I'm looking to install some BFG Mud Terrain KM2s this week. The 35s are only D load rated. I don't do any heavy hauling, only occ trailering / loads of 2-3k pounds. Has anyone had any problems running non-E rated tires (if not hauling heavily)? Uneven wear?

Comments welcome!

Thanks.

 

I ran BFG 315s (D Rated) on stock wheels for 55k and now run the BFG 285s (D Rated) that come on Power Wagons. I did have a slight cupping wear on the 315s mounted on 8 inch wheels, but not bad and still got 55k out of them. 35s would best on at least 8 1/2 wheels to eliminate any cupping issues.

As long as you do not tow heavy I don't think you will have any problems. From what I have seen on forums there are a lot of people running D Rated 35s on 3 gens.

 

I'm pretty sure that a 35 load range D has the same payload as a 245/75 r16 load range E. Or at least they will be darn close.

 

They will be fine... Ran them for a long time.. Keep within the load rating and you wont have any issues... Great tire

 

If you don't haul or pull heavy, you most likely will not have problems. Though the weight rating on the tire may be the same, sidewall flex in the E rated tires will be less. Hence they have D and E rated tires. Especially important for those pulling large trailers, etc. Not so much a factor in your case.

 

I don't have tires like this so I cannot give first-hand experience. BUT I have seen a lot of posts on here describing that even though the load ratings are the same for weight, the E tires have stiffer side walls than D tires and the 3rd Gen trucks drive and steer better with the E tires. Definitely the case for heavy loads, but for light and empty, not sure if it makes a big difference. I love the way my truck has tight, accurate, and predictable steering. If that feature of my truck was compromised I would be unhappy with it.

 

With an unladen or lightly laden truck the "D"s should be fine,especially a mud tire which has thick sidewalls by design. My Bridgestone AT 285-75-16's which I ran on my old '99 blew out on the right front. My total truck weight w/popup camper was 8250# which equals 2075# load per tire. The truck had almost perfect load distribution fore and aft. The Bridgestones were rated at 3305# so I was well under the rated capacity. The tire experienced total separation of tread from the tire body. Within maybe 15-20 secs.,$3300 damage was inflicted to the truck. Make up your own mind. I'm currently running "E" rated Toyo 285's on my '07 and am very pleased.

 

Hey, thanks guys.

Dand, that type of failure under that little of a load sounds more like a defect and not a load rating issue. Thanks for the input though!

 

Yes and no... with the flex of the sidewall comes heat, which can lead to premature failure of the tire. So a D rated flexs more, more heat is generated, and then failure...

 

just be sure to check load and inflation tables for your selected tires, run the right psi and you should be fine.

 

I had BFG 315s on my 03 and towed up to 12,000lb often. I had no problems ever with them. I might have them on my current truck except I have the TPMS system on this truck which requires that I keep an E-Rated tire with high pressure or else I would have to deal with lights and alarms....

 

D's are fine. Most folks run their Es with 50 psi (unloaded) to get a softer ride. I run my BFGs at 60-65 psi and have just as nice of a ride while maintaining the max weight rating of the tires. I went from the Rugged Trail 265s to the BFG KO 285s. If I could get a better price on 285 E tires, I would prefer those. It's hard to beat FREE though on the set I have now.

One thing to note: I think generally speaking, a softer D tire will wear faster than the E.

 

Has not this load range issue also contributed to DEATH WOBBLE because of the weaker sidewall?

 

...not really , because it only seems to happen with the BFG A/Ts , not ALL D rated tires.

I`ve had D rated Coopers and Toyos on my truck for over 3 yrs. with no issues.

 

85,000 miles on two sets of d range tires. never had death wobble! no problems! the bfg ta/ko's i run are a 50,000 miles tire- my last set i got 55,000 miles out of them- i assume i will get the same out of the set.