Choosing an "E" load rating - too stiff? or necessary?

I don't see this talked about too much on this forum. Most of the discussion I find on this seems to be on Jeep or 4Runner forums - where most of them say that they'd never put an E rated tire on their vehicle because they give too harsh of a ride. And they're a lot heavier, dragging down MPG. Almost all of them go for a "C" rated tire.

For the tire size range I'm looking for, it seems like all the options are there, so I'm just wondering what people thought. The Cooper AT3's I'm looking at aren't even an LT tire (they're listed under SUV) and only weight 38 lbs, but still have a max load of 2679lbs.

The Cooper S/T MAXX I'm looking at is C rated and has a max load of 2405, but TreadDepot says that tire weighs 51lbs (the same weight as all the E rated MAXX's, so I wonder if it's just a TreadDepot typo).

The Duratrac I'm looking at isn't an LT tire either and has a max load of 2679.

The 255/75R17 Silent Armor is actually classified as a P tire, but still has a load up to 2535. Is there something else about the P designation I should be avoiding?

But most of the popular tires talked about on here have E ratings taking up most of their size range.

So I guess my question is, given that we own trucks, is it somewhat necessary for us to buy LT and E rated tires? I don't pull yacht's or haul lead bricks or anything, but that isn't to say I wouldn't haul a full load of firewood at times. Do any Tacoma owners avoid E ratings for a smoother ride, and have you been happy with the results?

Shits confusing... so thanks for any help.

 

P-rated tires generally have less tread depth than their LT rated cousins. They also generally have thinner sidewalls.

A lot of us go with E rated LT because they are going to be the most resistant to being punctured out on a trail. If all you ever do is ride around on the highway you'll probably be okay with P rated tires. If you do only very light offroading C rated will be okay. If you really like to hit the trails and the pinstripes on your truck are a mark of pride, just go with E rated.

I went from the P rated Rugged Fails to some E rated Grabber AT2s and lost ~2mpg. I don't find the ride stiff, it's a damn truck. On the same note I'm running the stiffest setup I can from OME. I don't have swaybars.

 

^ that about caps it, good info.

PBS, I'll have a set of Cooper Discoverer AT3s in P285/70R17 up for sale soon if you're interested. just put them on in the fall, not much mileage on them, 2-3k max. moving to a new wheel/tire pkg.

 

Yeah, the most off-road my truck will get are fire and logging roads while up north camping. I won't be crawling over any rocks.

Thanks for the info.

 

Appreciate the offer, but that's way wider than I'm looking for. I do like the look of the AT3's though. Seems like a good compromise tire, and everybody that owns them loves them.

 

no sweat, yeah, the AT3s have been nice.

i've run P-rated tires (Toyo + Cooper) on my last two trucks that got the same use as yours. no issues what so ever.

 

Unless you intend to carry a LOT of weight there is no need for an "E" rated tire.

 

Yeah, part of me knows I'm probably over-thinking it too much, but just want to make sure I don't make a mistake when purchasing.

I think for my usage I shouldn't worry.

Thanks for the info, guys.

Roger.

 

why put a e load tire on a street truck that's not designed for it. the suspension, axle, and brakes and not designed for more weight. that being said if you work out of your truck and carry around 1000lbs all the time I could see it. but most people when they haul or pull something it from point A to point B then the truck is empty for the other 99% of the time

 

To carry the weight the truck is not capable of. If you use an "E" rated tire in order to carry the max load you'll need 85 psi wonder how well that will ride? Save them for your one ton dully.

 

*dually
I run E rated KM2's. I like running normal (32Psi) tire pressure and having some faith that my tires won't be ripped to shit on highway construction sites. But that's just like, my opinion man.

 

I put on E rated without even knowing anything about ratings and never had an issue with them.

 

Had E rated BFGs on my previous Taco, and to be honest the only reason was because I got a great deal on them. They are stiffer, and are constructed with more belts, plus weigh more. The good thing is that they typically last longer due to the thicker materials. If I had to do it over, I'd have purchased a C rated tire. You really have to look at your planned driving activities:

-Lots of offroad/towing, get an E
-Lots of onroad/highway, get a P or C

 

Or compromise and go with a D.

 

For me, I didn't like E rated tires on my Tacoma. I felt that when I aired down to a nice street pressure, 34-35 psi, it wasn't the air pressure that was what was holding up the truck. Felt like the stiff sidewalls where supporting the truck not the air in them. Would kind of flop back and forth on the sidewalls. Hated it. Went to C rated tire in LT and no problems. My MTR's are C rated.

 

Not everybody... I wouldn't buy them again. They were noisy and didn't wear well at all. That aside, I had the SL version of the AT3, which is the one you're finding under SUV. It's more than capable of anything the Tacoma can handle. When I took them off my Tacoma, they were run on a Silverado 1500 for the rest of their life and did just fine. The truck sized P rated tires will be fine for light off roading and towing anything the Tacoma is capable of towing.

 

.... in the end I went with passenger tires. I just ordered some P255/75R17's Dynopro ATM's that should be here in about a week. It was a toss-up between those and the C-rated Cooper ST Maxx though.

E didn't sound like it fit my needs.

Thanks for all the advice.

 

I look forward to seeing your truck with the Dynopros and hearing your thoughts on the ride and handling. I am thinking about that size for my next tire.

 

Will do. I'm getting OME suspension put on next week - 883 springs and shocks should give me about 1.5". Then a few days later the wheels/tires. I don't want to do it at the same time so I can troubleshoot issues easier.

Right now half of our roads are snow/slush, which the stock Dunlops perform terrible in. I'm looking forward to an improvement.

 

The ST Maxx are the best tires I've ran on a truck so far (compare BFG ATKO, General Grabber AT2, Wrangler Silent Armor)
Hope they work out for you but you missed out on the coopers...