Thoughts on "E" rated tires?

Urban_Cowboy · 12-09-2006, 12:49 PM

Hew guys and gals.

I am in the process of selecting new wheels and tires for my Titan and was disappointed to see that most tires in the size ranges I need all have load ratings of "E". I am a bit hesitant to put such a heavy load rated tire on a truck a light as the Titan, afraid of a rediculously harsh ride on the road.

If any of you are running "E" rated tires, please let me know what brand/model and your impressions.

Thanks!

AZZ Titan · 12-09-2006, 06:40 PM

the e rating is more so the sidewall. to help the big 2500 haul the heavier loads.

I have load d on mine. I have driven e and they are pretty stiff.
But not much more than ds

kartman · 12-10-2006, 11:02 AM

My Toyos are E and they ride great

Steamguy · 12-11-2006, 01:15 PM

I have a set of Continentals that were take-offs. Money for brand new ones at that time was somewhere north of $1300. They are Load Range E.

What I found is that they made the truck handle WAY different. The steering tightened right up - there's no play at all in it now. It is like driving my wife's Maxima SE. The tires are also very predictable near the limits of adhesion. You can tell when you're going to slide, and when you're not. The ride does stiffen up a bit. Kind of like the car with "sport suspension". But I didn't notice any difference in road noise or anything like that. I also noticed that I had a lot more feeling of control when towing.

All of this is due to the stiffer sidewalls.

Wear has been wonderfully great. I now have more miles on the 'truck' tires than I ever got out of the 'passenger car' tires that the truck came with. And I still have tread left, so I expect this set to go to maybe 40,000 miles, instead of only 23,000 out of the stock tires.

Hope this helps.

TitanBlue · 12-11-2006, 03:35 PM

We use Cooper Mfg'd tires under the name of Mastercraft. Load range "E" Courser AT in a LT245/75/R16 for $119 plus M&B. W get about 50K form a set, used on GMC 2500 Ext Cab PU's. for Construction work. Very decent tire, takes abuse well with the heavier sidewalls.

BroncoAZ · 12-11-2006, 04:40 PM

Ride isn't bad on mine with the 285/65/18 E rated BFG AT/KO's. I'd agree with what Steamguy said.

Mitch

Urban_Cowboy · 12-12-2006, 05:08 PM

Thanks for the input so far guys. Anybody else want to comment?

Galaxyblack · 12-13-2006, 07:31 AM

I am not sure if my tires are "E" rated. 10 ply is what I bought so that I could carry max weight in the bed and tow max weight occasionally. The only thing I don't like is that when empty at freeway speeds if I hit an expansion joint while turning slightly, the whole truck jumps sideways slightly. It never did that with the stock tires. Needless to say it is a bit scary at first, but now I expect it.

Chris93Si · 12-14-2006, 07:33 AM

Been running E rated Deans (Cooper MFG) on my truck for about 5k miles and I'm fairly sure my Pro Comps (Cooper MFG) were E rated as well. No complaints at all.

Urban_Cowboy · 12-14-2006, 10:38 AM

Thanks for the input everybody. I went ahead and ordered my tires and will post my first impressions after I get a few miles on them.