Are E rated tires really necessary
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From: Montgomery Al & Destin Fl
Are E rated tires really necessary
I am having a hard time finding a set of E rated tires. I am wanting to get them from SAMS or somewhere else with transferable warranty/repair/rotation service. Does anyone have a suggestion at to what tire I should get. I currently am running the stock Michelin 265-70-17E
Thank You!!
Thank You!!
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From: Cummins Technical Center, IN
Necessary? Well, that depends on how you use your truck. Consider them a must for towing or a slide in camper.
Regardless of use, though-- they are a good idea.
If you've limited yourself to a place that will provide the services you desire, you've limited yourself to their selection as well.
I mail order tires. I rarely if ever rotate and have good long wear. I balance them myself using dynabeads from innovative balancing.
The only "service" I've found worth paying for is a Road Force balance (machine is a Hunder GSP 9700, i think).
Regardless of use, though-- they are a good idea.
If you've limited yourself to a place that will provide the services you desire, you've limited yourself to their selection as well.
I mail order tires. I rarely if ever rotate and have good long wear. I balance them myself using dynabeads from innovative balancing.
The only "service" I've found worth paying for is a Road Force balance (machine is a Hunder GSP 9700, i think).
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From: Chesapeake Va
It all depends on what you do with the truck. Do you carry or tow at max capacity? My experience is the D rated tires have a max inflation of 65 pounds and the E rated tires have a max inflation of 80 pounds. You should get more miles out of the heavier rated tire. I use E rated tires, but only run them at 60 pounds unless I'm carrying a huge load. Both tires have the ability to work for you, just evaluate what you use the truck for. There are also C rated tires, but those are for 1/2 ton trucks, so stay away from those.
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From: Montgomery Al & Destin Fl
Well maybe I should rethink getting them from someone based on service. I have only rotated my tires once in 48K miles and wear seems to be very even. I had never heard of Dyna Beads before. This technology seems pretty solid!! I do tow a good size boat with my truck so the E rated will be a must have then. Now I guess it is to find the best tire for the best price.
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Charleston SC
IRT to your search:
315's are cheaper than 285's, but both are more than 265's
285's in load rated are only top $$ tires.
i've been on
www.tirerack.com searching, and discount tire,
but they won't let you specify load rating as a search parameter, so it takes bit.
Tire Size(s) Being Compared: Tire Size(s) Being Compared:
265/70-17 (Front & Rear) 285/70-17 (Front & Rear)
Pirelli BFGoodrich Pirelli BFGoodrich
Scorpion STR A Rugged Trail T/A Scorpion ATR All-Terrain T/A KO
UTQG Data -* N/A -* -*
Max Load 3195 lbs. 3195 lbs. 3197 lbs. 3195 lbs.
Max Inflation Pressure 80 psi 80 psi 65 psi 65 psi
Tread Depth 12/32" 15/32" 16/32" 16/32"
Tire Weight 49 lbs. 50 lbs. 57 lbs. 54 lbs.
Rim Width Range 7-9" 7-8.5" 7-9" 7.5-9"
Meas. Rim Width 8" 8" 8" 8.5"
Section Width 10.4" 10.4" 11.2" 11.5"
Tread Width N/A N/A N/A N/A
Overall Diameter 31.6" 31.4" 32.7" 32.8"
Revs Per Mile 658 658 636 634
315's are cheaper than 285's, but both are more than 265's
285's in load rated are only top $$ tires.
i've been on
www.tirerack.com searching, and discount tire,
but they won't let you specify load rating as a search parameter, so it takes bit.
Tire Size(s) Being Compared: Tire Size(s) Being Compared:
265/70-17 (Front & Rear) 285/70-17 (Front & Rear)
Pirelli BFGoodrich Pirelli BFGoodrich
Scorpion STR A Rugged Trail T/A Scorpion ATR All-Terrain T/A KO
UTQG Data -* N/A -* -*
Max Load 3195 lbs. 3195 lbs. 3197 lbs. 3195 lbs.
Max Inflation Pressure 80 psi 80 psi 65 psi 65 psi
Tread Depth 12/32" 15/32" 16/32" 16/32"
Tire Weight 49 lbs. 50 lbs. 57 lbs. 54 lbs.
