Hey all,
I am going to get new tires and am looking at the Nitto Terra Grapplers. I would like to get the 295/70/R17 but they are a Load Range D tire. However, it has the same load rating @ 3195 lbs as my stock range E tires I have on now. I could go with the 285/70/17 range E Nitto Terra's but not sure if they will look as good. So my question is, will I be safe with the 295's being a D but with the same weight rating, or should I deffinately go with the E's in the 285's?
As you can see I obviously haul with my truck, not crazy heavy but sometimes in the 10-12,000lbs range in my gooseneck...

Thanks in advance for any help,
Eric

 

My opinion is that you are safe. I consider the tires as the limiting factor when I am loaded heavy because the axle can take more than the tires. As long as I am within the tire rating, I feel safe.

Nitto says that they can handle that weight, so go with the 295.

 

Thanks, I wasn't sure on how much I should worry about the 10 ply vs. the 8 ply ratings on the sidewall.

 

i did the same thing but bought the 285 70 17 bfg at's. had "e" rated michelin's and went with "d" rated bfg's. took a 2000 mile trip this past summer and had no problems. 17000# combined weight. the mileage fell slightly about 1 mpg, but i'm not worried about it...

 

I was sitting on the fence on the D vs. E rating thing. At the local tire dealer yesterday talking with a sale rep about the 285 D vs. E issues said they sell a lot of D rated tires for HD trucks that tow heavy. Never had any complaints. Except for some cases tire life.
So doing a price check between the Toyo Open Country AT 285/70/17 D vs. E and found there's only a $5 difference between the two at the store.

So tomorrow I'm having E rated 285's installed.

MikeyB

 

I could easily just get the 285 E terra grapplers and be done with it, but not sure if I will like the looks. I know there is not much difference in the 2, maybe just 1/2" or so.

 

It's a tough call.
You know that Toyo makes the OP AT in a 285/75/17 E if wanting a slightly larger tire.

MikeyB

 

now u can take this for what it is worth its just my thought and opinion ( which is what u asked for)


honest we all know that dodge requires e rated on all 2500-3500 trucks and if something happens ( esp if s injury or worse a death happens)and all they can find wrong is the wrong rated tires then they will roll with it

and even if a d rated tire has the same load capacity as the e rated it is still not a 10 ply tire

so if u r standing in court and you are saying but it has the same load capacity and dodge is on the other side saying it does not matter we say e rated 10ply tire to be safe

who do u think the judge is gonna side with

now this scenario is very very far fetched and prob never has happened and maybe never will but do u want to be the first for the sake of a little better looking tire

now we all including me tow overweight sometimes but i try to stay within my legal limits as much as [possible and me for one i dont want to be non-legal every time i leave my driveway

 

grr darn double post

 

I recently put on the 295 Nitto's coming from a 265 E michelin. The Nittos feel just as crisp in regards to the sidewall flex. I don't think you'll have any problems at all. They do look pretty sweet too....it's roughly a 34" tall tire. I got all four of mine from a guy on ebay, 588 free shipping. Not a bad deal...147 bucks a tire. PM me if you want the name...I think he's still selling them.

 

1TonMegacab, I never thought of that, thanks for the heads up. That makes since.

 

I went with the Toyo 285/75's for 185 a tire from treadepot.com and they are an E rated 10 ply tire with a 3970lb @ 80psi load rating (almost as much as 19.5 tire / wheel). Plus they are about 33.8" tall according to Toyo. Scotty

 

i dont want to discourage u from the tire u want and 99.99999% chance those things will never happen

even though i can tow more and still be safe every time i tow my camper i am maxed out out my ratings even with the proper tires

it was just something to think about

i heard a story( true or not i have no clue) about a guy had accident with his camper in tow somebody died and he went to jail or course lost his job and his wife divorced him

and they nailed him for not having the proper rated tires

again that could be a big story just like ford own cummins i have no clue lol

 

Well I appreciate it, and it's not discouraging. 99.99999% of the time I am hauling horses (duh), and may I add, unfortunately EXPENSIVE dang horses too. So I deffinately think it is important in all aspects.

On to the Toyo OCs. Toyo is a great company and I know tread wise the two are somewhat identical, but what puts me over the edge between the two is the sidewall design on the Nittos, they just stand out better IMO.
I can mention now, I HATE TIRE SHOPPING!!!!

 

1tonmegacab's story is not too far out of line. I know first hand with the whole Ford Explorer with Firestones business, their legal arguement was that the tires were not inflated to the numbers posted on the door!! That is a very true statement. The tire that blew was at 34 psi instead of 32 psi!!. (At least the other three were at 34)