These tire sizes lose me. Went to the tire dealer and looked at the all terrains I want. The size I want only comes in D rating, but the max load weight is higher than the same tire in a smaller size with an E rating. So do I go with the highest load rating or the D-E rating to get the sturdiest tire.

 

If you got a 2500 get the d's if you want if you got a 3500 get the e's.

 

If the door placard says load range E, I would suggest replacement tires be load range E. Not starting any Tire wars, lots of guys run load range D here.

With all the lawyers involved in everything, if you are involved in an accident with load range D tires and your door placard says load range E, you run the risk of being caught up in a battle of lawyers.

Size doesn't really mean anything to LOAD RANGE. It's the construction of the tire that determines it's load carrying capacity. The tires are stamped according to a publication put out by The Tire And Rim Association (for P metric or LT sizes). Non P or non LT stamped tires are stamped according to JATMA, or ETRTO publication (235/75R15 for example instead of P235/75R15)

 

My confusion comes in the fact that the load range D tire had a higher weight rating than the E did.

 

That is correct in some cases. Many Load Range 'E' tires are considered Dual load tires, meaning for use in a dually setup and they will be stamped lower weight per tire in dual mode versus single mode. It's not uncommon for a smaller size Load Range E to have lower load ratings than a larger size Load Range D.

The load stamping is determined by the size of the tire, not the load range of the tire. The load Range is determined by the Manufacturer of the tire and the testing parameters.

 

A larger load range D tire can have equal or greater load capacity (pounds per tire) molded into the sidewall than a smaller load range E tire. The LT235/85R-16E tires on my dually are rated 3042 lbs per tire @ 80 PSIG inflation pressure in single wheel applications, less in dual applications because the adjacent tires can't get rid of the heat as efficiently. There are larger load range D tires available for the 2500s that have a higher rating at 60 PSIG inflation pressure than my load range E tires' 3042 lbs per tire. Conversely, the tires on my 5th wheel are LT235/85R-16G (load range G) - the same size as the truck tires - but are rated at 3750 lbs per tire @ 110 PSIG inflation pressure.

Rusty

 

Will the larger load range D tire perform as well( handling) as the smaller load range E tire. Will there be a lot of give in the sidewall when cornering etc.

 

Yes.

Even driving down the road you get sidewall flex letting you drift back and forth between the lines.
Turn the wheel, sidewall flexes a bit before the tire starts turning so you tend to oversteer
(or is that understeer?).


phox

 

Hate to bring back an old thread, but I'v been out a town and just catching up. So if I am understanding this right the differance in the D and E load ratings is referring to the sidewall. I am still asking because in the same tire, the E rated tires I am looking at are weight rated around 600 pounds less in the smaller size than the D rated tires in the larger size. I'm so confused!!!

 

IMHO D's are fine for a daily driver truck but if you are towing, particularly anything heavy, you will certainly want the E's. As mentioned tire construction is more important than the weight rating of a tire, and this is particularly true if you are towing heavy.

 

I do a lot of heavy towing with this truck, but it also sees it's share of off road through the pastures. Why can't they make a good aggressive tire in an E range. I had the truxxus radials on there that were E's, they were made for rock crawling and they were great. The only drawback was they were bald within 15000mi.

 

I know Toyo MT's are are pretty agressive and come in load range E but I think their sizes may be limited. Also Mickey Tompson is coming out with a fairly agressive E rated tire.

 

Nitto makes a 305/70 R16 in E range with a capacity of 3525lb at 65PSI, they are called the Terra Grapplers

 

Here is a Kuhmo in the same size.

http://www.kumhousa.com/Products/Ptn...=2&PtnID=KL-41

 

my load range e's are rated at 3895 pounds @ 80 psi (cold), so i dont see a problem. I run LT265/85R16.