Load Rated 'E' Tires
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 168
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From: Pasquotank, NC
Load Rated 'E' Tires
See sig line for truck details. I use the truck for homeowner grade truck things. Have intensions of getting a car trailer and dragging my jeep to the woods and the Camaro to the track. This week's project is hauling an old concrete slab to the dump. I have been hauling loads between 2500-3000 lbs. The secondary spring is 1/2" from touching. The tires are load rated 'C' and compress quite a bit with the load. The door tag calls out a load rated 'E' tire. Should I make the change to load rated 'E' tires? I am concerned the 'E' rated tire will make the truck ride like crap empty. Not a daily driver but would like a decent ride when towing a vehicle long distances. Also, any recommendations on a brand?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 902
Likes: 119
I run Es on my F150 and the ride isn't appreciably harsher than before but it's always been pretty harsh when empty because I put together my current springs specifically for hauling a lot of weight.
I run Firestone HTs and have been happy with them so far but I've only had them two years.
I run Firestone HTs and have been happy with them so far but I've only had them two years.
Junior User
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: Dutchess County, New York
Should I make the change to load rated 'E' tires? I am concerned the 'E' rated tire will make the truck ride like crap empty.
Also, any recommendations on a brand?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,370
Likes: 138
From: Manassas, VA
After working at a tire center for the past 2 years (take that as you will) I would strongly agree with the previous comments - with a 250 you'll definitely want 10-ply tires (E rated) just in case you ever need to haul anything heavy. Kinda like the old sentiment "better to have it and not need it than not have it and need it". Ride quality won't suffer terribly if you air down the tires - say 55-60 psi rather than the 75 psi you'd want them at if you were towing.
Tires wise, I'd recommend Hercules Terra Trac. They come in two tread designs, an ATII and an HTS (all terrain and highway tread). I don't know if it's the same in your area but around here (northern VA) if you buy a set of Hercules tires from a designated Hercules dealer, you get free 2 year road hazard, meaning if the tires are damaged or defective in any way you'll get a free repair or a free replacement tire. I have a set of ATII's on my F-150 and they ride very pleasantly with little road noise.
No matter what kind of tire you choose, I would strongly advise buying E rated tires for that truck.
Tires wise, I'd recommend Hercules Terra Trac. They come in two tread designs, an ATII and an HTS (all terrain and highway tread). I don't know if it's the same in your area but around here (northern VA) if you buy a set of Hercules tires from a designated Hercules dealer, you get free 2 year road hazard, meaning if the tires are damaged or defective in any way you'll get a free repair or a free replacement tire. I have a set of ATII's on my F-150 and they ride very pleasantly with little road noise.
No matter what kind of tire you choose, I would strongly advise buying E rated tires for that truck.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,320
Likes: 287
From: Laramie, WY
I've got a set of Falken Wildpeak at3w tires in a 235/85R16 on my truck, about 9k miles now. I'm happy with them. Only place they don't do well is mud but they're excellent on road: dry, wet, snow, ice, gravel with good wear so far. Side wall seems plenty tough, I've put them through some abuse in the rocks with weight on. Adjust pressure to suite the weight and conditions. My truck is 6500lbs with the camper (fuel, gear, people etc) and I run 45psi front and 50psi rear for that on road, 25psi front 30psi rear off road, lower if things get really slow and nasty. Fire wood I usually run 65psi rear. Over inflating kills the ride and wears the centers out. It's not the ply rating that kills the ride, it's the pressure. E-rated is what you want in an F250 that earns it's keep.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
Weight rating of the tires is key here. You do need 10 ply tires for the goals you have, properly inflated in a tread that will serve your needs. You may want All-Terrain over regular all-season treads, depending on what kind of terrain you spend most of your time on. I run a D load range tire but the weight rating is 3850lbs per tire. Just look at the wieght ratings and choose your boots according to the weights you will haul/tow.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,069
Likes: 19
From: Central Wisconsin
I'm going to try running 235/85 16's on my '88 CC dually. Load range E. My trailer with race car has about 750lbs. tonque weight..
ok for D rated dual but I like the piece of mind of an E rated tire and also losing 300 rpms @ 60 mph.
