Tire Load Range question

I have been following the threads about the new BFG KO2s. I love the new look but have seen a lot of comments saying to avoid load range E tires if you don't really need them.

I did a search on tirerack for 265/75/16 tires and there are very few tires that are P or anything less that E. About 85% of the tires were E.

Is there really a big difference between C/D and E?

 

I used to have 265/75/16 BFG AT KO's on my 01 V6, those tires were load range E.
Switched to 15 inch rim and put on 32x11.5/15 BFG AT's on. I get a few miles more per gallon. Other than that dont notice much. I dont carry much in truck or do any gnarly offroading.

 

They are a little heavier also. Much better off road.

 

Load C is plenty for most of us, and it gives a good ride. D is hard to find, but a great compromise. You have to wheel the hell out of a Taco to need load E, which will give a very firm ride. I only need load E on my Ram 3500 that I use to haul my horses into areas that many would consider "offroad", which is where the trailhead often starts for getting into the backcountry with the horses.

Look at different brands and retailers. You can save money on tires and fuel by not going too high on load range. Better up than down IMO, though. P rated are for minivans.

The pic in my sig is not what I call offroad...

 

If you never offroad I would say stick with P. It will give you the best ride and be the cheapest. Moderate off roading with few trips in the rocks, go with a C. If you must rely on your tires because you are a long way from anything, or you get into some serious rocks, or just hate flats, go E. I personally wont ever put anything but E tires on my rigs, but that's just me.

 

The ride in BFG AT KOs is smooth. They aren't loud either.

 

So many mixed views on this topic....I have load range E on my taco and don't do much off-roading....with BFG would get their head out of their ass and make more AT KOs in load range C. It's bogus that 95% of the AT KO line is load range E. I'm in your same boat and want to put BFG AT KOs on my new 4Runner...but really thinking of going with a different brand that offers load range C