Anyone Using "d" Or "e" Load Range Tires On A 1/2

overlord1 · January 12, 2008

My '06 Silverado like most 1/2 tons came factory with p-metric tires. I have no complaints since I don't tow but once every blue moon and I seldom carry more than 200-300 lbs in the bed. I just picked up a set of 18" wheels and the tire size I would like to get (285/65-18) does not appear to be available in anything but a 10 ply "E" load range tire (I've checked everywhere for p-metric and it doesn't exist in this size). Am I correct in assuming that my ride quality would suffer noticeably with an "E" load range tire? My other concern is the high PSI required (80 PSI). Can E load range tires be inflated with less pressure, say 50 PSI and still be safe? The BF Goodrich T/A KO's are one tire I'm looking at in this size but are only available as a 10-ply. Thanks for any advice you can give!

Zembonez · January 12, 2008

My '06 Silverado like most 1/2 tons came factory with p-metric tires. I have no complaints since I don't tow but once every blue moon and I seldom carry more than 200-300 lbs in the bed. I just picked up a set of 18" wheels and the tire size I would like to get (285/65-18) does not appear to be available in anything but a 10 ply "E" load range tire (I've checked everywhere for p-metric and it doesn't exist in this size). Am I correct in assuming that my ride quality would suffer noticeably with an "E" load range tire? My other concern is the high PSI required (80 PSI). Can E load range tires be inflated with less pressure, say 50 PSI and still be safe? The BF Goodrich T/A KO's are one tire I'm looking at in this size but are only available as a 10-ply. Thanks for any advice you can give!

Run away! Don't make the same mistake I made. "D" or "E" rated tires will punish your backside on a 1/2 ton truck. I tried the E rated BFG AT KOs on my last truck and as much as I liked all of my previous BFGs... they sucked! No matter how much air I ran in them, they rode like they were chiseled out of stone. (and I like the way a truck rides) You could go with a 265/70/18 and get almost the same overall size but a lot more choices in tires.

2000DV4.8 · January 13, 2008

I'm running load range E mickey thompson MTZ's and the ride is noticeably rougher than my last tires (I've also got 60 psi in them). I don't really mind the ride though, it just makes everyday driving feel a little more like wheeling.

NathanL · January 13, 2008

I didn't even know Gm sold any truck with p-metric tires.....I always run a D or E (depends on what size rim for each brand) and I wouldn't ever run a passanger tire. Get a D or E size and inflate it right and don't put it on a 20" rim and it rides just fine.

60 psi is a crapload of PSI in a M/T tire......

mljenkins · January 13, 2008

I'm running E's. Came like that from the factory. I had a heavy duty suspension package on it, so not sure if that is why. I bought it to tow, although I use it as a daily driver to/from work. It doesn't ride like a caddy by no means, but it's used as a truck. I run about 45 psi in my tires, a little higher than what Chevy recommends on the door sticker (need the extra psi for the weight I haul). Tires are all terrian tires (will be changing that when I am due for new ones) so they handle well and are not noisy.

ps: On a sidenote, the heavy duty tires also don't have the speed ratings as passenger tires, so if you're going to go about 90, you may want to be aware of that. Tirerack.com has some good articles on that. Always nice to see folks flying down the interstate like they are qualifying for the next nascar race with trucks and suvs that are not equipped to do so. I'd hate the see the result of a blowout at that speed.

2000DV4.8 · January 13, 2008

60 psi is a crapload of PSI in a M/T tire......

That's what I thought too, but it's the PSI where the tire contacts the road the best. They were at around 45, but they started to wear a little funny. The max on the tires is 80, so I started around 70, and worked my way down to 60.

c4cruiser · January 13, 2008

I didn't even know Gm sold any truck with p-metric tires.....I always run a D or E (depends on what size rim for each brand) and I wouldn't ever run a passanger tire. Get a D or E size and inflate it right and don't put it on a 20" rim and it rides just fine.

60 psi is a crapload of PSI in a M/T tire......

My 99 came with P-metrics but an LT tire was an option in the same size (265/75-16) and it was a Load Range D. The P-metrics in that size are large enough that they wil handle the advertised cargo weight for the 1/2 ton models. The HD1500 may be different.

Midwestcruiser · January 13, 2008

IMO, you shouldn't put P's on your truck. Go with LT's. Yes, there will be a difference in ride quality as LT's are stiffer due to their construction. My Tahoe's ride was a bit stiffer when I got rid of the P's that came with it and switched to loadrange D BFG AT T/A KO's. I would have switched them with the one's on my current Silverado but they were smaller. I'll probably upgrade these tires before next Winter. I'm currently looking at BFG's or MT's.

