Load Rated 'E' Tires
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 168
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From: Pasquotank, NC
265/75R16
Do you have any suggestions on a better sized tire? Keep in mind my planned use is hauling household stuff (to include dirt and sand as needed) and towing cars longish distances (200-500ish miles). Leaning towards ATs to help on crappy dirt roads. Would like something that will behave well on road - quiet, smooth-ish, would like some decent miles out of them, but not too worried as it isn't a DD. I like the rims that are on the truck, they are a nice aluminum wheel. Don't really want to change the wheels.
Do you have any suggestions on a better sized tire? Keep in mind my planned use is hauling household stuff (to include dirt and sand as needed) and towing cars longish distances (200-500ish miles). Leaning towards ATs to help on crappy dirt roads. Would like something that will behave well on road - quiet, smooth-ish, would like some decent miles out of them, but not too worried as it isn't a DD. I like the rims that are on the truck, they are a nice aluminum wheel. Don't really want to change the wheels.
Temporarily Deactivated
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,859
Likes: 2
It's probably going to be difficult to get past the marketing BS but try to find some fact based information like load charts and such from the manufacturers.
Try to understand the relationships between load range, psi and square inches of tire carcass. If you have enough square inches with enough psi supporting it you have a high load rating but not necessarily a durable tire to carry loads and tow loads. The factory recommendation will be hard to beat for performance but there are some cheaper tires that are close to the same size and perform equally well. I had a buddy who worked for a commercial tire business and he ran 245/75 takeoffs after his originals wore out. I don't think ever paid for a tire. It had something to do with a large contract and I suspect there are still savings to be had.
Try to understand the relationships between load range, psi and square inches of tire carcass. If you have enough square inches with enough psi supporting it you have a high load rating but not necessarily a durable tire to carry loads and tow loads. The factory recommendation will be hard to beat for performance but there are some cheaper tires that are close to the same size and perform equally well. I had a buddy who worked for a commercial tire business and he ran 245/75 takeoffs after his originals wore out. I don't think ever paid for a tire. It had something to do with a large contract and I suspect there are still savings to be had.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,256
Likes: 4
From: NC
265/75R16
Do you have any suggestions on a better sized tire? Keep in mind my planned use is hauling household stuff (to include dirt and sand as needed) and towing cars longish distances (200-500ish miles). Leaning towards ATs to help on crappy dirt roads. Would like something that will behave well on road - quiet, smooth-ish, would like some decent miles out of them, but not too worried as it isn't a DD. I like the rims that are on the truck, they are a nice aluminum wheel. Don't really want to change the wheels.
Do you have any suggestions on a better sized tire? Keep in mind my planned use is hauling household stuff (to include dirt and sand as needed) and towing cars longish distances (200-500ish miles). Leaning towards ATs to help on crappy dirt roads. Would like something that will behave well on road - quiet, smooth-ish, would like some decent miles out of them, but not too worried as it isn't a DD. I like the rims that are on the truck, they are a nice aluminum wheel. Don't really want to change the wheels.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 181
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Check out the Goodyear Duratrac's in an E range. Pretty aggressive tire that still gets a triple mountain snowflake winter rating. Great on a vehicle that needs that extra traction but might not wear as long if it was a daily driver with a constant load on. Probably the quietest close to MT looking tire on the market right now. You could even stud them for winter if needed. The Grabber AT's I have used were nice on the dry, good in dirt, junk on ice/packed snow. The Durarac's outperformed any AT I have ever used on ice/packed snow, and excelled in dirt and deep snow.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,069
Likes: 19
From: Central Wisconsin
I used a '95 E350 for auto parts expediting for two years. I ran 260,000 miles during that time.
My van had Goodyear 235/85 highway tread tires on it when I bought it. Took about a month to see that hauling 3000lbs. on a fairly regular basis was going to require a better tire.
I tried BF Goodrich first..better but I had a few destroy themselves. After two blowouts running from Gary, IN to Omaha, NE I rolled into a Sam's Club in Des Moines and bought four Michelin tires...end of my tire issues for over a year until I sold the van.
When you run heavy you need good rubber on your truck. The tires I'm looking at would never cut it with those loads but will be OK for my short haul stuff.
Read the sidewall and understand what you are buying.
My van had Goodyear 235/85 highway tread tires on it when I bought it. Took about a month to see that hauling 3000lbs. on a fairly regular basis was going to require a better tire.
I tried BF Goodrich first..better but I had a few destroy themselves. After two blowouts running from Gary, IN to Omaha, NE I rolled into a Sam's Club in Des Moines and bought four Michelin tires...end of my tire issues for over a year until I sold the van.
When you run heavy you need good rubber on your truck. The tires I'm looking at would never cut it with those loads but will be OK for my short haul stuff.
Read the sidewall and understand what you are buying.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,339
Likes: 293
From: Laramie, WY
It's probably going to be difficult to get past the marketing BS but try to find some fact based information like load charts and such from the manufacturers.
Try to understand the relationships between load range, psi and square inches of tire carcass. If you have enough square inches with enough psi supporting it you have a high load rating but not necessarily a durable tire to carry loads and tow loads. The factory recommendation will be hard to beat for performance but there are some cheaper tires that are close to the same size and perform equally well. I had a buddy who worked for a commercial tire business and he ran 245/75 takeoffs after his originals wore out. I don't think ever paid for a tire. It had something to do with a large contract and I suspect there are still savings to be had.
