Do I need to get a load range D tire or is the stock load range E tire ok? I do plow and tow with the truck. I would imagine the D is better. Right now its between Cooper Discoverer A/T which are load range D or the Bridgestone Dueler's which are load range E. BF Goodrichs are just way too much $. Which one?

 

E is a higher load rating than D.

 

Dont go below the recommended load rating. If anything, go higher.

 

I though Cooper made the ATR in range E also?

 

D range tires are suitable for towing and plowing... I think that range is like 3194 lbs. per tire at 65 PSI cold. E range tires would be overkill unless you really work your truck or use it's payload capacity to the maximum with regularity. Remember, only 15%-20% of a trailers total weight should be on the tongue or pin. That 15% should never exceed about 3000 lbs. with the tow capacity of these trucks. The average SD weighs about 6000 lbs. With the D range your sitting on 12800 lbs. of load carrying capacity. The E range tire is around 3450 lbs. of capacity... so... just food for thought.

 

nitto and toyo also make d & e load rating tires

 

Wow, I had been led to believe that the D range were more heavy duty than the E range. My truck currently has the E range Bf Goodrich stock tires on it. My mistake- thanks

 

Stay with the E rated tires.

 

If you're going to work the truck, I'd stay with E-rated tires. Your choices will be a bit limited, but the peace of mind will be well worth it. I went with Nokians...fatastic tires. Quiet, look great, and second to none in the snow.

 

BFG's are more expensive than the duelers?

 

Yes the Cooper Discover ATR comes with an E rating. I just purchased a set for my 01 F250 SD. The E rating is a 10 ply tire.

 

Hummmm.... My Load range E rated tires are only 4 ply tread & 2 ply sidewalls.

 

I think the key word in the 10 ply is "rated". From my understanding they use the "ply rating" with radial tires. A fall back from the old bias tires that were rated by the number of plys they actually had. I am no tire expert by any means but this is what I have been told. This is the information that I found on the tirerack.com web site.

Load Range, Ply Rating and Load Pressure for Light Truck Tires<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=left bgColor=#555555></TD><TD align=left bgColor=#555555>Load Range</TD><TD align=left bgColor=#555555>Ply Rating</TD><TD align=left bgColor=#555555>Load Pressure (psi)</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD align=left bgColor=#ffffff>LT-metric</TD><TD align=left bgColor=#ffffff>B</TD><TD align=left bgColor=#ffffff>4</TD><TD align=left bgColor=#ffffff>35</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD align=left bgColor=#dddddd>LT-numeric</TD><TD align=left bgColor=#dddddd>C</TD><TD align=left bgColor=#dddddd>6</TD><TD align=left bgColor=#dddddd>50</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD align=left bgColor=#ffffff>Flotation LT*</TD><TD align=left bgColor=#ffffff>D


E
F

</TD><TD align=left bgColor=#ffffff>8


10
12

</TD><TD align=left bgColor=#ffffff>65


80
95

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD align=left colSpan=4>*Selected large Flotation LT sized tires have reduced load pressures from the values shown above.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Load Range and Load Pressure for Passenger Tires

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#555555></TD><TD bgColor=#555555>Load Range</TD><TD bgColor=#555555>Load Pressure (psi)</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD bgColor=#ffffff>P-metric</TD><TD bgColor=#ffffff>Light Load


Standard Load
Extra Load

</TD><TD bgColor=#ffffff>35


35
41

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD bgColor=#dddddd>Euro-metric</TD><TD bgColor=#dddddd>Standard


Reinforced/Extra Load

</TD><TD bgColor=#dddddd>36


42

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


Load Range, Ply Rating and Load Pressure for Light Truck Tirres

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=left bgColor=#555555></TD><TD align=left bgColor=#555555>Load Range</TD><TD align=left bgColor=#555555>Ply Rating</TD><TD align=left bgColor=#555555>Load Pressure (psi)</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD align=left bgColor=#ffffff>ST-metric</TD><TD align=left bgColor=#ffffff>B

C
D
</TD><TD align=left bgColor=#ffffff>4

6
8
</TD><TD align=left bgColor=#ffffff>35

50
65




</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

I'd say your individual situation should guide this decision. Figure out how much weight you typically have when you work the truck. I have Ds on mine. As sglynx1 pointed out, the difference in the capacities are not that great and wasn't enough to affect my situation.

 

You are correct in making your own decision. But the one thing to do is go by what the book is calling for. Then if you want to go with a different size and rating then go with what you want. Mine calls for a 235/85R16E but I put on 265/75R16E. I pull a trailer with mine.