Zembonez · January 13, 2008

IMO, you shouldn't put P's on your truck. Go with LT's. Yes, there will be a difference in ride quality as LT's are stiffer due to their construction. My Tahoe's ride was a bit stiffer when I got rid of the P's that came with it and switched to loadrange D BFG AT T/A KO's. I would have switched them with the one's on my current Silverado but they were smaller. I'll probably upgrade these tires before next Winter. I'm currently looking at BFG's or MT's.

I agree with this. I think most of the tires available for these trucks should be "T" rated. LT, TR, etc. Is it just me or have these darn tire ratings have become more complex amd harder to understand...

overlord1 · January 13, 2008

My '06 Silverado like most 1/2 tons came factory with p-metric tires. I have no complaints since I don't tow but once every blue moon and I seldom carry more than 200-300 lbs in the bed. I just picked up a set of 18" wheels and the tire size I would like to get (285/65-18) does not appear to be available in anything but a 10 ply "E" load range tire (I've checked everywhere for p-metric and it doesn't exist in this size). Am I correct in assuming that my ride quality would suffer noticeably with an "E" load range tire? My other concern is the high PSI required (80 PSI). Can E load range tires be inflated with less pressure, say 50 PSI and still be safe? The BF Goodrich T/A KO's are one tire I'm looking at in this size but are only available as a 10-ply. Thanks for any advice you can give!

Run away! Don't make the same mistake I made. "D" or "E" rated tires will punish your backside on a 1/2 ton truck. I tried the E rated BFG AT KOs on my last truck and as much as I liked all of my previous BFGs... they sucked! No matter how much air I ran in them, they rode like they were chiseled out of stone. (and I like the way a truck rides) You could go with a 265/70/18 and get almost the same overall size but a lot more choices in tires.

That's what I'm afraid of. Although I've heard that the BFG's are a rough riding tire no matter what load range you get. I noticed that Michelin's new all-terrain tire the LTX AT2's are available in 285/65-18 though in a 10 ply only. They're suppose to be more "car like" according to some of the reviews at the Tire Rack. I tend to believe it as their tread doesn't look anywhere near as aggressive as the BFG's. $266 per tire though, ouch

pwall · January 13, 2008

I just recently had D-range BFG tires installed on my YukonXL. It does ride rougher and there is more 'road noise'. The YukonXL is heavier in the back compared to a Sierra/Silverado (of course..it has a back seat etc), so the ride isn't that bad.

However, given that I tow a 7000lb trailer....I'll put up with the extra firmness in the ride. ;)

PS. my wife didn't notice any difference, so it couldn't have been that bad.

chuck16 · January 13, 2008

I run LT245/75/16 on my half tonne. Run 40-45 PSI in them and the ride is nice and smooth. Half tonne non 4x4 running on Uniroyal Laredo's..

Thinking I'll go with the same thing again... only complaint is it's really easy to break'em loose in the rain... Maybe better grips will be better on the next set.

-Evan

marko · January 13, 2008

I prefer the stiffer ride of LT's. When I bought the truck it had P's on it and the ride was too vague for my liking. LT tires and a good set of shocks made the truck ride stiffer, but also more sure-footed. The Monroe Reflex shocks I put on basically eliminated any chop from pavement cracks or washboard. They were great. Trouble is I blew one apart on a backroad, so I tried Explorer Pro Comp shocks this time - inexpensive but not very good. The next set will be Bilsteins. But I digress - this is a tire thread. I guess it depends where you do your driving, but I much prefer LT's.

SoCalChris · January 13, 2008

I've got the E load rated BF Goodrich tires on my 1/2 ton. The ride isn't noticeably worse to me (Although most of my driving is on rough dirt & gravel roads, so the ride was never that smooth to begin with).

The 10 ply tires also have the nice side effect of not getting a flat every few thousand miles from hitting ruts & badger holes, like I had on the crappy stock P rated tires that came on the truck.

overlord1 · January 17, 2008

I've got the E load rated BF Goodrich tires on my 1/2 ton. The ride isn't noticeably worse to me (Although most of my driving is on rough dirt & gravel roads, so the ride was never that smooth to begin with).

The 10 ply tires also have the nice side effect of not getting a flat every few thousand miles from hitting ruts & badger holes, like I had on the crappy stock P rated tires that came on the truck.

What PSI do you run them at? I was thinking if I got them I would start at 50 or 55 psi and see what it feels like. Anyone see a problem with it as long as I don't tow anything or haul heavy loads?