New Tires? New Truck?

[tylersdad]

I'm currently researching tires for my 2014 Ford F-150 3.5L. I'd like to get LT tires, but the sites that I've been shopping on don't list tires as being P, E, or XL rated. They're listed with a load range of either 109 or 110 and a speed rating of H, R, T, or V.

How do I know which of these are the E or XL rated tires?

[curver900]

go to the manufactures site it will be listed there what is available in the size you are looking at...

[Mad Cow]

Originally Posted by tylersdad

I'm currently researching tires for my 2014 Ford F-150 3.5L. I'd like to get LT tires, but the sites that I've been shopping on don't list tires as being P, E, or XL rated. They're listed with a load range of either 109 or 110 and a speed rating of H, R, T, or V.

How do I know which of these are the E or XL rated tires?

Use Tirerack.com to select your size and then specify E rated tires. Then you can see what brands are available. You could also tweak the tire size a little bit to see more choices. Then buy the tire you select from your favorite retailer who carries it.

[tylersdad]

Originally Posted by Mad Cow

Use Tirerack.com to select your size and then specify E rated tires. Then you can see what brands are available. You could also tweak the tire size a little bit to see more choices. Then buy the tire you select from your favorite retailer who carries it.

I think the problem I'm having is that very few tires are E or XL rated tires in my specific size. I need 265/60R18.

[Mad Cow]

I had a similar issue. I moved up one size and the options increased by 3 fold. Same rims, just next step up in tire size. One added plus was that the speedometer now matches actual road speed. Before, it showed 1 mph faster than I was actually going based on two different GPS units and those roadside digital speed signs.

[Subaru297]

You could try a 275/60R18. It is only 1/2 an inch larger diameter and will change your speedo 1.6%. I don't know if that is a more common size though. Or you can go smaller.
255/60R18.

Cheers

[curver900]

I don't think you will be very happy with E rated tires on a 1/2 ton... XL are probably a better bet... or look at the load ratings 114 or so usually exceeds the GVWR of a 1/2 ton....

[Subaru297]

I just looked on Tirerack and don't see any load range E for a 275/60R18 but I do see two options for your default size. Both are good tires too.
BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A KO2
and
Cooper Discoverer A/T3

A few XL options if you go down a size too.

Cheers

[tylersdad]

Originally Posted by curver900

I don't think you will be very happy with E rated tires on a 1/2 ton... XL are probably a better bet... or look at the load ratings 114 or so usually exceeds the GVWR of a 1/2 ton....

Thanks for the input. I'm mostly wanting to eliminate the flexing of the stock tires on my F150. They're just passenger tires. Do I need to go with XL load rated tires or are any LT tires ok?

[Subaru297]

I had E rated tired on our old F150 and was very happy with them. It is a common upgrade that many people on this forum have done.

[curver900]

Originally Posted by tylersdad

Thanks for the input. I'm mostly wanting to eliminate the flexing of the stock tires on my F150. They're just passenger tires. Do I need to go with XL load rated tires or are any LT tires ok?

I would go with an XL Cooper makes a pretty good tire...

[Ottawasteve]

Originally Posted by tylersdad

I think the problem I'm having is that very few tires are E or XL rated tires in my specific size. I need 265/60R18.

Try searching LT275R6518. That size of tire came stock on my 2010 F150. I think they are a common size for many chev and ram pickups as well.

I am on my 2nd set of Michelin LTX Defenders and they are great for towing, very good snow traction and they are very quiet on the highway.

[Jim Smyth]

I was in the same position as you. Bought a new Ford F150 last November. Also bought a New 28' Rockwood 5er at 7350 empty the same time. Thought I knew all the numbers the F150 could carry but was also mis-informed from Ford salesman on what weights my actual F150 could carry. Ride ended up sucking and bow wave from Large Prevost's passing on the left was eye opening. First time I thought I literally snapped a axle it was shaking me all over the place.

I did everything to keep the F150 since it fit in the garage and had all the bells and whistles. Did Timbrens first, then super springs, then LT tires. Still didnt handle well. Scaled in over on the max rear axle by 200# and over Max vehicle weight by 400# and also over on Payload by 400#. Minor weight infractions but still over none the less.

So I bit the bullet and traded the F150 in on a New F350 Diesel. Then traded the 28' Rockwood in (we settled on the Rockwood due to the F150 weight limits) on what we initially wanted which was a Jayco 28.5' 5er.

Lost 18K in the entire transaction from what we would have initially paid for the second set up. I consider it a learning curve. But now I have all the power I need and I am safe in every aspect and way underweight.

IMO a half ton pulling those kind of weights is not a good idea from my own experiences. I went the first way to save money on gas. The F150 Eco got 18 MPG average (6000 miles of ownership) and 8-9 MPG while towing. My F350 Diesel get 18 MPG on average and 12 MPG towing. So i would have been better off with the F350 from the get go. Only down side is it now doesnt fit in the garage any more.

[SkyBound]

I have to chime in here and agree with what's being said. I am a confident half-ton tower and I will be the first to say that you have to be dang careful with what you decide to hitch on. What is safe and comfortable to tow is often MUCH less than what the truck is rated for. My truck is rated to tow 11,100lb trailer and right now I scale in around 6800lbs loaded and even though my truck handles it well I wouldn't want to tow anything larger. Once this trailer is done, the truck is done too.