P Vs Lt Tires

[Hieneken49]

Im lookin to get some 285/70-17 Tires and im wondering if you guys are running LT or P rated tires? there is about a 8 lbs diffrence between the two sizes, im looking at toyo at's, and the lt have 17/32 thread depth vs 13/32 for the P. someone told me the unsprung weight at 4 corners will make a noticable diffrence but im skeptical. i know the LTs are rougher riding than the Ps, what do you guys think/run ?

[Matt_]

Does "looks" matter at all to you? The LT's will have a more aggressive tread than the P rated tires... the tread is deeper and has a more squared edge.

 

LT's will ride rougher. Only real "benefit" of the LT's is the ability to run higher pressures when fully loaded to help reduce sway. (Edit: for offroad trucks, the added plys also make the tires less resistant to damage...)

 

If you're not towing max capacity often, and don't care if the tread looks more aggressive, i'd get the P-rated tires for the more comfortable ride and lighter weight.

[amtz.zero]

8 lb. difference? Is that per tire?

[Hieneken49]

[Stevens03]

I'm running LT... Just don't like P tires on a truck. Matt put it out there pretty good.

 

If you do any towing, LT tires should be what you run.

[700 sportsman]

I agree with steven, I have LT's on my truck, and I would say if you tow/haul much, I would go with the LT's the difference will be minimal if you notice it at all

[wurgs]

I'm picking up some BF goodrich A/T KO LT tires monday( found a good price on 275/65/18s for 240 a piece installed) to replace my p rated ones. The stock tires just don't feel right when towing my camper. You can always run lower pressure in the 45-50 lb range to help with the stiffer ride in the LTs.

[kawtoy_77]

You guys that are running LT tires, what is the max load (in lbs) per tire on your tires? I have 2535lbs/per tire.... and mine are P rated. The Manufacturer (GM in this case) put General Ameritrac P245/70-17's on my 1500 2wd nnbs Sierra that have a 108S rating (2205lbs per tire max load) and the truck being a half ton should be able to handle 1000lbs in the bed. My truck also came with the "tow package" which means it should already be set up for towing with these P-rated 108S Ameritrac's, but I now have the Hankook DynaPro ATM rf10's which are a 113T rated tire (max load 2535lbs per tire) thats almost 300lbs per tire more than what the factory put on my truck for towing. So, I guess what you guys are saying is thats no good, and I still need to put LT tires on my truck!? I call BS. I haul and tow with my truck. I have had no problems with my tires from the factory, and these tires are even better. jm2c

[Blue2500CC]

You guys that are running LT tires, what is the max load (in lbs) per tire on your tires? I have 2535lbs/per tire.... and mine are P rated. The Manufacturer (GM in this case) put General Ameritrac P245/70-17's on my 1500 2wd nnbs Sierra that have a 108S rating (2205lbs per tire max load) and the truck being a half ton should be able to handle 1000lbs in the bed. My truck also came with the "tow package" which means it should already be set up for towing with these P-rated 108S Ameritrac's, but I now have the Hankook DynaPro ATM rf10's which are a 113T rated tire (max load 2535lbs per tire) thats almost 300lbs per tire more than what the factory put on my truck for towing. So, I guess what you guys are saying is thats no good, and I still need to put LT tires on my truck!? I call BS. I haul and tow with my truck. I have had no problems with my tires from the factory, and these tires are even better. jm2c

 

As mentioned, it depends on just how heavy of a load you are hauling or towing. My dad had a problem pulling his 22'(+2' v nose) enclosed car trailer even empty (I think the trailer weighs close to 4k lbs empty). The truck was like a bored kid in a store! The rear just kept "wiggling" from side to side, and yes, the WD Hitch was set up correctly for the trailer being empty at the time. It was the sidewalls of the "P" rated car tires that were on the truck from the factory. He couldn't figure it out! Thought something was wrong with the truck, or maybe the trailer. When id did it pulling my travel trailer, I knew it was his truck, and started thinking about what could be different. Instantly I thought about the tires! I HAD (old truck) "D" rated tires on my truck. He talked to a few different tire dealers, and they all said, "IT WAS THE "P" RATED TIRES SIDEWALL FLEXING!

 

I have only had my new '10 truck on "back roads" (no highway yet) pulling my 16x6.5 TA open trailer with a Z Master (about 2600lbs total) and haven't noticed any issues. But I expect that I could have issues when I pull my 5500lb travel trailer that has a TON of tongue weight.

 

The factory mounts "P" tires for ride quality and gas mileage.

