I'm getting ready to buy some new tires. The Ex is a 2000 4x4 v10. Wife uses it as a kid hauler around town and then I plan to pull a new 9000 lb travel trailer on several trips this summer. Next summer we plan on taking some longer camping trips, possibly out west to national parks, etc.

I'm in the process of upgrading to v and b code springs, adding a rear sway bar, replacing shocks with Billstein and replacing front sway bar links and bushings.

The tires will follow.

Currenty it has LT285/75 R 16 Toyo Open Country A/Ts load range D from the previous ownwer. I want to go to Michelin LTX A/T-2. Based on what Ive read it seems load range E is much better for towing. My concern is the stiffer sidewall will degrade the ride quality but how much? When it comes down to priorities, the towing stability is more important than a minor loss in ride quality.

My door sticker says LT 265 75 R16 "D". I like the look of the wider 285 the original owner installed so I will most likely keep that sizing.

Can someone offer their suggestions based on their experience and what the pros and cons of the different load ranges are?


Thanks!

 

Based on your intended usage, I'd suggest E rated tires and put a pillow under your butt to compensate for the rougher ride. If it were mine, I'd let some air out of the E-rated tires when doing the kid hauling.....then air them up when you tow.

 

Play it safe and go with the E. I've had both and never a problem with either. The X is so heavy, E is best for it.

 

I believe I had read on the forums at one point that Ford had a recall on the tires early on and to change to E rated tires. That would fall inline with your door sticker having the information about D rated tires.

The recall may have only been for Diesels but I believe you would be much safer with the E rated tires.

Tim M

 

Towing near the limit, no question you should have E's on there, not even a consideration to me. It's a stronger tire and adds some extra measure of safety.

 

Get Es and run the pressures you run now when not towing. You'll have the best of both.

Mark

 

Based on my eperience with my Excursion and D vs E rated tires I would never put D rated tires on an Ex and let anybody drive it. At least no one you like. When I bought my 2002 V-10 Limited Excursion it had new Michelin LTX AT2 E rated tires on it [Highly recommend them]. I had no issues with steering wander or any of those problems we read about on here.

I took my Ex to a local mechanic and he installed ball joints and manual hubs on my truck, the next day I took it to another guy and had new tires put on. This guy hauls a 30' Race car trailer all over the east coast going to races and I told him I needed tires rated for my Ex. thinking he would know what tires to get. He installed D rated tires. I took it to another guy for a front end alignment thinking ball joints or something were causing the issues. That mechanic said it was the worst vehicle he has ever drove. After all that I checked the tires and found I had D rated tires, now I know what my problem is. it is scary now. Buy the Michelins.

 

I would drive on the wheels before relying on Ds.

 

I just got 4 new Michelin LTX M/S2 tires last weekend and just drove 270 miles on them today on the Interstates, 300 more miles tomorrow.

LOVE THESE TIRES.

Have to check what tire pressure they are at, might be lower than the 65 I used to run my prior set at (michelin LTX M/S). Just put new Michelins on the wife's Explorer and our son's Titan and really glad we splurged on them.

 

I had C's for 2 years and decided to stick with only E's since there wasn't much difference in ride plus I feel safer now. I actually like the firmness of the E's but I have all stock suspension.

 

Yeah Ive got those too, and they are great. Soooo smooth and quiet. I run them at 70 all the time. I want some BFG ATs for looks really, but I just dont know if I can give up this ride. Ive got 25k on these and they look new. But I might get 285 AT2s next time.

 

I have over half a million miles driving Michelin LTX M/S "E" tyres, and I can't say the first bad thing about them. They are amazing. Also I usually get between 190k-200k out of them. No joke, I have logs to prove it. Go with the "E"

-The Great

 

Firestone had the recall and was authorized by Ford to remove the door stickers that called for "D" rated tires. This was done during the "Firestone-Explorer Rollover" suits. I believe all Xs were supposed to be done. Most of them were given new tires, I know I was and I had 52k miles on my tires at the time. However, some dealers did not take the stickers off of the doors. No replacement stickers were sent out.

 

I guess my C's thought they were E's, AK used them too.

 

Im running D's on my Rocky Mountain ATS tires but the load capacity is equivalent to most E's so I guess Im taking a gamble. I would think as long as your weight capacity per tire is equivalent then you should be fine but those weights are for atleast a "D".