Load range C vs D vs E

[UTME]

I found the specs for the soon to be released BFG KO3 37x12.50R17 Load Range C.

According to the site they weigh just under 67 lbs, or just 3 lbs heavier than the KO2 of the same size and load range C. And 7 lbs lighter than the load range F KO3.

They are also approved to be mounted on 8" wide rims, which is what the Rubicon X35 wheels are. So, tire shops can't give you a hard time mounting them.

I got a set of these new ko3 c rated tires when they were finally released on may 1. And mounted them on the xr wheels. Seem to have some crowning despite being slightly narrower than the ko2 315 tires that came on the jeep from the factory. Like someone else said I ran factory tires 55,000 miles and did trails in Colorado and Utah. Never had a flat tire.

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[Ratbert]

My new wheels weigh 24 lbs, my XR wheels weighed around 38-40 lbs.

That's massively lighter.

Remember the old adage about wheels: Cheap, Strong, and Light: pick any two. Hopefully yours are somewhat strong.

 

[stretch-bsn]

I’ve had my ko2 37’s in a C rating for a bit now….Ive wheeled them in winter and spring (hot and cold).

I’ll say this…they are standard for mud and east coast woods wheeling…they don’t do great with dirt, leaves, mossy rocks but again..they are AT tires

Besides that…I love them. I daily them on road they do great. I’ve wheeled them at 12 psi, has the side wall so pinched that I got bark in between the bead and my wheel (had to de-bead the one side to get the bark out) and the tires never even flinched…no leak, no tear, no gouging. So as far as I’m concerned…besides possibly going MT’s at some point….the C rating has been strong as all get out and deformed nicely off roading to give me plenty of traction on everything besides the above mentioned conditions.

 

[Decreasing Dave]

I take your experience and raise it by the fact that I wheeled both desert and Big Bear, plus 2 trips to Moab on KO2 Cs in 315 size. I never even had anything more than scrapes on my sidewalls. You are correct though, tire placement is key.

That said, I just took possession of 37x12.50 17s in KO2 Cs and I hate them. Way too soft. You feel it in ride, braking and especially turning. I drive entirely to much like a maniac to have squishy tires. So I exercised my America's Tire 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee and I have 37x12.50 17 KO2 Ds going on Wednesday.

I loved the C rated 315 KO2s, but I believe that the 37s have too much sidewall for the Cs to be anything but squishy. I was concerned about weight. My new wheels weigh 24 lbs, my XR wheels weighed around 38-40 lbs. The original 315s weighed 62 lbs, the 37s in C weighed in at 64 lbs and I'm sacrificing an additional 5 lbs for my KO2 Ds at 69 lbs. But I should gain handling and stability.

Yes, I'm replying to myself, but 35 years of marriage taught me that I'm the only one that listens when I speak anyway.

I swapped to the 37x12.50 17 load range D tires today. I have to say that I am much happier. The ride is only marginally more firm but the stability is better by far. Admittedly, they are still 37s vs the 315s I came off of so the "car-like handling" the 315s had is gone. I also feel like the Jeep is a foot taller (I know it's not). That said, it definitely handles turns and braking better than the Cs did. The big plus is also looks. The Cs had a bunch of open plain (smooth rubber) on the sidewall where the side lugs didn't come down as far as the Ds. It made the Cs look very tall and skinny. Where as the Ds have more/more pronounced side lugs and are physically a bit wider. The look is better by far.

I will say that I feel the 5 lbs addition from the Cs to the Ds. I'm not nuts. I can feel it. The Cs actually felt like going to them with the weight savings from the change in wheels was an advantage over stock in acceleration and braking, despite going to 37s. The Ds feel like they are about equal to maybe slightly disadvantaged as compared to the 315s, but not horrible by far.

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