Winter Tires and Load Range

[Cooker]

In shopping for a set of winter tires I have come up with a question that I cannot seem to find an answer to.



I am under the impression that E load range tires are harder than D load range tires. Is this true?



All other things being equal (size, tread, air pressure) do you think an E load range tire will perform as well in the snow as a D load range tire?



Thanks for helping me clear this up,

Ryan

 

[JJW_ND]

Toyo M55s

Ryan:



If you can find them check out Toyo M55's. Someone posted a site in Canada that has a great by on them.



Get them in 235/85R16E and have them siped. You will almost think you have chains on. Almost!



I have always ran E rated. The "hard" part as it applies to traction would be the tread compound. Load range is in plys not tread compound. Load range E Snow tires soft, Load range C high speed performance tires hard.



jjw

ND

 

[Pit Bull]

Go to( www.tirerack.com )they have all the information you need. Load range has nothing to do with the hardness of the rubber. It relates to how much weight the tire can carry. You can have a load range D tire carry more weight then a load range E if it is a bigger tire. Example a 235/85/16 E may not be rated to carry as much weight as a 295/75/16 D. If you are looking for a tough tire that has less side wall flex look for a commerical grade tire with steel in the side wall, example Michelin XPS Rib or Traction, they are recapable.



Regarding tire for the snow, the load range E tire will carry more weight if it is the same size as the load range D tire. This might be benificial for a snow tire. Say a 235/85/16 "E" BFG AT/KO would have a narrow foot print that would be better in the snow then say a 265/75/16 "D" that would be fatter and not do as well in the snow. But the BFG AT/KO's will do well in the snow no matter what size you go with.



PS most premium tires are siped from the factory

 

[RKohn]

Hey Pit Bull...

How much did those 46/47 springs raise you up? did you have 38/39s before?



rick

 

[Pit Bull]

The springs came on it from the factory. Snow Plow issue, not any higher just stronger and thicker. I like everything heavy duty.

 

[Hammer]

Ryan. .

E load rated tired carry a extra belt and more sidewall than any D rated tired even if the D has the same load capacity. Now with that said there is no difference in tread compounds between them. Most say the D's are better for snow due to their softer sidewall which tends to allow more sidewall flex and not seem to come out from under you as fast as the stiffer sidewall E's. I have always run E's on mine and did not like the sway in the D rated tires on a good friend of mine Cummins truck. I prefer the fell of the truck under me and cornering with the wheel turn as to the later turning softer sidewall D's. Its a matter of choice and your truck.



Now,one of the best pure snow tires,E rated,I have seen and driven have got to be Cooper Tires-Discoverer M + S. I have driven them in severe snow on a trip into Quebec for a weekend of sled riding and they will flat go in any snow I was in. One major drawback to them is they are only good for winter driving as the compound is soft,siped and designed for bad weather or cool roads. To use them it will require a set of different tires for summer driving as they WILL not last under the immense torque we produce and the heat of summer roads. I have seen them tear lugs out in the heat of summer,great for winter and are hard to beat.



I'll try to put the text from their site here for you to read... .







Cooper Discoverer M + S... .





"Snow-groove" design technology*

Provides biting edges for excellent snow and ice traction without reducing tread element stiffness. Capitalizes on the higher traction characteristics of "snow on snow" versus "snow on rubber. " (*patent pending)





"D squared" D2 sipe technology

A dense zig-zag sipe pattern further enhances winter performance while maintaining excellent wet traction. The sipes are deep to provide performance benefits throughout the life of the tire.





Strategically-placed stud pin holes

Provide enhanced stud retention while delivering optimum traction on ice.





M+S Rated

Meets RMA severe snow definition



Check them out on their site at coopertires.com

Hope this helps... ... Andy

 

[Cooker]

Thanks for the info.



So all other things equal (including the compund of the tire) the one would not notice a difference between an E and D load range tire in the snow?



As Hammer mentioned, the E's are stiffer and may not flaten out as well to the road conditions as the D's. It seems to me this would make a difference driving in snowy conditions.



I don't mind D's as my 285's are a D load range tire, and I am still apprehensive about putting an E tire on for winter use as it is stiffer.



I apprecaite all your comments.

Ryan



BTW - I would like to try the Toyo M55's but I cannot find them for less than $155/tire. I really don't want to spend quite that much for a tire that is only going to be on the truck for a few months out of the year.

 

[Ben Rumson]

one comment...

Tire SIZE is more important for winter traction than load rating.



In my case:



265/75/16 Michelin's did OK in snow and deep mud, but they road extremely well.



235/85/16 Dayton's have done MUCH better in the messy stuff, but wander a bit more on the highway. I trust them off road, in the winter, in the middle of nowhere, by myself for traction much more than the wider 265's.



Why better traction? Smaller foot print cuts down through the muck (instead of floating on top of it) and the result is much better traction. Having a narrower tire can way out weigh the actual tread design/shape itself - unless you're comparing it to a sand paddle or something real agressive.

