Load Range D tires?

Plowtoy · 05-19-2015, 12:47 PM

Looking to replace the tires on our 03 F250. I would like to move up to a 285/75/16 instead of the 265/75/16 it came with to fill in the wheel wells a bit. The problem is a 285 in the tire brand I want is not available with white letters (which I like) in a load range E. My tire guy tells me that a 285 LR D has the same carring capasity that the 265 LR E has. All that being said, the dry hitch weight is supposed to be 1880lbs on the 5th wheel the truck will be towing, which means that each rear tire will be holding about 940lbs plus cargo. LR D tires in the brand i am wanting carry 3505lbs each. What do you think, would I be safe? Thanks, Dave

Russ661 · 05-19-2015, 01:06 PM

So your loaded weight will be around 2700 pounds total, right? Lets call it 3000 because I like round numbers. The tires carry 3505 pounds EACH so your safe weight is 7010 pounds, more than twice your loaded weight. I think you'll be fine.

blderman · 05-19-2015, 01:41 PM

I have never seen a D range tire rated the same as an E. When I bought my F350 the previous owner had install D range tires on it and they were way too spongy for towing/hauling.

Seann45 · 05-20-2015, 05:59 AM

Your tire guy is full of manure.. find a new one that is honest and not just trying to make a sale.

Plowtoy · 05-20-2015, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blderman

I have never seen a D range tire rated the same as an E. When I bought my F350 the previous owner had install D range tires on it and they were way too spongy for towing/hauling.

My biggest fear is belt seperation. Im looking at BFGoodrich All terrian KO (maybe the K02 which is availible in an E white letter). I've been running those tires for years, however, several years ago I had a set that every one broke a belt. I was told there was a period of time they were having issues, but the only other thing I could relate it too, was the 5th wheel. Maybe it was a tire issue, but not sure. Those were load range D, but 265s (not sure what the capasity was)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seann45

Your tire guy is full of manure.. find a new one that is honest and not just trying to make a sale.

Looking at the TireRack website specs for those tires, a 295 LR D is 3415lbs (i cant find a 285 in a D on their site), and a 265 is the exact same in an E so I have no reason to believe he is lieing, it just doesn't seem right to me either.

I was about 90lbs off on my orignal post, but if the 285 d's truely are the same capasity as the 265 e's I should still be good? The true "Dutch" in me is really wanting to buy the origanal BFG instead of the new style KO2. I know that tire will meet my traction needs, just not 100% sure it will meet our towing needs. The KO2 is slightly differant tread pattern. Although it should meet the traction needs, it would be an E so I could be guranteed it would meet the towing needs. A set of K02 would be about $100 more.

Seann45 · 05-20-2015, 08:43 AM

Load Range D will have a weaker sidewall.. you will get more tire "squirm" going down the highway.. and with a trailer behind you that is not a good thing. Are white letters really that important?

Plowtoy · 05-20-2015, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seann45

Are white letters really that important?

Yes and no. The last set I put on were black letters and it just looks so plain. You would be surprised on how much those tiny little white letters change the appearance of the vehicle (IMO). I should just go for the new KO2 and be done with it... Its just hard to spend almost a grand for tires, and that doesn't include mounting and balancing which I do myself... $800 sounds a little better...

blderman · 05-20-2015, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plowtoy

Yes and no. The last set I put on were black letters and it just looks so plain. You would be surprised on how much those tiny little white letters change the appearance of the vehicle (IMO). I should just go for the new KO2 and be done with it... Its just hard to spend almost a grand for tires, and that doesn't include mounting and balancing which I do myself... $800 sounds a little better...

I put Cooper AT3 285/70/18E on my F150 for less than $800 out the door. And they are very good tires. I wouldn't spend the extra cash on the KO2.

Scoutr2 · 05-20-2015, 11:22 AM

There is a reason they make D rated and E rated tires - because the E's can carry more weight. That's mainly due to the heavier sidewalls. I agree with the others - your tire guy just wants to make a sale. And even if they do carry the same weight, the sidewalls on the D's would be more flexible and handling would be terrible.

Stick with the tire ratings that came on your truck. The suspension is designed and tuned to them.

Plowtoy · 05-20-2015, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blderman

I put Cooper AT3 285/70/18E on my F150 for less than $800 out the door. And they are very good tires. I wouldn't spend the extra cash on the KO2.

Although I haven't purchased a set of Coopers since 2000, ive never had good wear out of them. Even run at the vehicle required pressures, they wear in the center before the edges. They are a nice "round" tire, meaning they always balance out with little weight, not sure im up for premature wear as i have experaniced in the past. Ive thought about general grabber at2, which look real close, its something to think about I guess.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scoutr2

Stick with the tire ratings that came on your truck. The suspension is designed and tuned to them.

