Load range C vs D vs E

[Wabujitsu]

I bet they end up being about 33.5-33.6 when mounted on the jeep..if you park on a flat surface at 30psi and use a level to measure a front tire and see what you get. like this. by the way I am a big fan of Toyo quality and also have no issues with E rated tires...

Jeff, I’m sorry, I will get the measurement today.

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[roaniecowpony]

...

In the end, if it helps you sleep at night to run a D-range tire, then go for it. But understand that it's for nothing more than your own comfort, and E-range is just a waste.

It's not about sleep, comfort or waste, it's about getting through a trail without a flat or multiple flats. My experience, my decision.

 

[Wabujitsu]

Or because they use better materials that weren't available when those older heavier tires were developed. Tire technology advances just like everything else.

D-range and E-Range tires are built for 10k+ GVWR. You can load a 4400lb Wrangler all you want and you aren't going to surpass the limit of C-range tires. I can't even do it on my 5500lb (dry) Silverado with far higher tow/haul limits.

Automakers spec their vehicles with tires from the factory that are more than sufficient for the max tow/haul payload that the vehicle is rated for. You would have to exceed those numbers pretty significantly to justify a higher load-range tire. Now I know that guys with half-ton pickups that tow high profile loads close to the limit like to go up a load range for stability...but again we're talking about towing 30ft+ trailers that weigh 9-10k lbs. That's a couple leagues out of the Wrangler's range of abilities.

In the end, if it helps you sleep at night to run a D-range tire, then go for it. But understand that it's for nothing more than your own comfort, and E-range is just a waste.

That makes total sense for just towing on-road, but for folks who regularly off-road in sharp rocks and boulders, while aired-down, they want thicker sidewalls to protect against punctures, chipping, and slicing. Those features are provided by a heavier tire with a higher load rating.

Like @Ratbert, load rating is not my highest priority, but I do consider it, for sidewall durability in tough spots. I look at the tread pattern, the reviews that correspond to my use case, the tread warranty, and the feature comparisons with other tires.

 

[Terrymo]

It's not about sleep, comfort or waste, it's about getting through a trail without a flat or multiple flats. My experience, my decision.

Warning, anecdotal “evidence”. 5 Jeeps do a trail in SoCal with sharp rocks and roots on embankments with narrow sections and forced lines making them unavoidable. The two of us with OEM KO2s are at Americas Tire the following day with cut sidewalls. The other KO2 owner has decades of off-road experience. The other 3 with Mickey Thompson Baja Boss MTs had nothing more than scrapes on their sidewall. Not conclusive, but enough for me to not recommend KO2s on similar trails.

 

[roaniecowpony]

Warning, anecdotal “evidence”. 5 Jeeps do a trail in SoCal with sharp rocks and roots on embankments with narrow sections and forced lines making them unavoidable. The two of us with OEM KO2s are at Americas Tire the following day with cut sidewalls. The other KO2 owner has decades of off-road experience. The other 3 with Mickey Thompson Baja Boss MTs had nothing more than scrapes on their sidewall. Not conclusive, but enough for me to not recommend KO2s on similar trails.

I'm sure it has as much to do with where you wheel as what you wheel. Where I wheel in the southwest, something is always trying to poke a hole in my tires. The southeastern deserts of AZ, where I quail hunt, have mesquite thorns about the size and shape of a horseshoe nail. No exaggeration, they are about 2" or more in length, sharp, and strong. My dog stepped on one and it went clear through her paw and stuck out over an inch. I've seen them flatten a few tires. Rocks seem to be shaped like spears everywhere I end up wheeling. I'm always conscious of tire placement for fear of a rock puncturing a tire. But, when they're on every square foot of ground, I just cringe.

 

[Snacktime]

FYI Goodyear Wrangler M/T are widely considered garbage in the Bronco world where they come stock.

Tires are a huge guessing game of what you anticipate to run into. What you are willing to put up with vs max traction. If you value road comfort you are giving up something. Its give and take that is why we have so many options.

 

[Ratbert]

Snow, rain, dirt, mud, gravel, boulders, cornering, steering response, braking, accelerating, comfort, noise, weight, puncture-resistance / sidewall strength, sidewall deformation abilities, load carrying capacity, rock throwing, treadwear lifespan, fuel efficiency, price, speed rating, aesthetics, ability to be balanced, etc. all are part of the decision making process.

Every tire is a compromised set of these characteristics. Compromise, of course, means you're sacrificing something to focus on other things that are more important to you.

 

[James Westfall]

FYI Goodyear Wrangler M/T are widely considered garbage in the Bronco world where they come stock.

To be fair, just about every OEM tire in history is considered garbage. Part of that is upgrade bias but a bigger part is simply the fact that many times more owners of a particular vehicle have that tire. You see the same effect with KO2's here and on the Raptor forums. Talk to Silverado owners about Duratracs...you'll hear the exact same thing. My experience with OEM tires has been that they tend to be among the better choices for that vehicle...often times they are designed specifically FOR that vehicle. Better yet, they are plentiful and easy to find.

