Buying new KO2's but don't need load range "E"

I have KM2 33's on my pickup now. Have had them for about five years. Running about 4800 lbs dry weight on the truck as it sits. The KM2's are a "D" tire. They have been perfect for my needs. I need new rubber. I really like the KO2's for a replacement but I can only find a LT285-70R17 in a load range "E"??? Why is that and will I see a difference? From what I'm reading they are both ten ply either way. Just ready to buy but i don't need that extreme of a tire for a small pickup

 

E weight rating tires are heavier. The letter basically means what ply rating the tire is:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tire_code#Load_range

If your old tires were D range than they were 8 ply rated. So the biggest noticeable difference is that your new tires will likely be heavier. That also usually means that they will be tougher and more durable.

Most large AT's come in the E weight rating.

 

They are four lb's lighter... and tire rack shows them as the same ply. So this is why i'm so confused.

 

1st, I would compare specs on the manufacturer site, not tirerack.
2nd, why would you replace your MT's with an AT if the MT has been perfect for your needs? Sounds like a recipe for disappointment.

 

Ply rating and how many plies a tire have are no longer related. Ply rating now is only a rating for the tires load range. It does not dictate how many plies the tires are actually made with. This is similar to how we still call all half ton trucks half tons but they can often now handle a full ton of payload.

Getting back to why the system is like it is. Some trucks, heavier than the Tacoma, require a heavier load rating. Too be honest our Tacoma's come with P rated tires stock so you could get away with a pretty light tire lol. E range tires are the most common tires in the larger sizes because of how heavy the tire is and the varied applications the tire could be put in. A lot of 33's and 35's could be on a Tacoma, a 3500 series truck, or whatever. So the manufactures often make them in the heavier load ratings because those weight ratings tend to be tougher, because the tire has to be tougher to handle the extra weight and PSI it's rated for, and because the heavier tire will fit the most applications.

BTW just because a tire is rated for more weight doesn't always mean it will weigh more itself. For example, an C rated Cooper ST Maxx weighs a lot more than an E rated Duratrac. That's because the Cooper is designed to be tougher and has a lot more to it. That means more weight in the tire, but it doesn't change that the Duratrac is rated for more weight carrying capacity.

 

The KO2's are rated much better in everything except mud. Even the snow rating is higher. we run them on our work trucks and they have paid for them selves.

 

If you drop down to 265s, you can get them in C rating?

 

The old KO2's sucked for wear. I hear the new ones are better and a few guys were trying them at my old job but I left before I could see how it turned out.

Did you have a look at the Cooper ST Maxx? It definitely wouldn't be as good on ice but as far as snow, mud, and any other trouble goes they are great. They are definitely the toughest AT tire I've ever seen. However if you are scared of tire weight avoid the Coopers. Tough comes at a price, and that price is weight.