM requires Load Range E". After a bit of research into this, sidewall ply's, and the recent 5th wheel purchase, I agreed to getting new Bridgestone REVO's Load Range E for no charge. I would hate to control a trailer in tow with that kind of blowout.

The BFG's had a sweet ride when unloaded, great off-road, but now with more trailer use I'll stick with the E's. I'd buy BFG's KO's again if the load range came up, but satisfied with the Revo's.



YMMV, ic