Load E or D for Upgrade Tires
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Senior User
Joined: May 2003
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From: Long Island, NY
Load E or D for Upgrade Tires
Hey all, I'm a new member as well as a new owner of a Ford 2002 F250HD Lariat Crew, 4x4 V10 Manual 6. Since owning the vehicle since last July the stock tires (Firestone 265/75/16 Load E) blackwalls just don't do anything for the truck. What I am asking and which seems to be eluding most "experts" in the field; aka dealerships, tire stores etc., is that the above size, according to the experts and Ford, is the only size that is safe for my 8000 lbs. behemoth.
What I am seeking is to add height and look to the seemingly wimpy tires. I love the BF Goodrich ATs with the white lettering and aggressive tread pattern. However, the load rating is only D (8 ply, instead of 10). So what suggestions do you people have for the Meister. I really don't want to get into lifts at this time. Also if I do upgrade the tire, will this affect the odometer? Lastly, to match the larger tires, what shocks should I mate them with?
Thanks for your interest, and looking forward to some real life info.
Tedmeister
What I am seeking is to add height and look to the seemingly wimpy tires. I love the BF Goodrich ATs with the white lettering and aggressive tread pattern. However, the load rating is only D (8 ply, instead of 10). So what suggestions do you people have for the Meister. I really don't want to get into lifts at this time. Also if I do upgrade the tire, will this affect the odometer? Lastly, to match the larger tires, what shocks should I mate them with?
Thanks for your interest, and looking forward to some real life info.
Tedmeister
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From: Cloud USA
Load E or D for Upgrade Tires
Do you do any heavy halling? Load Range D would be fine if you just pull a small boat and go to the lumber yard once and a while. I personaly like the 265/75R16 myself and they are load range E
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Senior User
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From: Long Island, NY
Load E or D for Upgrade Tires
Hey Rossman,
Thanks for answering. I am a builder and have a saddle weatherguard tool box on my bed. I don't do heavy hauling, like sand, bricks etc.
Meister
Thanks for answering. I am a builder and have a saddle weatherguard tool box on my bed. I don't do heavy hauling, like sand, bricks etc.
Meister
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Joined: May 2001
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From: Cabot, Arkansas
Load E or D for Upgrade Tires
I've towed to 18,000 CGVW, and the truck is 7,600 most all the time. Never had any tire issues on "D" 285's, well, I took a piece of rebar through the side wall once, but that wasn't the tires fault 
EDIT: when the bed is loaded heavy I air up to 55-60psi. the 285's get pretty squishy at 45psi loaded
EDIT: when the bed is loaded heavy I air up to 55-60psi. the 285's get pretty squishy at 45psi loaded
Last edited by cookie88; May 17, 2003 at 10:24 AM.
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From: Nome, Alaska
Load E or D for Upgrade Tires
Does the extra rating -- i.e. E rather than D -- mean that the tire may be built a bit more rugged or tougher? I deal with some pretty nasty rocks with sharp points and have debated whether an E rated tire might be more rugged than D, either in same or different size tire -- assuming, of course, that I don't exceed the weight capabilities of either. I have been told that the D rated tire would be more flexible and thus ride more comfortably than the E, but that the E would be more rugged, all other things being equal.
My dilemma is whether to go with 285/75R16D or 265/75R16D or 265/75R16E -- vs oem 235/85R16E -- on a new F250 4X4 [not lifted].
RR
My dilemma is whether to go with 285/75R16D or 265/75R16D or 265/75R16E -- vs oem 235/85R16E -- on a new F250 4X4 [not lifted].
RR
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From: Long Island, NY
Load E or D for Upgrade Tires
Hey RR,
Since the HDs are just that, our trucks are over 8000 lbs. The difference is between 8 or 10 ply tire. 10 is I suppose better to hold the weight of the vehicle, but I, like yourself, is still perplexed when viewing all the other HDs with tall and D rated tires. Perhaps we need some more input from fellow Ford HD owners.
