E Load Tires - Are they necessary ?

E rated for me. Couple times with c rated on gravel roads ended with rocks punched through the tread. I do a lot of gravel roads.

 

E rated 255/80 Wildpeaks @ 31F, 30R (chalk test). Ride is similar to P rated Duracraps the truck had, wear is even, handling is great.

 

A C rated tire offers no advantage over standard or P rated tires. If you need a tougher tire than a P rated tire skip everything and go to E. If you're buying C rated tires save your money and get P's.

For most people they aren't needed. And even for those who can justify them they aren't needed often. But if you're going to a tire much, if any larger than stock size you have no choice. And if you spend much time on harsh off road, or even unimproved roads E rated tires are cheaper in the long run.

I don't know why someone doesn't offer it, but it seems to me that there is a demand for a 33" tire in a P rating. Even if you choose C rated tires, the offerings are slim. When I was younger D rated tires were much more common, but I don't recall the last time I saw any. Seems that would be the best choice for a Tacoma.

Over the last 50 years I've owned a lot of trucks and SUV's. I've had E rated tires on about 1/2 the time, P rated tires the other half. I've had both on my current Tacoma. There are downsides to E rated tires, but they aren't nearly as bad as some want you to think.

 

You might find this interesting?

 

In 2023, the advice we should give everyone is to spend the max amount of money on everything, no matter the use case.

Because only simps and losers make sensible and data-driven decisions when it comes to retail consumption.

 

my wildpeak at3w a/t 255/80r17 only came in E

I wish I tried 285/70r17 C instead

I’ve had puncture with C. Never with E.
Co worker trashed a C tire on trail. But I imagine you have to do something dumb for that. Like drive full speed into a tree branch or sharp rock pointing right at you

 

All of you who wheel with E rated tires probably don't air down either...

 

I've had mine for a year and a half and they really are pretty good, no complaints

 

I was alllll about the Cs until I started doing 1 ton things with my 1/4 ton truck. (I haul a 1600 lb four wheel camper quite often). The difference is noticable, highly recommended, and gives me peace of mind when hauling. I hauled with Cs for a while and it was ok, also unloaded ride quality was way better, but I didn't like wondering if i'd have a blowout related to the weaker tire.

 

For most situations I agree with the above. For certain use cases I disagree 100%. If you are running heavy (decked drawers, rack + gear pods, Roof top Tent, armor/skids, winch + bumper) and towing you want that sidewall strength as well as the ability to air up. I'll run 50 - 60 psi in the rear and 42 in the front when towing my 3500# XOC with my taco loaded down for an expedition on road. I'll deflate into the high teens and twenties when I get off the pavement. Zero issues with E rated 275/70/17 KO2s. They come at a cost though, as others have mentioned. They are stiff, heavy tires.

@REAL_OG it really depends on your use case and the ride and feel you like.

 

E rated DURATRAC’s, to heavy and to harsh for me personally.

285-70-17 E Load - 58lbs
315-70-17 D Load - 62lbs

 

As always the details matter. I wheel on a lot of rocks, and I wheel often enough that having the protection matters. In my experience, E rated tires have significantly better resistance to cuts and punctures. On a tall skinny tire, which I run, the stronger sidewalls keep the tire from being a noodle at lower pressures. It really gives a much better feel and steering control both on and off the road.

With regard to the complaint that they are too stiff for comfort or performance aired down, I'll say two things. First off, I see people all the time running far too high a pressure in these tires. Yes, the tires are designed to accept higher pressures, but it is not required. The pressure needs to be consistent with the load being carried. Most tire pressure charts do not really comprehend the way we use these tires. Most are concerned primarily with load capacity, which is not really an issue on these trucks. The only way to find your pressure is through testing and experimentation. Second, not all E tires are constructed the same. Some have 3 plies in the sidewall and some have only two. That's a 50% difference! The Toyos for instance have very stiff sidewalls, but the Cepek Extremes have very compliant sidewalls. I try and search out the brands that tend toward the light side of E, both in physical weight and in construction. The truth is, the D rating is probably ideal for most of us who use our trucks for heavier tasks, but the D rating is almost extinct.

One area of legitimate concern for all of us is weight. I could write a whole article on the problems that come with heavy tires, and this is one metric that should be considered in any tire choice. I quit running Coopers for this reason. They are 8 pounds heavier than my Cepeks! Cooper does make other brands like Mastercraft that have very nice construction for these smaller trucks. You should also know that weight does not track with load rating. There are Cs out there just as heavy as Es. You have to do the research, and weight is one area where many manufactures are either not forthcoming or down right deceitful. When I walk in to buy tires I literally walk in with a scale under my arm. Yes, I drive tire dealers crazy because I require honesty. If the published weight of the tire is not accurate, I may not buy them. Many people sacrifice performance here by running tires too big or too wide, for the simple reason that they like the look. Fair enough. The ONLY place where I have found wide tires to actually hold an advantage on a multi-use vehicle is in soft sand.

I'm not advocating for everyone to run Es, but they do have a place. If you discount them, do it for an intelligent reason. If I were primarily a road driver with occasional forest roads, I would likely look for the right C tire myself. Cs hold up fine in sand and mud. One place where tire durability has become a problem for me is on logging roads in the PNW. The crushed rock they lay down on those roads can be hell on tires! In my opinion, P rated tires should never see dirt, but they are nice for street use.

 

I’d love if I could find a good 255/80/17 c load tire. Haven’t been successful, all E so far.

 

I've run both C and E and the ride quality difference was minimal. I'm on an E now because it was the only load rating in the size I have.

If you're worried about flats and getting home then bring a second spare...that is much more comforting than the marginal added protection going from a C to an E.

It is also worth noting that the only times I've had punctures off-road were when I wasn't aired down but I also try and drive like I want to make it home and not going full send in the rocks or through the underbrush helps.

 

New to the Tacoma thing, but I regret putting E rated 33s on my Silverado for all the reasons already stated, and that's a bigger heavier truck with more torque and hp. I don't think I would want to put that mass in all four corners for this v6 when I didn't even like it on my 5.3.

 

It's really not that bad. I ran a 255-85-16 Dick Cepeks for awhile,and really liked them. They were one of the lightest tires you could get in that size as well.

 

Very well written

 

I've used both E and C. I honestly think it's a personal preference. A well constructed c rated tire will do well just about anywhere one will go and in some cases provide better traction .

The only time I see E-rated tires giving any advantage is sharp jagged rocks that have height around sidewall.

Otherwise a good C rated tire will take care of you and actually help your truck tide smoother.

 

If I live someplace that was rocky like out west, I'd probably have E rated. I live in southern Indiana, near Louisville so E rated wouldn't really be a benefit to me.
I have Falken Wildpeak AT3Ws on my truck, 265/75-16 in a P metric and run 32 PSI in the front and 29 in the rear. They are wearing very evenly at those lower pressures and ride better than my Michelins I had before.
I think the big thing with ride quality is DON'T air them up to what is listed on the sidewall.
I don't want the extra weight since 99% of my driving is done on paved or black top roads.