Rim Width Range 7-9" 7-8.5" 7-9" 7.5-9"
Meas. Rim Width 8" 8" 8" 8.5"
Section Width 10.4" 10.4" 11.2" 11.5"
Tread Width N/A N/A N/A N/A
Overall Diameter 31.6" 31.4" 32.7" 32.8"
Revs Per Mile 658 658 636 634
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From: Austin, TX, Toronto, ON
i was just gonna post the exact same question too!!...i need tires...but i never tow...most i have in the truck is a couch for the drive-ins 
..i was looking at D rated tires...285/75/16....but can someone explain to me the whole "ply" concept? how many ply should i be looking for? what do the stock tires have?...i spend 90% of my time on the highway empty
..i was looking at D rated tires...285/75/16....but can someone explain to me the whole "ply" concept? how many ply should i be looking for? what do the stock tires have?...i spend 90% of my time on the highway empty
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Golden, Colorado
I had a terrible experience with sams on getting them to milage warranty my last set of tires. They only lasted 25K and had a 40k warranty. they hassled me about not having them rotate the tires every 6 months, even though I rotated them they didn't care, they hassled me about slight uneven wear accross the tire and they would not do the warranty untill the tread was down to the wear bars on all tires, even if one had 1/32 to the wear bar they wouldn't do it.
And when they rotate/balance the tires for you they just put the tire on the machine and keep adding weights, they don't remove all weights first and start fresh, I always leave with a vibration I didn't go in with its actually better if I just take all their weights off!!
Aaron
And when they rotate/balance the tires for you they just put the tire on the machine and keep adding weights, they don't remove all weights first and start fresh, I always leave with a vibration I didn't go in with its actually better if I just take all their weights off!!
Aaron
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From: Cummins Technical Center, IN
If you want the 265/70r17 size, I'd recommend:
Toyo M55 for an all-terrain tire. This tire is tough as nails, and is HIGHLY regarded.
Toyo H/T for a hwy tire. Hard to find, though.
Bridgeston Dueler A/T-- great tire, especially in wet and light snow.
Michelin LTX M/S-- forget the name, this is not a Mud and snow tire-- but it's awesome on the highway and wears like iron.
Tire Rack has good selection, but doesn't carry Toyo.....
Toyo M55 for an all-terrain tire. This tire is tough as nails, and is HIGHLY regarded.
Toyo H/T for a hwy tire. Hard to find, though.
Bridgeston Dueler A/T-- great tire, especially in wet and light snow.
Michelin LTX M/S-- forget the name, this is not a Mud and snow tire-- but it's awesome on the highway and wears like iron.
Tire Rack has good selection, but doesn't carry Toyo.....
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From: Pike Road, Alabama
Mr T and others - I agree with Hohn. But wanted to add that having Load Range E tires are the only way to go IMHO. So what if you've never hauled anything heavy? What's going to happen when you're brother-in-law's best friend's cousin's aunt's husband dies and she needs some schmoe to lug their camper/boat/5th wheel off to somewhere for some reason because her husband can't. I would not want to do anything substantial unless I had load range E tires on there.
As far as the best, my original Michelins were great, they went 100k miles. At 100k they could've gone a bit farther but were officially worn out and were noticeably less than stellar in the rain.
My current Bridgestone Dueller A/T Revo's are status quo. According to tire rack they are rated as the best one's going at the original tire size (rated better than the Michelins, but not substantially better). I'd have to say that they are at least as good as the Michelins. The look more aggressive, so I think they'd do much better in light off-roading conditions than the Michelins, but they are NO LOUDER. They are quite quiet and handle just as good. Good grip, good rain performance. I bet these duelers would do better in the snow, but I no longer live in Michigan. My fuel mileage appears to be the same.
I paid $750 after tax, tag, title, disposal fee, yada yada yada. And well worth it. That's a bit cheaper than I could have bought them from tire rack and had them installed. I wanted a tire as least as good as what was on there originally, and that's what I have. 100% pleased. And now (as of about 85k miles), probably 85% of my miles are towing. So I have to have a tough tire.
- JyRO
As far as the best, my original Michelins were great, they went 100k miles. At 100k they could've gone a bit farther but were officially worn out and were noticeably less than stellar in the rain.
My current Bridgestone Dueller A/T Revo's are status quo. According to tire rack they are rated as the best one's going at the original tire size (rated better than the Michelins, but not substantially better). I'd have to say that they are at least as good as the Michelins. The look more aggressive, so I think they'd do much better in light off-roading conditions than the Michelins, but they are NO LOUDER. They are quite quiet and handle just as good. Good grip, good rain performance. I bet these duelers would do better in the snow, but I no longer live in Michigan. My fuel mileage appears to be the same.