 

Glad to hear you haven't had any issues!

 

Chris

[MS3DALE]

I'm runnin' LT tires,I prefer running LT tires over P rated ones,I notice no difference at all as far as ride/handling.

[asilverblazer]

You guys that are running LT tires, what is the max load (in lbs) per tire on your tires? I have 2535lbs/per tire.... and mine are P rated. The Manufacturer (GM in this case) put General Ameritrac P245/70-17's on my 1500 2wd nnbs Sierra that have a 108S rating (2205lbs per tire max load) and the truck being a half ton should be able to handle 1000lbs in the bed. My truck also came with the "tow package" which means it should already be set up for towing with these P-rated 108S Ameritrac's, but I now have the Hankook DynaPro ATM rf10's which are a 113T rated tire (max load 2535lbs per tire) thats almost 300lbs per tire more than what the factory put on my truck for towing. So, I guess what you guys are saying is thats no good, and I still need to put LT tires on my truck!? I call BS. I haul and tow with my truck. I have had no problems with my tires from the factory, and these tires are even better. jm2c

 

I agree, absolutely no reason for a 1/2 ton truck to need LT tires, if you need a LT tire for towing purposes, you are overloading the truck. Not to mention 45-50 PSI .

[Matt_]

You guys that are running LT tires, what is the max load (in lbs) per tire on your tires? I have 2535lbs/per tire.... and mine are P rated. The Manufacturer (GM in this case) put General Ameritrac P245/70-17's on my 1500 2wd nnbs Sierra that have a 108S rating (2205lbs per tire max load) and the truck being a half ton should be able to handle 1000lbs in the bed. My truck also came with the "tow package" which means it should already be set up for towing with these P-rated 108S Ameritrac's, but I now have the Hankook DynaPro ATM rf10's which are a 113T rated tire (max load 2535lbs per tire) thats almost 300lbs per tire more than what the factory put on my truck for towing. So, I guess what you guys are saying is thats no good, and I still need to put LT tires on my truck!? I call BS. I haul and tow with my truck. I have had no problems with my tires from the factory, and these tires are even better. jm2c

 

I agree, absolutely no reason for a 1/2 ton truck to need LT tires, if you need a LT tire for towing purposes, you are overloading the truck. Not to mention 45-50 PSI .

 

 

 

I don't think anyone said you "need" LT tires... just that there are some "benefits" to running LT tires if you do indeed tow often.

 

When towing heavy loads, the P tires will get the job done... the LT tires will get the job done a bit better due to the stiffer sidewall/higher pressure capabilities AND they [should] last longer in terms of tread life in a truck that tows frequently.

[MS3DALE]

You guys that are running LT tires, what is the max load (in lbs) per tire on your tires? I have 2535lbs/per tire.... and mine are P rated. The Manufacturer (GM in this case) put General Ameritrac P245/70-17's on my 1500 2wd nnbs Sierra that have a 108S rating (2205lbs per tire max load) and the truck being a half ton should be able to handle 1000lbs in the bed. My truck also came with the "tow package" which means it should already be set up for towing with these P-rated 108S Ameritrac's, but I now have the Hankook DynaPro ATM rf10's which are a 113T rated tire (max load 2535lbs per tire) thats almost 300lbs per tire more than what the factory put on my truck for towing. So, I guess what you guys are saying is thats no good, and I still need to put LT tires on my truck!? I call BS. I haul and tow with my truck. I have had no problems with my tires from the factory, and these tires are even better. jm2c

 

I agree, absolutely no reason for a 1/2 ton truck to need LT tires, if you need a LT tire for towing purposes, you are overloading the truck. Not to mention 45-50 PSI .

 

 

 

I don't think anyone said you "need" LT tires... just that there are some "benefits" to running LT tires if you do indeed tow often.

 

When towing heavy loads, the P tires will get the job done... the LT tires will get the job done a bit better due to the stiffer sidewall/higher pressure capabilities AND they [should] last longer in terms of tread life in a truck that tows frequently.

 

 

Yeah,And don't forget.....LT tires are available as an option on some 1/2-tons from the factory (LT245/70R17 - Load Range "C")

[jro909]

i think mine are LT i wanted them for the looks and extra traction

[kawtoy_77]

Yeah,And don't forget.....LT tires are available as an option on some 1/2-tons from the factory (LT245/70R17 - Load Range "C")

I wonder why GM did not use that option as part of the tow package?

 

Also, the blunt of the weight should be on the trailer tires I would think.....You shouldn't have that much tongue weight, IMHO.