A local tire shop has some decent 235/85 highway tread tires for $85 each...hard price to beat
ok for D rated dual but I like the piece of mind of an E rated tire and also losing 300 rpms @ 60 mph.
A local tire shop has some decent 235/85 highway tread tires for $85 each...hard price to beat
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Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 5,006
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From: Roseville, MN
As Conanski and GoinBoarding said, finding the right air pressure for when you don't need the total weight rating is key. My '97 F-250HD CCSB rides like crap when empty with the tires at 80 psi. But fronts at 60 / rears at 50 works pretty well. And I can air up when I'm going to load it down.
Junior User
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 82
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From: Dutchess County, New York
I've got a set of Falken Wildpeak at3w tires in a 235/85R16 on my truck, about 9k miles now. I'm happy with them. Only place they don't do well is mud but they're excellent on road: dry, wet, snow, ice, gravel with good wear so far. Side wall seems plenty tough, I've put them through some abuse in the rocks with weight on. Adjust pressure to suite the weight and conditions. My truck is 6500lbs with the camper (fuel, gear, people etc) and I run 45psi front and 50psi rear for that on road, 25psi front 30psi rear off road, lower if things get really slow and nasty. Fire wood I usually run 65psi rear. Over inflating kills the ride and wears the centers out. It's not the ply rating that kills the ride, it's the pressure. E-rated is what you want in an F250 that earns it's keep.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 116
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The replies given are good advice. I also want to piggyback off of what has been said. I would suggest a 10ply Load Range E tire. Especially if you intend to use the truck. Hauling, towing etc. Picture a tire as a radial air bag. Each bag has a limit of psi and load. They work together. You can adjust for ride and for weight with the same tire. Just like air bags guys use on the back of a truck. As said many guys air down for unloaded driving and then air up when carrying more weight. A side note of that for trailer use. Most of the time with tongue weight you are only adding (supposed to) 500 lbs to the truck. The trailer tires carry the weight of what is being pulled.
With that said the extra beef of a tire rated for more weight will produce better handling along with higher load capacity for loading down the bed and dragging the extra weight of a trailer. Just some other things to ponder. Typically truck sizes come in the heavier ply ratings anyway, but the price difference in my opinion is worth it to have the piece of mind.
With that said the extra beef of a tire rated for more weight will produce better handling along with higher load capacity for loading down the bed and dragging the extra weight of a trailer. Just some other things to ponder. Typically truck sizes come in the heavier ply ratings anyway, but the price difference in my opinion is worth it to have the piece of mind.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 168
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From: Pasquotank, NC
Well, based on all the replies, I guess I'll stick with the C rated tires.
Kidding. That would be the typical internet response wouldn't it? It's a 2WD, but I think I will look for an All Terrain to help with loading up on crappy dirt roads. I really like the General Grabber AT2's I have on my Jeep. I assume if they make them in an E load rating, then they are capable of carrying the weight comfortably?
Kidding. That would be the typical internet response wouldn't it? It's a 2WD, but I think I will look for an All Terrain to help with loading up on crappy dirt roads. I really like the General Grabber AT2's I have on my Jeep. I assume if they make them in an E load rating, then they are capable of carrying the weight comfortably?
Former Vendor
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 116
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You had me for a second. That would be fairly typically. Tell my why I should upgrade. 100 reasons later. Okay I'm going to just stick with what I have. In terms of tire more is better. Not an area to skimp on. General is a good tire.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,949
Likes: 7
Personally I would, to me it's piece of mind. I'm sure some E-rated tires do ride like crap, my tire guy recommend Falken Wildpeak AT3W's, E-rated, minimal road noise, and supposed good in the snow, Though probably not much of that in NC. So far I'm okay with them, they have yet to impress me or aggravate me. Only have about 2500 miles on them
In NC they would probably be fine, but once you start getting into 4" of snow or more they get packed with snow fast and become useless