Tires: load range D vs. load range E
 

Ok, I am in need of tires greatly..........but I cannot really afford new ones at this time. I'm shopping around for deals on good used ones. Specifically I'm looking for 265/75/16 (seems to be a fairly common size). Sometimes I find them in load range D or E.........preferably E. Is it ok to run 8ply (D) tires on our 1st gen rams? I just want to know what is safe and acceptable for tire rating. Thanks in advance!

If you don't tow really tonge heavy loads they will work great IMO 8 ply should be fine. i would never put load range C tires on it though.

Ive been running Dunlope Mud Rovers for a year now almost and they are load d ,I havent had any problems at all.I rotate every 3000

Most tire shops around here will put "D"s on a 3/4 unless you request "E"s. I see no issue unless it's a tow piece.

I went with E's cause they were just $8 more a tire. D's have a little better ride, and I run them on the dmax in my sig. With that truck I haul up to 18k lbs with never an issue with tires.

I ran Firestone D's ONE time and that was and will be the last time. The fronts wore out WAY too fast and I could never get them to look full of air. They always had a huge bulge in them.

I have Michelin's 265/75/16 load range E and they ride better then my old 285's load range D. I will never go to a D again!

You need to look at more than just the load range letter. I'm not really sure what the standards that they have to follow are, but the letter does not always corrospond with the actual weight rating @ X psi. I've had c range tires with a weight rating well over some d range tires. I've had e range tires with less weight rating than some d range tires. You see this more in offroad tires, but some street tires vary as well. Right now I have d range bfg all terrains and they do well unloaded and with 12,000 pounds on the trailer with probably 800-900 pounds on the tongue.

I will second that.

my E range tire on my first gen are rated for 3042 lbs @80 psi max. (bfg commercial 235/85/16)
the D range tire on my 2nd gen are rated at i think 3100 @ 65 psi max. (dayton timberline ATs 265/75/16)

The difference is in the tire size. Wider tire = higher load rating I guess.

I was dead set on pulling those D ranges off the truck and getting some E's till I checked out the ratings.

yup
Larger volume of air = more energy supporting the load at lower psi.. but you still only have 8 plies vs 10 plies. load range D 265/75 = 3100 lb load rating, but Load range E 265/75 = about 3500 lb load rating!

X2, I have D`s now and when they get swapped it`ll be E`s for sure

d range will give you a nicer ride, e's will take some working in, i would only get e's if i was towing or caring heavy loads all the time, i put 1ton in the back of my truck and no issues, and in my old 6.5L i use to carry 2tons with D range, thats the only thing i miss about that truck, c's or d's are better for offroading too

The front end of the 4x4 trucks are too heavy for load range "D".

D's
 

I Have A Set Of Load Range D's On My First Gen. Toyo Open Country A/t's 315/75r/16. They Have 57k On Them Right Now, And Have Been On There For Three Years Now. Best Tires I Have Ever Owned.
I Have The Same Tires On My 2nd Gen, But In 235 Size, But There Laod Range E. They Are Brand New, If Any One Is Lookin. Im Me.

Bob

I have to disagree there, most "D" rated tires are rated about 3000lbs. Doubled, that gives you 6000lb rating on the front axle. My whole truck weighs 7500 lbs.

IMO, D's are fine if you're just hauling light loads or running empty. If you're hauling much at all I'd go with E's. Basically, I use the "better safe than sorry" method. D's are cheaper, but if you overload them and blow one going down the interstate, it's gonna get a lot more costly...