I paid $750 after tax, tag, title, disposal fee, yada yada yada. And well worth it. That's a bit cheaper than I could have bought them from tire rack and had them installed. I wanted a tire as least as good as what was on there originally, and that's what I have. 100% pleased. And now (as of about 85k miles), probably 85% of my miles are towing. So I have to have a tough tire.
- JyRO
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From: Charleston SC
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=55
it won't cut & paste a table,
Load Range, Ply Rating and Load Pressure for Light Truck Tires
it won't cut & paste a table,
Load Range, Ply Rating and Load Pressure for Light Truck Tires
DTR's 'Wrench thrower...' And he aims for the gusto...
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Smith Valley, NV (sometimes Redwood City, CA)
Originally Posted by mr T
i was just gonna post the exact same question too!!...i need tires...but i never tow...most i have in the truck is a couch for the drive-ins ..i was looking at D rated tires...285/75/16....but can someone explain to me the whole "ply" concept? how many ply should i be looking for? what do the stock tires have?...i spend 90% of my time on the highway empty
..i was looking at D rated tires...285/75/16....but can someone explain to me the whole "ply" concept? how many ply should i be looking for? what do the stock tires have?...i spend 90% of my time on the highway emptyMost modern tires of the type we're talking about are 2 ply sidewall tires with tread belts that give them 3 or 5 plys on the running surface. They are called, typically, 8 (or some other number) ply RATED. Rated is the clue here. From a manufacturer's point of view, rated means they are similar to some other tire that used to be made, and maybe you are familiar with, that actually had 8 plys, but this one doesn't, but we want you to think it does because 2 ply sounds wimpy.
Consider the load rating as your guide. I have 285 D that will carry the same as 265 E. I would have gotten E if they were available in the 285 BFGs I wanted, but they weren't. However, I am operating in the range they are rated for and I am very happy with them. The BFG is a very good tire with 3 ply sidewalls and loaded heavy I get no sway that can be caused by a weak tire. These are not some passenger car tires that are barely more than inner tubes with tread.
When someone asks if they should get load rating E tires it is a hard question to answer. Each person should get what they think is best considering the intended use of the truck and the manufacturers recommendations. A blanket statement that says "you must get load E tires" is a bit extreme. I can demonstrate why Load D tires are better and safer in my situation, so that is what I have.
Wetspirit
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From: Austin, TX, Toronto, ON
Originally Posted by Wetspirit
Forget the whole "ply" concept. It's designed to be misleading. Look at the load rating, such as "D" or "E".
Most modern tires of the type we're talking about are 2 ply sidewall tires with tread belts that give them 3 or 5 plys on the running surface. They are called, typically, 8 (or some other number) ply RATED. Rated is the clue here. From a manufacturer's point of view, rated means they are similar to some other tire that used to be made, and maybe you are familiar with, that actually had 8 plys, but this one doesn't, but we want you to think it does because 2 ply sounds wimpy.
Consider the load rating as your guide. I have 285 D that will carry the same as 265 E. I would have gotten E if they were available in the 285 BFGs I wanted, but they weren't. However, I am operating in the range they are rated for and I am very happy with them. The BFG is a very good tire with 3 ply sidewalls and loaded heavy I get no sway that can be caused by a weak tire. These are not some passenger car tires that are barely more than inner tubes with tread.
When someone asks if they should get load rating E tires it is a hard question to answer. Each person should get what they think is best considering the intended use of the truck and the manufacturers recommendations. A blanket statement that says "you must get load E tires" is a bit extreme. I can demonstrate why Load D tires are better and safer in my situation, so that is what I have.
Wetspirit
Most modern tires of the type we're talking about are 2 ply sidewall tires with tread belts that give them 3 or 5 plys on the running surface. They are called, typically, 8 (or some other number) ply RATED. Rated is the clue here. From a manufacturer's point of view, rated means they are similar to some other tire that used to be made, and maybe you are familiar with, that actually had 8 plys, but this one doesn't, but we want you to think it does because 2 ply sounds wimpy.
Consider the load rating as your guide. I have 285 D that will carry the same as 265 E. I would have gotten E if they were available in the 285 BFGs I wanted, but they weren't. However, I am operating in the range they are rated for and I am very happy with them. The BFG is a very good tire with 3 ply sidewalls and loaded heavy I get no sway that can be caused by a weak tire. These are not some passenger car tires that are barely more than inner tubes with tread.
When someone asks if they should get load rating E tires it is a hard question to answer. Each person should get what they think is best considering the intended use of the truck and the manufacturers recommendations. A blanket statement that says "you must get load E tires" is a bit extreme. I can demonstrate why Load D tires are better and safer in my situation, so that is what I have.
Wetspirit
