LT255/80R17 Load Range E on 2026 Willys?

[CheeseJeeper]

Hello,

First ever post on first ever Jeep. Looking to swap out Falken MT 285/70R17 'C' tires for something quieter that may give better gas mileage. Interim tire for U.P. sand/gravel until we start to flat tow it in a few years with something more like the OEM Falken. Has anyone run an 'E' tire with a taller sidewall like this before? I am wondering if the taller sidewall would minimize the 'E' stiffness. If someone has experience with such a tire, what air pressure did you run?

FYI: The new frame mounted front wheel 'deflector brackets' weigh about 21 lb per side and could not be retrofitted on an earlier model. (I saw someone asking about that.)

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[jadmt]

I run 255/85-17 E load 28-30psi and they ride great. on my JK's I also ran 255/80-17 Falken at3w and it was fine too. the 255/85-17 is a 35x10 and the the 255/80-17 a tall 33" tire.

 

[CheeseJeeper]

Thanks much. That low psi works OK at highway speeds? I have 'E' on my GMC 2500HD which is of course much heavier. Have never tried airing down that much to do a ride quality comparison myself.

 

[The Last Cowboy]

If you don't like the way a C rated tire rides, then don't even consider an E rated tire. And, is there a reason you want a narrower tire?

You would be better off with an SL or XL rated tire. Examples below

https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/cooper-discoverer-rugged-trek/p/119121

https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/nitto-terra-grappler-g3/p/168449

https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/falken-wildpeak-a-t4w/p/152070

https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/toyo-tire-open-country-a-t-iii/p/88615

Many of those above are all terrains. If you search you will find more all season type tires too.

The E rated sidewalls will definitely be tougher. SL sidewalls be be more like a passenger car sidewall, but that's the trade off for a better ride.

 

[jadmt]

Thanks much. That low psi works OK at highway speeds? I have 'E' on my GMC 2500HD which is of course much heavier. Have never tried airing down that much to do a ride quality comparison myself.

has for me for years. never had an issue...speed limits are 75-85mph in my area. my normal normal on road and offroad psi's

 

[CheeseJeeper]

Thanks for the reply. I guess I am just a pizza cutter type of guy. My GMC 2500HD rolls on 245 'E' tires. jadmt mentioned good ride quality with 'E' 255/80 at much lower psi in his reply. I realize this all very subjective. I am waiting to hear back from National Rental at K.I. Sawyer Mich regarding the Rubicon we rented for two weeks last summer. (They still offer them.) I took a pic of the p.o.s. Advanta ATX850 tires it had but just missed the Load Range (SL or E like many companies offer) in my pic. If they were 'E' I think that would work OK for me. I would be very surprised if they were 'SL'!

 

[CheeseJeeper]

Thanks Jeff. Time to go start spraying Fluid Film on the new ride. I still hate the GM waxy coating but at least it is something. Just saw a local story about how brine is being used more here as it is cheaper that rock salt. Boooo!

 

[azwjowner]

255/85 (35 inch) is very different than 255/80 (33 inch). Lots of people run 255/80/17 tires. Around 30-31 PSI would be best. If I go that size, I'm looking at the Toyo R/T Trail, which is load E but 2-ply sidewalls and has very comfortable ride reports.

E.g., https://thebronconation.com/general...n-country-r-t-trail-tire-t.17062/#post-249061

 

[CheeseJeeper]

Thanks azwjowner! That is info I can really use. Only looking at 255/80R17 as my wife does not need it any higher that it is stock!

 

[DieselDan]

Hello,

First ever post on first ever Jeep. Looking to swap out Falken MT 285/70R17 'C' tires for something quieter that may give better gas mileage. Interim tire for U.P. sand/gravel until we start to flat tow it in a few years with something more like the OEM Falken. Has anyone run an 'E' tire with a taller sidewall like this before? I am wondering if the taller sidewall would minimize the 'E' stiffness. If someone has experience with such a tire, what air pressure did you run?

FYI: The new frame mounted front wheel 'deflector brackets' weigh about 21 lb per side and could not be retrofitted on an earlier model. (I saw someone asking about that.)

This is of interest to me because this is my first ever Jeep 2022 Rubicon. I love the look of the 285/70/17 but they are so heavy s and unnecessarily wide. Gr8 for looks pathetic for gas mileage. I'm considering going to a narrower 17" it I fell into a set of nice clean 2024 Gladiator 18" rings. I could mimic the tire wheel combo of my friend's 2018 Sahara on 18's. His Duellers give a smooth, quiet ride. I hate the tire whine. I hardly ever drive off the road except once a year for a Black Hills SD deer hunt and his tires take us everywhere rain or snow. Switching to an 18" run reduces weight as does a shorter sidewall and 1" narrower tire. I love my music and no matter how much sound deadener you use you're going to hear those 17's. Thoughts?

 

[CheeseJeeper]

This is of interest to me because this is my first ever Jeep 2022 Rubicon. I love the look of the 285/70/17 but they are so heavy s and unnecessarily wide. Gr8 for looks pathetic for gas mileage. I'm considering going to a narrower 17" it I fell into a set of nice clean 2024 Gladiator 18" rings. I could mimic the tire wheel combo of my friend's 2018 Sahara on 18's. His Duellers give a smooth, quiet ride. I hate the tire whine. I hardly ever drive off the road except once a year for a Black Hills SD deer hunt and his tires take us everywhere rain or snow. Switching to an 18" run reduces weight as does a shorter sidewall and 1" narrower tire. I love my music and no matter how much sound deadener you use you're going to hear those 17's. Thoughts?

I had also looked at 18" rims. I am assuming that you 2022 came with 285/70r17 Load Range C which are just under 33" diameter. Unless you go to a SL Load Range there isn't a whole lot in C that stays close to 33". A Goodyear Wrangler Enforcer AT (32.9") has only 11/32" of tread depth from the start. No thanks. Your buddy may be riding on SL Duellers which is why they seem so nice. I see many people say that 18" rims (that weigh more than 17") can bend a little more easily. We do the Black Hills as well as the U.P. and I don't want to risk a sidewall failure with an SL tire when going fast enough to stay on top of washboard gravel/dirt roads. I think I am going to end up with BFG Ko3 285/70r17 C which I hope will be an improvement over my OEM Falken MT tires. I flirted with the idea of LT255/80R17 E tires but our roads are pretty nasty and I don't think it is worth the risk of reducing ride quality.

 

[Dishboyjoe]

Thanks azwjowner! That is info I can really use. Only looking at 255/80R17 as my wife does not need it any higher that it is stock!

I’ve done this twice; first on my ‘08 JKUR and recently on my ‘21 JLUW. Both times with Cooper ST Maxx. Gained a little ground clearance, an effective hybrid tread and strong carcass. The E load range doesn’t bother me. Most of my wheeling is on the tote roads in the Maine North woods. Lots of rutted clay and broken shale.

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