Try to understand the relationships between load range, psi and square inches of tire carcass. If you have enough square inches with enough psi supporting it you have a high load rating but not necessarily a durable tire to carry loads and tow loads. The factory recommendation will be hard to beat for performance but there are some cheaper tires that are close to the same size and perform equally well. I had a buddy who worked for a commercial tire business and he ran 245/75 takeoffs after his originals wore out. I don't think ever paid for a tire. It had something to do with a large contract and I suspect there are still savings to be had.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21,437
Likes: 76
From: Gilbert, PA
265/75R16
Do you have any suggestions on a better sized tire? Keep in mind my planned use is hauling household stuff (to include dirt and sand as needed) and towing cars longish distances (200-500ish miles). Leaning towards ATs to help on crappy dirt roads. Would like something that will behave well on road - quiet, smooth-ish, would like some decent miles out of them, but not too worried as it isn't a DD. I like the rims that are on the truck, they are a nice aluminum wheel. Don't really want to change the wheels.
Do you have any suggestions on a better sized tire? Keep in mind my planned use is hauling household stuff (to include dirt and sand as needed) and towing cars longish distances (200-500ish miles). Leaning towards ATs to help on crappy dirt roads. Would like something that will behave well on road - quiet, smooth-ish, would like some decent miles out of them, but not too worried as it isn't a DD. I like the rims that are on the truck, they are a nice aluminum wheel. Don't really want to change the wheels.
Your truck had 235/85/16s from the factory. I would recommend the same size again . As far as what tire, that is like asking what color do i like
Temporarily Deactivated
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,859
Likes: 2
More is better.
This should be a warning signal to you that your thinking may be your worst enemy.
Tim Taylor? Tooltime? Home Improvement? Tim Allen became a millionaire by making fun of this very thing.
The last day of engineering school they pull you aside and say: "We were just kidding for the last four years. All you need to know is that more it better".
It has only taken 100 years or so to get where we are and we still don't know it all.
Google something like: Theory contact patch
This should be a warning signal to you that your thinking may be your worst enemy.
Tim Taylor? Tooltime? Home Improvement? Tim Allen became a millionaire by making fun of this very thing.
The last day of engineering school they pull you aside and say: "We were just kidding for the last four years. All you need to know is that more it better".
It has only taken 100 years or so to get where we are and we still don't know it all.
Google something like: Theory contact patch
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
This is the funny truth about the tire question. Stay factory size too cause that can change fuel mileage, transmission behavior, general vehicle performance.
Trailering
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
I posted something like this in a different forum, but a longer post here.
Two years ago I travels on a numbered road in Nevada that turned from paved to gravel to dirt/rocks and finally back to pavement. Mean while my C rated OEM Goodyear Wranglers (25,000 miles then) had a slow leak from a puncture, likely a sharp rock. Anyway I limped into Austin, Nevada and there the tire was plugged and patched and I returned home to NW Oregon. I held air well while driving but had a vey slow leak while sitting for a time. My wife did not like it and after catching the Dickins about it for two years and so three months ago I guess, I went to our local Discount tire (I had never heard of the Sponsor RTM till this thread) and there bought four BF Goodrich All Terrain E rated tires. I have them at 45 PSI and have maybe 500 miles on them. I see no difference in ride at that setting. It does not matter how cheap or expensive, new tires always drive better than old tires, but specifically a harder ride seems to be a faint difference.
I will take a longer drive back to south Nevada next month in the pickup and see if the mileage is okay. I might raise my PSI to 50 for the trip.
Two years ago I travels on a numbered road in Nevada that turned from paved to gravel to dirt/rocks and finally back to pavement. Mean while my C rated OEM Goodyear Wranglers (25,000 miles then) had a slow leak from a puncture, likely a sharp rock. Anyway I limped into Austin, Nevada and there the tire was plugged and patched and I returned home to NW Oregon. I held air well while driving but had a vey slow leak while sitting for a time. My wife did not like it and after catching the Dickins about it for two years and so three months ago I guess, I went to our local Discount tire (I had never heard of the Sponsor RTM till this thread) and there bought four BF Goodrich All Terrain E rated tires. I have them at 45 PSI and have maybe 500 miles on them. I see no difference in ride at that setting. It does not matter how cheap or expensive, new tires always drive better than old tires, but specifically a harder ride seems to be a faint difference.
I will take a longer drive back to south Nevada next month in the pickup and see if the mileage is okay. I might raise my PSI to 50 for the trip.
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 641
Likes: 3
From: Umicorn UtopiaFantasyLand
Check out the Goodyear Duratrac's in an E range. Pretty aggressive tire that still gets a triple mountain snowflake winter rating. Great on a vehicle that needs that extra traction but might not wear as long if it was a daily driver with a constant load on. Probably the quietest close to MT looking tire on the market right now. You could even stud them for winter if needed. The Grabber AT's I have used were nice on the dry, good in dirt, junk on ice/packed snow. The Durarac's outperformed any AT I have ever used on ice/packed snow, and excelled in dirt and deep snow.
Goodyear Duratrac's in 265/75/16 E range will be my next set. Have been looking at those.
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