LT tires

the blur · January 27, 2005

My truck came with P265-70-17's goodyears wrangelers.

Local tire shop says I can go with an LT rated tire.

what's the difference ???

how much harsher will she ride?

what are the benifits ?

it's a daily driver for my wife and kids, and she likes the pluch denali ride.

Shawn T · January 27, 2005

Your truck came with P rated tires?

P=passenger car

LT=light truck

LT may ride a little harsher but will have the sidewall to carry the wieght, passengers, and cargo of a truck. I can't even imagine driving a truck with car tires on it. Maybe I'm wrong.

Scyry · January 27, 2005

Generally on the same tire brand, make and size a P rated will have less tread depth than a LT too.

jhm · January 27, 2005

Sure, you can swap LT's with P's and vice versa. If you are happy with the tires that came with your vehicle, and you change to LT's, you will definately notice a harsher ride. Most SUV's and pick ups in the 1/2 ton line come from the factory with 'P' tires. Most buyers of these vehicles just drive them around like a car so they want a smooth comfortable ride. Check out tire sites online to get all the details. Not everyone with a pick up truck needs LT tires.

Shawn T · January 27, 2005

Sure, you can swap LT's with P's and vice versa. If you are happy with the tires that came with your vehicle, and you change to LT's, you will definately notice a harsher ride. Most SUV's and pick ups in the 1/2 ton line come from the factory with 'P' tires. Most buyers of these vehicles just drive them around like a car so they want a smooth comfortable ride. Check out tire sites online to get all the details. Not everyone with a pick up truck needs LT tires.

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jhm,

Your probably right because I am definately not a tire expert. On the other hand. I have ordered all of my trucks(all 4X4's) and there are only two factory tire options: AS or AT's and they are both LT rated. I check the other two automaker option lists and they are the same, 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, whatever. Maybe certain SUV's have a P rating option. Wasn't that part of Firestone's issue on the explorer. A P rated tire on an SUV with a weak sidewall? That is like driving a motorcycle with bicycle tires on it. I searched the internet and found a little information on government tire ratings but it was never clear whether an SUV had to have LT rated or P rated tires. Let me know, because I am curious.

jhm · January 27, 2005

Sure, you can swap LT's with P's and vice versa. If you are happy with the tires that came with your vehicle, and you change to LT's, you will definately notice a harsher ride. Most SUV's and pick ups in the 1/2 ton line come from the factory with 'P' tires. Most buyers of these vehicles just drive them around like a car so they want a smooth comfortable ride. Check out tire sites online to get all the details. Not everyone with a pick up truck needs LT tires.

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jhm,

Your probably right because I am definately not a tire expert. On the other hand. I have ordered all of my trucks(all 4X4's) and there are only two factory tire options: AS or AT's and they are both LT rated. I check the other two automaker option lists and they are the same, 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, whatever. Maybe certain SUV's have a P rating option. Wasn't that part of Firestone's issue on the explorer. A P rated tire on an SUV with a weak sidewall? That is like driving a motorcycle with bicycle tires on it. I searched the internet and found a little information on government tire ratings but it was never clear whether an SUV had to have LT rated or P rated tires. Let me know, because I am curious.

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I am not a tire expert either, but my 2001 4x4 ext cab 1/2 ton silverado came with P metric tires as original equipment. When I replaced them I did a lot of research and Tire rack.com and the rest of the online vendors reccommended the p tires when I plugged all the info into the selector tool. I ended up buying Cooper Discoverer AT's (LT) and although I have gotten use to the ride now, and really am happy with them, the ride is not like the p tires. The p tires are adequate for what the owners manual says the truck can carry/tow if that is what the truck came with. No harm going to LT, but some people would not like the ride. From surveys I have seen most truck owners use them for grocery getters and bringing stuff from Home Depot, for the ones who constantly haul firewood, masonry, tow, etc, I think they would be better off with the LT's. From what the Blur wrote, I bet his wife wouldn't like the LT tires compared to the p's she has now.

Bish · January 27, 2005

I personally would NEVER use P-rated tires on any truck. If you tow, you are supposed to de-rate a P tire 10%. The load rating just doesn't cut it for a truck IMO. Plus, imagine you are in an emergency evasive action situation and you exceed the rating of your tire and it blows. Not worth the chance IMO. They like to use P-rated tires for 2 reasons. 1 - Cheaper. 2 - Gives the soccer moms a softer rider.