That is probably the part that is making this choice so hard. Being an ASE certifed mechanic, I get it... Just really makes me wonder IF i could get away with it, but I know the truck does call for LR E 265's. I guess, the part that keeps holding me up, is the carrying capasity of the 285s and that being the size I really want.

Im really leaning towards the KO2's in the 285 E's. I just wish someone had 2 Goodyear Wrangler Silent armors laying around that were in good condition. The lack of rotation from the previous owner chewed 2 of them up, but the other 2 are 50-75% tread remain.

blderman · 05-20-2015, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plowtoy

Although I haven't purchased a set of Coopers since 2000, ive never had good wear out of them. Even run at the vehicle required pressures, they wear in the center before the edges. They are a nice "round" tire, meaning they always balance out with little weight, not sure im up for premature wear as i have experaniced in the past. Ive thought about general grabber at2, which look real close, its something to think about I guess.

That is probably the part that is making this choice so hard. Being an ASE certifed mechanic, I get it... Just really makes me wonder IF i could get away with it, but I know the truck does call for LR E 265's. I guess, the part that keeps holding me up, is the carrying capasity of the 285s and that being the size I really want.

Im really leaning towards the KO2's in the 285 E's. I just wish someone had 2 Goodyear Wrangler Silent armors laying around that were in good condition. The lack of rotation from the previous owner chewed 2 of them up, but the other 2 are 50-75% tread remain.

Cooper Tires now are entirely different tire than the ones they made 15yrs ago. The AT3 is a highly rated tire for wear, traction and durability.

etex211 · 05-20-2015, 05:08 PM

One thing you may not be considering is that putting on the taller tires will have the same effect as a higher gear ratio. I know that one size doesn't sound like much, but it will be enough of a difference to notice. Your truck will have to work harder to pull the trailer.

I don't recommend it.

Paintinfool3 · 05-20-2015, 05:55 PM

I just put discoverer at3 tires on my f 350 and I love them

djtho1 · 05-20-2015, 07:50 PM

I just replaced a set of cooper at 3's on my 2000 dually. I did not like their wear characteristics and did not feel they were as stable as other at tires I have used in the past. I have Firestone ATs now and they are better. I have also run Toyo at and at 2's with great success.

I know this is about the tires, but have you put any thought into the effects the tire will have on your towing? Are you correcting the speedo? Your shifting will also be off (with an auto) and you won't be able to brake quite as well. Just some thoughts. I don't mean to offend.

Scoutr2 · 05-21-2015, 06:55 AM

I just put Firestone Transforce tires on my 2500HD and like them a lot. It came with Bridgestones, which wore out in about 35K miles. I replaced them with another set, and at 70K, they were in need of replacement again. So I went with the Firestones this time. So far, so good.

Plowtoy · 05-21-2015, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by etex211

One thing you may not be considering is that putting on the taller tires will have the same effect as a higher gear ratio. I know that one size doesn't sound like much, but it will be enough of a difference to notice. Your truck will have to work harder to pull the trailer.

I don't recommend it.

Understood... Being a V10 I dont suspect that its going to make a huge differance. The 5th it will be towing (about 6-8 times each summer at most) is just about 12k gross. Being its a shared truck between my wife and I and my folks, they are the ones using it for towing the 5th wheel. He was towing it with a 7.3 cc sb, but since we were killing that truck by not driving it, we down graded to a gasser. He's going to have to learn that the new truck wont handle the job nearly as well as the diesel, which is o.k. by me. He would tend to let the rig get away from him with the diesel, and before you knew it, he was running 70+ down the freeway. When we convoy, I usually try to keep it 60-65 max. The truck on a good year will get 5000 miles on it. those miles are working miles though. If its not towing, its plowing snow.

Quote:

Originally Posted by djtho1

I know this is about the tires, but have you put any thought into the effects the tire will have on your towing? Are you correcting the speedo? Your shifting will also be off (with an auto) and you won't be able to brake quite as well. Just some thoughts. I don't mean to offend.

pretty much the same as above, but according to my TOMTOM, the speedo is about 3-4 mph slow now. So by upgrading the tire size, that should put me real close to dead on.

I havent made the purchase yet, but talking with the wife last night, I decided that i am going to go with the KO2 BFG. It will be load range E and white letter. I am just hoping that the pattern hasnt changed enough to cause traction issues while plowing. I know the origanals work very well in the snow, so hopefully these will to. Many of my clients live in the dunes on Lake Michigan. At 4 in the morning, its hard to call a friend if I get stuck, and with the BFG, i have pretty much elimanated getting stuck (this past winter, not once). I have used other brand tires out there, but havent had nearly the close calls (sliding down the hills) with the BFG's as I have with other name brand tires

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