Tedmeister
Since the HDs are just that, our trucks are over 8000 lbs. The difference is between 8 or 10 ply tire. 10 is I suppose better to hold the weight of the vehicle, but I, like yourself, is still perplexed when viewing all the other HDs with tall and D rated tires. Perhaps we need some more input from fellow Ford HD owners.
Tedmeister
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From: Mesa
Load E or D for Upgrade Tires
The 285's are D rated but have a 3300 pound capacity. The E 265's are rated at 3400. Close enough for me! You should look at load rating rather than D or E rating. There are no more 8ply or 10 ply tires either. Most are either 2 or 3 ply.
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Load E or D for Upgrade Tires
Thanks V10 man for the info. Are the 285s just wider than the 265s or taller as well. Any preference in tires?
Tedmeister
Tedmeister
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From: cincinnati oh
Load E or D for Upgrade Tires
I put "D's" on mine. going by their book D's are 3300 lbs ea. with the axle being rated at 6000lbs. I haul fairly heavy loads every day and have done 60000 miles on these without problems.
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From: Nome, Alaska
Load E or D for Upgrade Tires
TedMeister: The best way to compare how tall various tires will be is to go to www.TireRack.com, for example, and run the specs on a particular make and model of tire. The Bridgestone Dueler AT REVO chart:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec.j...ler+A%2FT+Revo
The specs show that the oem size LT235/85R16 tire for the F250 is 32.1" tall, the F250 factory optional size LT265/75R16 is nearly identical at 31.8" and the popular size LT285/75R16 is 33.0". The specs will also show the various load capabilities of the tires. Size and load capabilities for a particular tire size and load range are fairly uniform from make to make. Thus the often stated observation that going from F250 oem 235/85R16E to the F250 optional 265/75R16E basically -- and of course, quite unofficially -- gives you the approximate load capability of an F350 since most components are otherwise the same in equivalent packages for F250 and F350.
The chart tells me that within the rated load capacity of an F250, the capacity of the D range 285/75R16 is plenty. That's why I'm more concerned with how comparatively rugged or flexible the E and D range tires are.
RR
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec.j...ler+A%2FT+Revo
The specs show that the oem size LT235/85R16 tire for the F250 is 32.1" tall, the F250 factory optional size LT265/75R16 is nearly identical at 31.8" and the popular size LT285/75R16 is 33.0". The specs will also show the various load capabilities of the tires. Size and load capabilities for a particular tire size and load range are fairly uniform from make to make. Thus the often stated observation that going from F250 oem 235/85R16E to the F250 optional 265/75R16E basically -- and of course, quite unofficially -- gives you the approximate load capability of an F350 since most components are otherwise the same in equivalent packages for F250 and F350.
The chart tells me that within the rated load capacity of an F250, the capacity of the D range 285/75R16 is plenty. That's why I'm more concerned with how comparatively rugged or flexible the E and D range tires are.
RR
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From: Long Island, NY
Load E or D for Upgrade Tires
Hey RR,
Thanks for the lesson. I think I will now look at 285/75/16 as the tire for my truck. What about the odometer? Will the larger tire affect it? And do you have any recommendation for new shocks for these larger tires.
All help is appreciated.
Tedmeister
Thanks for the lesson. I think I will now look at 285/75/16 as the tire for my truck. What about the odometer? Will the larger tire affect it? And do you have any recommendation for new shocks for these larger tires.
All help is appreciated.
Tedmeister
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Senior User
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From: Long Island, NY
Load E or D for Upgrade Tires
John thanks for the info. Does anyone have a preference in tire manufacturers? BF Goodrich, Brigdestone, Michillen (French, uggh), and how about the odometer? Will the 285s affect it?
Tedmeister
Tedmeister
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Joined: Feb 2000
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From: Mesa
Load E or D for Upgrade Tires
The speedo will be slightly off. It will affect tranny shift points and speedo readings. Now it's only off by a little so some folks live with it. You can go to Ford and have them reprogram the computer to the new size tire. You'll need to know the revolutions per mile of that size. Do a search and you should find the info on how this is done.