Besides, I think my Tahoe handles much better with LT. The stiffer sidewall allows for less roll when cornering.

jhm · January 27, 2005

I personally would NEVER use P-rated tires on any truck. If you tow, you are supposed to de-rate a P tire 10%. The load rating just doesn't cut it for a truck IMO. Plus, imagine you are in an emergency evasive action situation and you exceed the rating of your tire and it blows. Not worth the chance IMO. They like to use P-rated tires for 2 reasons. 1 - Cheaper. 2 - Gives the soccer moms a softer rider.

Besides, I think my Tahoe handles much better with LT. The stiffer sidewall allows for less roll when cornering.

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I agree 100%. Especially reason 2, when folks go shopping for a new ride, if the lady of the house thinks the thing rides like a bus, they aint gonna buy it. But again, if the truck is never ging to carry more than a 10 pound bag of spuds, P tires are ok.

Ben · January 27, 2005

Sure, you can swap LT's with P's and vice versa. If you are happy with the tires that came with your vehicle, and you change to LT's, you will definately notice a harsher ride. Most SUV's and pick ups in the 1/2 ton line come from the factory with 'P' tires. Most buyers of these vehicles just drive them around like a car so they want a smooth comfortable ride. Check out tire sites online to get all the details. Not everyone with a pick up truck needs LT tires.

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Sure you can switch between P and LT tires for a HALF TON only.

Illegal on anything larger. In Europe and Japan, revoke license-fines-jail time if the dealer and/or owner installs lower class components.

P rated are passenger car tires.

Next class HIGHER is LT rated tire. Why Bish says must de-rate P used in LT application (there are many tire manufacturer web sites that confirm this).

Next class higher than LT are commercial tires (semi's).

Same sized P vs LT tire of same brand, same model, etc will have the LT tire weigh more and cost more. Why the OEMs put P rated on most half tons...saves them money and the type of person who buys half tons usually require "ride quality" higher on their list of needs.

Confusion is from the looks between them. They "look" the same, but worlds of difference inside.

the blur · January 27, 2005

I tow 6000lbs with my Denali P factory tires on a regular basis.

but the weight is on the trailer, only 800 ppounds on the tounge.

the only thing... is I wore out the factory goodyears in 30,000 miles.

and that is because goodyear short changes GMC with only 11/32's of tread on an OE tire.

93Stocker · January 27, 2005

The heavier construction of an LT-metric over a P-metric is the primary difference between the two. For the same size tires, an LT has higher maximum Load Limits (capacity), requires higher cold inflation pressure, and (generally) exhibits firmer ride and handling. Your OE P265/70R17 tires have a max. Load Limit of 2305 lbs. at 35 psi. ( after being reduced by a service factor of 1.10 for passenger tires used on light trucks). The max. Load Limit for an LT265/70R17 based on it's "Load Range" is 2470 lbs. at 50 psi. for LRC, 2910 lbs. at 65 psi. for LRD, or 3195 lbs. at 80 psi. for LRE. Also, be sure your rims are rated for the higher inflation pressure if you choose LT's. Everyone should be sure replacement tires meet or exceed their vehicle manufactures OE specs.

Ben · January 28, 2005

More than just weight carry capacity, though very important.

Sidewall stiffness or strength to manage that "push" from towing.

Why a dually better tow vehicle than single rear wheeled, all things equal.

8 sidewalls vs 4 sidewalls.

Same weight carrying capactiy (after the derate) between a P and LT tire, will have the LT rated tire much better suited to tow. The P rated will feel like mush balls in comparision.

the blur · January 28, 2005

Why a dually better tow vehicle than single rear wheeled, all things equal.

8 sidewalls vs 4 sidewalls.

what dually has 8 sidewalls ????

I guess for me... P rated tires are the way to go.

It tows fine, and the factory engineers can't be that stupid.

the ride is important to my wife.

I always watch my tire pressures, which is an important factor.

thanks!

ness5575 · January 28, 2005

speaking of tire pressures, my truck came with p-rated 265-75-R16 tires. the sticker on the door says that the correct tires pressure is 35 psi. I have changed over to the LT tires of the same size (BFG AT KO's on stock wheels).

I have experimented from 35 to 45 psi and havent noticed much of a difference in handling, etc.

What would be proper inflation? Is there some sort of formula to figure this out?