P vs LT rated tires?

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P = When a tire size begins with a "P," it signifies the tire is a "P-metric" size that was designed to be fitted on vehicles that are primarily used as passenger vehicles. This includes cars, minivans, sport utility vehicles and light duty pickup trucks (typically 1/4- and 1/2-ton load capacity). The use of P-metric sizes began in the late 1970s and they are the most frequently used type of tire size today.

That's us...yes you are in the same class as a minivan.

LT = If a tire size begins with "LT," it signifies the tire is a "Light Truck-metric" size that was designed to be used on vehicles that are capable of carrying heavy cargo or towing large trailers. This includes medium and heavy-duty (typically 3/4- and 1-ton load capacity) pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles and full-size vans. Tires branded with the "LT" designation are the "little brothers" of 18-wheel tractor-trailer tires and are designed to provide substantial reserve capacity to accept the additional stresses of carrying heavy cargo.

Not us but real big boy trucks

 

The NSA called and need help deciphering this

 

Yeah, I already feel flames coming your way...

 

I can definitely see the rationale for using LTs if you are a serious rock crawler and need the extra strength/toughness, but to buy them for things that are out of our league...doesn't compute IMHO

 

I know that this is an old thread but, I'm going to comment anyways.

A lot of people posted that Toyota put P metric tires on from the factory as a way of justification for using P metric load rated tires. I think that this is probably not the best way to make that decision because what you need should be determined by how you intend to use the truck. I believe that Toyota used a different rationale for selecting these tires and considered either cost, fuel mileage rating or both. Fuel mileage will drop with LT tires because they are much heavier. My factory tires did just fine with my use which includes no offroading, some towing and snow use. I got over 55,000 out of them with no problems. I won't be changing my habits and I'm not willing to take a fuel mileage hit, so I'm going with P metric tires. If you have had the same experience that I have had with the P metric load rated tires, then you may want to consider them if your habits aren't changing. If you are doing a some off roading or a lot of heavy hauling, maybe LT load rated will be better. However, Toyota cared about neither when they built these trucks.

 

P metric tires are fine for off roading, better in some cases (desert, sand, etc.), so don't let the idea of them being lighter or softer rubber, be a bad thing. Maybe they don't last as long, but except one time (Cooper Discoverer STT), I have only bought P rated tires. Hankook Dynapro ATM currently.

 

I'm putting Hankook Dynapro ATM P-metric tires on my truck tomorrow. I had Hankook Dynapro ATM LT rated tires on my Colorado and I loved those tires. Of course that truck is 2WD and never hauled anything heavier than a 4,000 lb trailer so, I wasted my money on that...twice. LOL