Help Me Choose: P or LT rated 285

Im currently in the market for 285/70/17 and have been debating between a handful of tires. Here is a list of the tires i have been considering and their weight just for information

P285/70/17
-Toyo Open Country A/T2 - 48lbs
-Nitto Terra Grappler G2 - 45lbs
-Cooper Discoverer AT3 - 45lbs
LT285/70/17
-BF Goodrich KO2 - 57lbs
-Goodyear Duratrac - 53lbs


The KO2 would be my first choice based off aesthetics, but i put a lot of highway miles on my truck (about 500 miles/week) so ride quality is important to me and the LT rating has me concerned, since a lot of people say the higher ply rating accompinied by them results in a harsher ride, but with that being said i still want an aesthetically appealing tire. The duratracs are a few pounds lighter, but not as light as a P rated tire.

I guess what im asking is: Will the p rated tires perform better enough in the ride quality category to make up what is given up aesthetically with the KO2 and Duratrac?

Also, how would going with a 16" inch tire effect ride quality compared to 17"? i would consider going that route also if it meant a better ride.

 

I have the P rated BFG, it good for the highway and it quite, just about it. Now I have the LT rated BFG KO2 loved, unbelievable in the snow. I driven in a big storm up in New England and I didn't even put in 4x4. I have to tell you the the KO2 tires are heavy and slightly bumpy. U will feel the a slight road noise in the highway when u drive above 60mph. They are expensive but worth every penny. BFGOODRICH have good warranty, highly recommended.

 

are those 265's? thanks for the info

 

But do you off-road or tow at all? If not, I don't think I would compromise ride and mpg for a "cool looking" LT tire. I would just stick with a P. The Toyo's are pretty sweet looking in their own right, imo.

 

K02's have no mileage warranty, only mfg defects. I have 265 70 17's and love them. They do force you to stand on the throttle more though. Mileage has taken a 1 mpg hit but small price to pay for looks and performance. 285's cost more and required trimming. I wasn't interested in that for minimal width increase.

 

They are 265 stock height. I don't want any rubbing issue. I don't do off road, only go camping with my kids.

 

Offroading for me is just hitting some easy trails, a few mud holes, or playing in some pits/fields. im sure a p tire would hold up, as my p rated michelin m/s2 hold up to it.

 

i considerd 265 but the look of 285's , no matter what tire, won me over.

 

Unless you plan on routinely carrying around double the GVWR in your truck, the P or "Std" load tires are perfectly fine. C and E load are completely over kill.

I have no experience with the KO2, but the KO is by far the worst all-terrain tire I've ever run, and I've tried multiple sets on multiple different vehicles with multiple drivers. Absolute trash.

 

Thanks, for the review. I run 38 psi on c loads not 58 which would be double. And f-ing love mine. Ko's already have a less than stellar following here. Apples to oranges.

 

You can still have fun offroading with good P-rated tires, as I can attest:

 

The answer I am trying to find...and it may be obvious to those who know, but what is the difference between the LT and P ratings? I'm in the same boat as OP looking for a good A/T tire with a smooth on road ride. Need a good snow tire because of the nasty winters but don't want to do too much off road yet since the bank loan is still heavy lol.

 

i know P tires are generally 4 ply and most LT tires are 8-10 ply with a few in 6 ply. That may not be completely correct. From what i understand the ply count has the biggest affect on ride and weight of the tire.

 

"Ply" rating is misleading these days. An 8 ply tire doesn't necessarily have 8 plies, but has the "rating" of 8 plies. Basically, the difference between P and LT (C,D,E, etc) is the amount of weight they can carry as a function of being able to retain a higher tire pressure.

 

Getting LT tires for any mid sized truck seems a little crazy for me, but i guess it all depends on what youre using it for

 

I've had P rated tires, D and E loads. I've had Nitto TG in P's and got stock mpg and comfort. Between D and E, can't really tell a difference in ride comfort but mpg does suffer just a bit compared to P's. The P rated tires were just too cushy for my liking.

 

https://toyotires2-1524598101.netdn...ication_of_Load_Inflation_Tables_20151020.pdf

 

Which do you like better the ko2 or duratrac?

 

Hard to say given the still low mileage for both tires. I can say that the KO2's are quieter if that matters to you.