Load range "E"

Some tires only come in E rated in certain sizes

 

So many people seem to think Eload range is intended solely for a certain "weight" of truck... like only for 1 tons. What is a 1 ton? It's an outdated term that doesn't mean anything anymore. Tire manufacturers make their tires to be capable of withstanding certain weights and types of abuse. In the "light truck" category, any and all tires will work for your Tacoma. The higher the load range, the better you will fair when it comes to carrying weight in your truck, or driving on extreme/taxing terrain.

 

I like to be an instigator. You may also consider the Toyo ATII which is available in both P (if you really want to hold true to SCCA in the truck) or C load in 265/65/R16. Edit: I don't recommend P if you wheel off road where there is risk of sidewall damage.

While any tire will 'work' that doesn't make it the correct tire. C-load tires will carry a combined nearly 5klbs over the rear axle, or almost 10k total for all 4 on the truck. The Tacoma can't carry anywhere close to that. So putting E-load tires on there rated to carry 13k lbs isn'g going to be any benefit in terms of carrying the weight better, because the Tacoma physically cannot even stress a C-load tire. Toyota puts P-load (passenger tires) which are lower than C, because the Tacoma cannot even get close to the passenger tire rating of 8700 lbs for all 4. So you are adding significant extra rotation weight with nearly no benefit, which will decrease acceleration, mpgs, braking, and not ride as well as a lighter range tire. People do it all the time anyway due to lack of tire options, or awareness, but that doesn't make it the best tire choice.

 

I can understand why you think this way about tires, but there are a lot of factors here. The weight the tire is rated to is a number. The weight of the vehicle (both on the front and rear axle) is another number. The surface area on which you are placing the load of a tire, ie. variation in terrain, is a quantifiable factor.

I can understand how you are reaching your conclusions, but there are some major faults in the reasoning. For example, you say "almost 10k total for all 4 on the truck" in reference to C-load tires. One could easily make the mistake of thinking that C-Load tires can handle 10k pounds when in reality, your truck can't handle that. But, the tires can only handle that when the weight is distributed evenly and there are no outlying factors, such as variation in terrain.

The stresses of uneven terrain, carrying a load, wheeling ridiculousness, and many other factors is reason enough to have tires that can handle more. Yes, Toyotas come clad in passenger tires from the dealer/factory. But, if you spend some time on uneven terrain hauling things in your cab/bed, towing things attached to your hitch, and pushing your truck to do things that you won't experience on flat, even pavement, you will begin to understand why D and E load range tires are invaluable.

 

All valid points, the numbers I mention are of course in ideal conditions based on the tire rating. That doesn't mean you can evenly distribute the weight in that fashion to achieve that rating, but the Tacoma also can't carry close to that load. But I still don't see exceeding the threshold of a C-load tire with a Tacoma unless one is doing crazy overloading with the vehicle loaded well beyond gross. If it is a dedicated wheeling rig, sure why not, the negatives don't matter. But on a daily driver it doesn't make sense. Ds would make more sense than Es.

I've wheeled for 10 years in sharp rock, always run quality C-load tires (Original MTRs, KM2s -many sets, KO2s, KOs that I don't want to talk about) at deflated pressures and never had a sidewall or tire failure. If you do not properly deflate your tires to distribute stress points, the results could be worse.

 

I understand your points, all valid. I have, however, completely and totally destroyed C load tires in sedans and station wagons by going through dirt and mud. Not sure what cut them, but they got wrecked. Never had that problem with D or E load. My E loads are comfy enough to ride on anyway. I keep them around 35-37 on pavement and 12-25 off road. When it comes to the load my truck will carry, I never expect that to directly translate to the rating on tires. If I am carrying 500lbs in my truck, I expect each of my tires to carry a full 1000lbs on top of the weight they carry from that axle/half of the truck.

 

I have Kumho Road Venture "E" tires and I love them. Actually find them more comfortable than the factory tires and they absorb road defects better too.