 

[bighammer]

I'm going with the Cooper M+S in the 235/85 size. I'll have an extra set of rims as soon as I can get them up from down south. (Ann Arbor area)

 

[Mactruck]

I'm picking up a set of those Cooper Discoverer M + S tomorrow before the impending snow storm. These will be mounted on my plow truck and I had them studded. I'll let you know after the storm how they perform.



I got the 235/85 r16's and they're rating is at 3042 lbs.

#ad

 

[Mactruck]

Cooper Discoverer M+S update

I have to say, after plowing a foot of snow with these tires I am very impressed. In alot of places where I would slip going up a steep driveway (like my own ) with the plow down, I didn't slip at all. The tread pattern is very aggresive for the snow and the sipping in the tires really helped reduce the amount of room needed to stop.



I'm keeping a set of Michelin A/S to run in the spring/summer/fall because these wouldn't be good for year round use (especially with the studs ) but a very good plow tire for the winter.



I give them two VERY big thumbs up. JM2 Cents.

 

[Case500D]

E range work for me

Hi,



I am running 235/85R16E Daytona Radial Stag XT tires on both trucks. I really like them all year round. They perform well in the snow and mud. The cost me $110 each, mounted. I had 255/85R16D tires on my truck and they were horrible for carrying a load. They were not as good on snow as they wanted to ride on top of it more. For farming, I am quite happy with the Daytona's. I run 80 psi in the rear tires and 50 in the fronts on my truck. As far as the ride, it s a 1st gen 4WD, so it is rough all of the time.



Jeremy

 

[Power Wagon]

Originally posted by Cooker

Thanks for the info.



So all other things equal (including the compund of the tire) the one would not notice a difference between an E and D load range tire in the snow?



As Hammer mentioned, the E's are stiffer and may not flaten out as well to the road conditions as the D's. It seems to me this would make a difference driving in snowy conditions.



I don't mind D's as my 285's are a D load range tire, and I am still apprehensive about putting an E tire on for winter use as it is stiffer.



I apprecaite all your comments.

Ryan



BTW - I would like to try the Toyo M55's but I cannot find them for less than $155/tire. I really don't want to spend quite that much for a tire that is only going to be on the truck for a few months out of the year.

I have 265 / 75's. T he D and E range tires are absolutely identical in grip and life.



I was in and looked at both tires. Only the carcass of the tire is different. The tread and compound are exactly the same.



Oh, yeah, and I second Hammer's comment about these tires. They are absolutely awesome. And they go away faster than snow in a blast furnace in the summer.



They are awesome on wet pavement, on gravel, and so on.



If you wanted to drag race, these things grip like crazy.

 

[Rogue Ram]

BACK TO THE TOP.....

For those with these Coopers, how would they do say on a fall hunting trip, where real rough rocky roads would be encountered??? I have BFG Mud Terrains (285) but certainly they are mushy when towing, and don't do very well on just wet or slushy surfaces. Debating doing something like the Coopers on the factory wheels, and maybe the M55s on a set of Alcoas... ... . use the M55s for huting and the rest of the year, and for wet/snow/freezing stuff during the winter using the Coopers... .....



Ideas???



TIA



R

 

[jsnyder]

If you are talking the Cooper M+S, I sure wouldn't run them for hunting. Gravel road and rocks are the hardest thing in the world on your tires and they will wear fast. I'd do two sets if it were me.



Jason

 

[JJW_ND]

I can't speak for the Cooper but the Toyo M55 is a pretty awsome winter tire expecially siped. It you are worried about fall hunting and off road wear, only sipe just prior to snow driving. And then only have then cut about 30% of the tread. Do the same the following winters (depending on how many miles you drive). I siped my last set with only 5/32 left. Cut into the carcass. Made it all winter with very acceptable traction.



If the Coopers don't provide enough off road traction add chains. If the Toyos dont provide enough winter traction sipe or add chains.



Remember... . the more winter traction you have the harder you have to shovel to get out!



jjw

ND

 

[RKohn]

Two words....

Nitto's Rock!!!





Oo. Oo. Oo.

 

[Cooker]

Just an update as this thread has resurfaced.



Thanks for the recommendations. Although the Coopers look like a great tire I have never been a big fan of Cooper tires so I wouldn't bring myself to go that route.



The Toyos looked great, but a little too spendy for me this winter. Best price around town was $140/tire and best price on the web was $13? + shipping.



I decided on 235/85 and went with Dunlop Radial Rover RV's. I had these on a Blazer I had and they were great in the snow. Another big big reason I decided on these was price. Under $400 on the truck, I thought it would be tough to go wrong.



We haven't had enough snow for me to test them out yet, but if they do not perform up to my expectations, I think I might have them sipped.



If I can get 4 - 5 winters out of them I think I will be happy, provided the have the snow traction I am looking for.



Thanks again for all the help.