D rated is 8 ply, E rated is 10 ply.

While the D's may serve you well, a tire blowout is not a good thing.

E's on the truck.
E's on the 5th wheel.
Easy piece of mind in the cab.

You have an excursion? Why don't you go weigh the beast at the public scale. It only costs a couple of bucks. Tell them you want 3 weights. Front wheels only on the scale, whole truck on the scale, rear axle only on the scale. Have a full tank of gas. Then you will know.

Here are my weights with no trailer:

front axle 4160
rear axle 2780
total truck 6940




Oh, and if you do decide to get a RV... you CAN get a 5th wheel. http://towingdiversity.com/

 

I'm with Costa. These trucks are designed to run E load range.

That's all that I will ever run.

 

Thanks guys, you've been a big help.

 

The D rated and E rated has nothing to do with the load it can handle but with they plies. If you buy a wide d rated tire some can handle more weight then the E rated tire, its because there is more area hitting the ground so it needs less PSI to hold the tire up. So D rated tires will be ok "IF" there weight rating is high enough.

 

Right up until you blow a tire out while towing a trailer, cause an accident and end up with a nice ticket...

 

If that happens hopefully you come out of it with only a ticket. With the weight and loads we sometimes carry serious injury or worse is a very real possibility.

 

On my gooseneck, I use G load range tires, that's how strongly I feel about the subject.

 

I agree. If you run a lot on rough gravel, rocks, or off road the E's are a good investment. Otherwise go with the D's.

 

I got a set of "D"s and when towing the rear was very mushy. I moved to an "E" and that went away. I will never buy a set of "D"s again. Just MO

 

Do they make 'E' rated 285's because I have a hard time finding them. Thanks for al the info I will now stay with the 'E' rated tires..............

 

I got my BFG 285's at discount tire.

 

I Got my Michelin LT285/75R/16 LTX AT2's at Discount tire also.

 

Ok,, here's my scoop

I bought new D rated 265x75x16 30,000 miles ago.
The tire were quiet and rode smooth but pulled to one side. I fought the pull for about 2 years and then called (Brand name deleted as I do not want to slam a mfg for possibly only 1 defect). If you want to know PM me.. They would not replace them for the pull as the tires only had 50% rubber remaining.

One month later while towing my 7000# boat the front started a very noticable wobble. I stopped and found a blister on the treat about 6" wide and 1/3 around the tire. I slowed and limped home. Then I began shopping for tires leaving the car parked. I decided on Michelin's as my son run's them on his 2004 F250 6.0. Then I found they were sold out all the way back to the Factory and had a 10 way wait for delivery. I choose to wait. I bought the E rating Michelin X which cost only nominally more than the D Rating I was using. I can't help but wonder if the D's failed due to load being a D rated tire. No they weren't off roaded or abused only highway, mostly interstate pulling a load. So I was fortunate to find a failing tire without a road side tire change or blowout.

I still have the D's on the rear as they carry much less weight on the rears of the EX than the fronts with the 7.3 with E's on the front.

My recommendation would be to buy the E rating and Michelins if available in the size you need. But then that is only a recommendation.