Hey guys, I am looking at buying a set of Cooper Discoverer A/T's(LT265-70-17's) for the rig. Getting a real good buy on them. Only problem is, they are Load Range C. I looked it up and it works out to 2459lbs max load. I assume this is the set, not each tire? Will I be OK running these on my truck (see sig)? The most I tow is 8000 lbs (TT). I like the Coopers, had them on the last rig and they were great for tread life and traction, but, my last rig was a 1/2T. What do ya'll think? Thanks -Steve

 

if it were me i would keep looking for a nother deal.
Dan

 

Coopers are great, however, there is nothing wrong with BFG's on the truck as long as keep them properly inflated for the task and rotate them every 3months to 7500 miles. I currently have 25k on mine and still have 11/32 left and they look almost brand new. At this rate they will last another 25k miles
I have no problems here in the great NW in the rain or even in the ice that we had this winter.
IMO I would stick with somthing that is rated E load range or better. That truck you have is pretty heavy you know

 

load range C may wear out sooner on a heavy truck. That's what I was told when I bought my BFGs load range E. Makes sense to me.

 

SuperGewl.. what pressures do you run. It seems that an empty rear psi of 40 is a tad low.

 

Personally, I wouldn't get anything lower than a D rated tire on these rigs. Like mentioned above, they are pretty heavy and having a blowout wouldn't be too much fun.

 

IMHO load range D is bordering on pushing it. I would call you a thrill seeker if you went with C's.

 

I run the fronts and rears at 50psi right now. I tried the 50 front and 40 rear for awhile it it was ok until I got my 5VR hitch installed. Then I decide to run 50/50 do to the weight of the hitch, 355lbs

 

WOW. Don't get load range C. 2459 PER TIRE thats at MAX PSI.

Stick with LR E. I wouldn't even bother with LR D.

You may be legally able to tow with these but I'd never do it. What's the tongue weight of your 8000# trailer?

Say your truck weighs 4500# in the front then you've got about 400# room in the front, and say it weighs 3000# in the rear, then you have 1500# of tongue weight beforer you are over either of the tire weighs. That's at MAX psi, no less.

 

Check with your insurance carrier first. Under rated tires might be a liability if you were to have a blowout/tire failure and cause a crash. I wouldn't even think of putting C on my truck. Stock they came with E. My 285 BFG are D (only ones I could get)

 

As others have stated don't get anything less than load range D, and nothing less than about a 3000 lb max load. From what I've figured load range and load index/maximum load are one of those 'same but different' things. Load index is something like '113' (too low for our trucks) or '121' (good rating for our trucks), which is the same as maximum load, like '3095 lbs at 80 psi', which is a good rating for our trucks. Load range also takes into conderation side loads, for things like towing and hauling heavy payloads, where load range 'E' is what comes on our truucks. Some of the load range 'D' tires, the 285-70-17 BFG ATs for example, have maximum loads around 3000 lbs but it's usually at a max psi of 65 lbs, unlike the 80 lbs on the stock Michelin LTX A/S load range E.

There are only two 17in load range E tires that I know of, the stock BFG and Michelin. Toyo initially was listing a new 17in load range E in their Open Country AT, but as the listing has matured it seems that they've used a load index suitable for our trucks but have dropped the load range E rating. The only studded 17in load range D tire that I've found is a Maxxis 'Buckshot Mudder'.

 

Actually there are other tires for our trucks, I think there are General & Goodyear tires. DC just started putting the Generals on the 04.5's. "Don't qute me on the name but it's the same tire that GM usually uses"

 

Thanks for the input guys, I decided to go w/ BFG Rugged Trail T/A's. They are available w/ a load range "E". I talked to another 03 CTD owner from Alaska who had them on his rig ( I guess they came on the rig? I wish I had gotten them instead of the LTX A/S). Said they got great traction in the snow, which is my main concern since I'll be moving to Anchorage this September. You guys steered me in the right direction, so thanks. I was thinking range C wasn't going to cut it, which is why I asked. Always good advice around here -Steve

 

Guys before I started towing heavy (26000 to 30000 lbs.) I ran LTX 265-75 C rated they did fine and rode a heck of alot better than E rated tires. From what I can tell the rubber compound is the same between the two? I've got Bridgestone Rivo's 265-75-16 E rated now they grip real well but BAD wear!!!! I had 7000 miles on them and went to rotate them back tires HALF wore out! If I weren't hauling more than 8000 lbs I wouldn't hesitate to run C rated tires.

 

I mean I haul 7000 lbs. behind a Yukon?