tires D or E loaded
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,290
Likes: 15
From: Toronto, Canada
I agee with Weldman! I've used Cooper and BFG D & E rated tires for years plowing and hauling heavy loads. Never had a problem with sidewall deflection. But then I'm not one of these guy's that's hauling a 40 ft goose-neck doing 85 mph and wipping in and out of traffic either.
All of a sudden the sidewall deflection that Ford thought was acceptable on a 16 inch tire 5 years ago is not ok now that 17, 18 and 20 inch wheels are the available!
Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 162
Likes: 1
From: Hudson, NH
Ignoring what would technically work and what would technically not work.
Who wants to be getting into some accident (whether or not the tires were at fault) and injure someone and have it come out that the truck was not running the manufacturers minimum load rated tires? I hope you have good liability coverage on your vehicle.
Who wants to be getting into some accident (whether or not the tires were at fault) and injure someone and have it come out that the truck was not running the manufacturers minimum load rated tires? I hope you have good liability coverage on your vehicle.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,400
Likes: 319
From: Whittier, CA
I won't get into the argument over load ratings. But I will say this, if you are an off-roader, hunter, fisherman, the D tire will tear open on rocks easier than the E tire. Simply because of the fewer plys.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,241
Likes: 1
From: Powder Springs, East TN
I have 285/75/16 Michelin LTX M/S D Rated tires on my truck and they work well for what I need them to do now I don't tow very heavy for the most part so I am alright when I comes to that though if you towed heavy I would get some E rateds. Personally if I hadn't got such a deal in these I would have got some E Rated AT tires.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
Likes: 423
From: Long Island USA
Personally, I've driven trucks all of my adult life. I've used D-rated tires of the same brand as E-rated tires in the exact same situations, loads, everything being equal. Box trucks, pickups, you name it.
It was obvious when using a lower-rated tire on the same truck. It was obvious in the way it handled driving empty AND loaded.
That's MY experience. If you have a different experience, fine, but I suspect you aren't really paying attention.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 348
Likes: 0
From: CA
I have 285/75/16 Michelin LTX M/S D Rated tires on my truck and they work well for what I need them to do now I don't tow very heavy for the most part so I am alright when I comes to that though if you towed heavy I would get some E rateds. Personally if I hadn't got such a deal in these I would have got some E Rated AT tires.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Snowboard season cometh..
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,406
Likes: 1
From: Gulf Coast of Florida
Every guy I know that works in oil fields etc. (10+) swears on E-rated tires for their sidewall strength. They don't tow heavy, but at times carry some weight in the bed. I rarely tow, so I've got D-rated tires on my truck. My dad was an insurance agent for 30+ years and with the pictures I saw, I'd not try any shortcuts, especially when driving a near (or over) 8,000lb truck PLUS a load.
WORST CASE SCENARIO: What's a child's life worth?
WORST CASE SCENARIO: What's a child's life worth?
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 348
Likes: 0
From: CA
Every guy I know that works in oil fields etc. (10+) swears on E-rated tires for their sidewall strength. They don't tow heavy, but at times carry some weight in the bed. I rarely tow, so I've got D-rated tires on my truck. My dad was an insurance agent for 30+ years and with the pictures I saw, I'd not try any shortcuts, especially when driving a near (or over) 8,000lb truck PLUS a load.
WORST CASE SCENARIO: What's a child's life worth?
WORST CASE SCENARIO: What's a child's life worth?
To be honest, if you stay within the factory specs then I'd have no qualms about hauling. It's towing where the sidewall could really be exposed...
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 850
Likes: 3
From: West Granby, CT.
Just go to the tire place and ask them what they think will work for your needs. They will not sell you D if they feel you should have E. After all if there is a problem they are the ones who mounted them. Again, 20 + years with trucks and have NEVER bought E rated tires and never had a problem. Now I do not drive 70 mph down the hiway with a load but I do have loads and pull a trailer and have passed all roadside inspections. If you pull a trailer that weighs so much that it squats your tires then you should be driving a dually.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 1
From: muskegon mi.
I run my Ds in the winter they are coppers and load rated at 3650 all i carey is my plow and they do fine tire man said they would be fine in the warmer times I rin my Es beccause I drive like an idiot and need my sidewalls to help me
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,402
Likes: 3
I don't think it was mentioned yet but E rated tires have a much higher heat rating, which is a major factor when towing or carrying weight. When tires become overheated, they blister on the inside. As others have said, sidewall flex is sometimes scary.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,849
Likes: 1
From: Seattle
Personally, I run e's on my 3/4 ton 4x2 and always will. It is not and never will be worth my time and or life, or someone elses for that matter to deal with a tire failure due to overloading the tire. I am not so hung up on tire size or brand selection that I will sacrifice safety to please myself. Dan.