 

[3TV]

I'm sure it has as much to do with where you wheel as what you wheel. Where I wheel in the southwest, something is always trying to poke a hole in my tires. The southeastern deserts of AZ, where I quail hunt, have mesquite thorns about the size and shape of a horseshoe nail. No exaggeration, they are about 2" or more in length, sharp, and strong. My dog stepped on one and it went clear through her paw and stuck out over an inch. I've seen them flatten a few tires. Rocks seem to be shaped like spears everywhere I end up wheeling. I'm always conscious of tire placement for fear of a rock puncturing a tire. But, when they're on every square foot of ground, I just cringe.

I definitely agree that it makes a difference where you wheel. More anecdotal evidence upcoming ...
I remember back when I had a TJ on 35s and spent most of my time developing trails for the local 4x4 club that hosted a yearly event in southwest UT. Many of our trails were newly developed trails. New trails have sharp edges on the rocks, whereas older trails have rocks with more rounded off edges that are no longer as sharp. One summer I developed a trail up a wash bottom that connected two previously existing trails. Initially it required winching in two places, but with some work it was able to be done with difficulty but not requiring a winch. It took about two months to develop 1/2 mile of trail, and in those two months I had 3 out of 4 BFG AT tires suffer severe unrepairable sidewall cuts from sharp rocks. I ended up replacing that set of tires with Interco TSL bias ply tires and never got a flat on the same terrain. Other than BFG tires that come stock on a new vehicle I have never purchased another BFG tire. BFG tires are for people that drive their Jeep on pavement, with perhaps a graded dirt forest service road thrown in once in a while.

 

[mgroeger]

I definitely agree that it makes a difference where you wheel. More anecdotal evidence upcoming ...
I remember back when I had a TJ on 35s and spent most of my time developing trails for the local 4x4 club that hosted a yearly event in southwest UT. Many of our trails were newly developed trails. New trails have sharp edges on the rocks, whereas older trails have rocks with more rounded off edges that are no longer as sharp. One summer I developed a trail up a wash bottom that connected two previously existing trails. Initially it required winching in two places, but with some work it was able to be done with difficulty but not requiring a winch. It took about two months to develop 1/2 mile of trail, and in those two months I had 3 out of 4 BFG AT tires suffer severe unrepairable sidewall cuts from sharp rocks. I ended up replacing that set of tires with Interco TSL bias ply tires and never got a flat on the same terrain. Other than BFG tires that come stock on a new vehicle I have never purchased another BFG tire. BFG tires are for people that drive their Jeep on pavement, with perhaps a graded dirt forest service road thrown in once in a while.

What trail are you referring too?

 

[3TV]

It was a trail called Wild Wild West. It was pretty hard core in its time, but it no longer exists. Land development and growth of natural vegetation have reclaimed it.

 

[alphawolff]

I'd strongly recommend getting the load range C stock 35"s from the 392s. By far one of the best riding tires out there. I would never go above load range D, as E just ride hard as hell.

Jeep had them specially made for them as normally 35"s never come in C.

 

[mgroeger]

It was a trail called Wild Wild West. It was pretty hard core in its time, but it no longer exists. Land development and growth of natural vegetation have reclaimed it.

If you are referring to the Wild West trail located next to Skull Canyon up in Cedar I believe it does still exist. I used to see buggies parked on Bumblebee Rd. all the time going to run those two trails. I walked Skull Canyon and it was no joke either. I entertained taking my Jeep back there but never got anyone to go w me and it was too dicey to do alone.

 

[Snacktime]

To be fair, just about every OEM tire in history is considered garbage. Part of that is upgrade bias but a bigger part is simply the fact that many times more owners of a particular vehicle have that tire. You see the same effect with KO2's here and on the Raptor forums. Talk to Silverado owners about Duratracs...you'll hear the exact same thing. My experience with OEM tires has been that they tend to be among the better choices for that vehicle...often times they are designed specifically FOR that vehicle. Better yet, they are plentiful and easy to find.

They are the best tire for fuel economy, handling and pavement. Once you hit dirt with a vehicle you are now the .0001% of vehicle owners.

 

[3TV]

If you are referring to the Wild West trail located next to Skull Canyon up in Cedar I believe it does still exist. I used to see buggies parked on Bumblebee Rd. all the time going to run those two trails. I walked Skull Canyon and it was no joke either. I entertained taking my Jeep back there but never got anyone to go w me and it was too dicey to do alone.

That is the exact trail I am referring to. I was last out there a year ago, and I saw very little remnants of a trail. It is nice to know some buggies are still using it. Now I need to head out there again and check it out. Thanks.

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