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I bought the new wheels for my Excursion, I went with 18" Vision Spyder 361s, 12mm offset.
Now Im tire hunting! Im looking at a set of BFG LT 285/60/18s, but they are only D1 rated(118) which is the tire Id like to go with. Also there is a set of BFG LT 265/65/18 but they are E1 rated tires. Id like to go with the slightly wider 285, but not sure if we can run D1 rated tires-I think they are 8 ply and a maximum of 65 PSI. We do tow a 10k pound camper frequently in the Spring/Summer/Fall. Thank you!
Since you're towing in the summer...the E rated tires is what you'll want. I have Goodyear 275/70/18 E rated tires on both trucks now. I did have 295/70/18 tires on my F350 and did like the look of the wider tire, but I didn't like the ride. You don't state if your Excursion is 2wd or 4wd, but I like how these tires fill up the wheel well on our 2wd Excursion.
Something is off here. "LT" stands for light truck tire.
Do you mean BFG AT?
For these trucks you should be using a 10ply, load range E tire. Especially if you are towing.
Certainly you can find a suitable 285/60-18 in a load range E.
Here's four. They aren't BFG but certainly good choices. TR
Good luck.
Your link doesn't go to the search results, but your point is spot on. I found the same 4 LR E LT tires - a General, two Nitto's and a Yokahama.
I'll second (or 3rd, or 5th) the need for an E-rated tire for towing with an X. Mine had D rated tires when I bought it ages ago. It was fine driving around, and even when just cruising with a trailer. In high torque situations with a trailer, though, I could feel the tire squirm. It didn't feel good.
Your link doesn't go to the search results, but your point is spot on. I found the same 4 LR E LT tires - a General, two Nitto's and a Yokahama.
I'll second (or 3rd, or 5th) the need for an E-rated tire for towing with an X. Mine had D rated tires when I bought it ages ago. It was fine driving around, and even when just cruising with a trailer. In high torque situations with a trailer, though, I could feel the tire squirm. It didn't feel good.
Mark
Thanks. Not sure why. I updated the links to a different site. Seems to be working now.
I've also run load range D tires on my truck and while they were cushy in a straight line on pavement. They wiggled and squirmed like crazy in turns and with a load.
I got a free set of Geolander MT's and wanted to try the tread pattern. I really liked the tires but they sucked for permanent use and at the time didn't have an E in the MT's. This was a long time ago.
Last edited by ncheavymetal; Jan 14, 2026 at 01:37 PM.
Thanks. Not sure why. I updated the links to a different site. Seems to be working now.
I've also run load range D tires on my truck and while they were cushy in a straight line on pavement. They wiggled and squirmed like crazy in turns and with a load.
I got a free set of Geolander MT's and wanted to try the tread pattern. I really liked the tires but they sucked for permanent use and at the time didn't have an E in the MT's. This was a long time ago.
Thank you both for answering about D rated tires. Got the answer I needed. E rated it is for sure.
I will not buy a large diameter wheel, had a car once like that, and it rode like an old buckboard wagon...
no thanks, stay with OEM size or one size up, on factory Steel Wheels.
You don’t seem to understand the specifics of this conversation, he isn’t looking to mount short sidewall tires on his new 18” wheels, the tires he listed above all have about the same amount of sidewall as the stockers. The rough ride from your large wheel vehicles wasn’t due to the size of the wheels, it was due to shorter tires with short sidewalls.
I ran 18” wheels on my EX with 305/70R18 (35.25”x12.8”) so my sidewalls were actually .75” taller than stock and those 65 PSI max tires rode great and had a higher load rating than the stockers. And lots of folks like aluminum wheels and actually prefer them over steel wheels for a variety of reasons, but it’s cool if you don’t.
You don’t seem to understand the specifics of this conversation, he isn’t looking to mount short sidewall tires on his new 18” , the tires he listed above all have about the same amount of sidewall as the stockers. The rough ride from your large wheel vehicles wasn’t due to the size of the wheels, it was due to shorter tires with short sidewalls.
I ran 18” wheels on my EX with 305/70R18 (35.25”x12.8”) so my sidewalls were actually .75” taller than stock and those 65 PSI max tires rode great and had a higher load rating than the stockers. And lots of folks like aluminum wheels and actually prefer them over steel wheels for a variety of reasons, but it’s cool if you don’t.
Thank you!! Finally someone understands completely!
Have you run D1 tires? How do they do for towing?
You don’t seem to understand the specifics of this conversation.......
Originally Posted by Theboneskes
Thank you!! Finally someone understands completely!
Have you run D1 tires? How do they do for towing?
I may be speaking out of turn here but: We3zs is essentially stating that John's response isn't relevant to your question, not that you should be running 8 ply tires.
Most of us have different tires sizes, rim sizes, widths, etc. And that's fine as long as you are using 10 ply E rated tires in your specific size.
I'm currently running 315/75-16 on stock aluminum rims. Lode range E. Toyo Open Country MT's.
Those choices you posted are all good choices as long as they are 10 ply. I have friends that run all three of those tires and each are satisfied with them.
It's gonna come down to one of these 3 Id guess. 265/65/18
Are you trying to stay with this odd ball size because it's close to the stock 265/75/16 tire...other than the sidewall being 12.8% shorter, which means rougher ride? The more common 275/70/18 is a little taller and wider, but still only has about 2.6% shorter sidewall.
There is absolutely no question you should only consider a load range E tire...especially if towing.
Here is a picture of the wife's Excursion with the 275/70/18 load range E Goodyear Wrangler with Kevlar tires. They fill up the wheel wells better and ride down the road beautifully...
Thank you!! Finally someone understands completely!
Have you run D1 tires? How do they do for towing?
Negative on the D rated tires here, my Nitto Dura Grappler 305/70R18s had the lower 65 PSI max due to being wider, they were E rated and had a higher load rating than the stocke tire size, bigger tires with the larger contact patch can handle more weight at lower pressures. The giant 3 slide TT we pulled with that EX scaled at 12/13K lbs with 1680 lbs of tongue weight, no way was I gonna pull that beast with D rated tires!
Good luck with your Falkens! Be sure to share some pic when you get them under the EX.
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