Hey RJ, looks like the truck is runnin' good! Have you had a chance to dyno since the tire change? I'd be real interested to see the change on paper. I was told that you will see less HP and more TORQUE with the taller rubber. Mine was a bit disproportionate at 435hp and 1006 lbs.

 

Here's the Load Index Chart.

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/infoLoadIndex.dos

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Here's some interesting #s between a C, D and E Load Ratings for the SAME make/model tire.

The tire is a MasterCraft Courser A/T .

http://www.mastercrafttires.com/us/e...=LtTruck&id=85

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As you can see the D Range tire has 600lb MORE Load capability over the C Range tire. And the E Range tire has over 1000lbs over a C Range tire!!

The number of belts a tire has dictates what the load range will be.

D Load Range tires have (8) belts where E Load Range tires have (10) belts.

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Actually the # of belts is a holdover rating method from when they actually had to use, say, 10 plys to get enough strenth for that capacity. Hence "10 ply rating".

The actual # of belts has nothing to do with a tires strenth.

Today tires can have a 10 ply rating, or be called 10 ply, when they actually have far fewer plys, but they will have the same strenth.

Better construction methods, better materials.

I found this out when I was reading the # of plys on my E tire sidewall and it had like only 4 on the bottom (2 steel, 2 something else) and 2 on the sidewalls. I was hey you sold me a cheap tire! Its not a 10 ply!! I was eating crow soon though and even if crow is not my favorite dish I was glad to have gained the knowlege (and peace of mind).


Big Jimmy

 

Galen
I'm very interested also! Have not dynoed since 315's but " Tx Outlaw Diesel Racing Association" has a dyno day set for April 1st.; and it's on the same dyno as my last set of #'s.
Will let you know.

RJ

 

Very interesting!

How much weight have you been towing on them ??

 

Ok, so before I go out to buy a set of E rated tires, let me ask you this. The most I have ever hauled....with my explorer and 7000lb capacity trailer was 5000lbs of rock...(ok to laugh here). The usually hauling I do is feed, 1500lbs, hay, 3000-4000lbs and an occasional car, and then scrap metal....somewhere around 3000-4000lbs. So would that be considered heavy hauling? I know some of you guys are hauling 200-300 square bales, 20 rounds, that's 20,000lbs....would that be the heavy hauling?? I'm just wondering if it's ok and safe or if it's questionalble ok and safe. Cause if it's questionalble ok and safe...I'll buy the tires....don't want to kill anyone while hauling something.

Good chart buy the way, gonna go look at my tires again. I know I saw 3000lbs at max air pressure. I set mine at 50 cause I have yet to haul anything, this was before I knew they were not heavy enough and looking for a little cushion....not anymore though. Also tire wear in the front, checked the alignment at work yesterday and it's good but kinda going to the left. We set the steering wheel and changed air pressure a little and then on the way home it was pulling very slight to the right. Now I'm wondering if it's a combination of my tire pressure and tire rating.

 

Where will that be held?

 

I survived a near catastrophic blowout with my D-rated 285-75-16 Bridgestone A/T's. The right front blew with about five seconds notice. Luckily I was in the right lane southbound on Interstate 15 here in SoCal and managed to make it to the shoulder but not before tire material did $3300.00 damage to my truck! I am lucky AAA fixed it as I was running inadequate rubber. Currently I am running BFG's in the same size and rating as there were no E-rated 285's at the time(two years ago). BFG and Toyo now offer them and I plan to upgrade soon. Until it happens to you you don't think it's that neccessary. These trucks come equipped with E-rated tires for a reason.

 

Drum roll ...... 1,500 lbs. I know that is almost too much, but I like to live on the wild side. The tires are cracking all the way around the tires where the bead transitions to the sidewall.

 

I have Nittos in 285 and they are D and rated at 3350 or 3300 something and my stock 245 were rated at 3150. So I think the D's are safe.

 

I run D-Rated 285/75/R-16 Mastercraft Courser C/T's. I am very happy with them. No problems so far. I had a total of 18k lbs or more not too long ago hsauling my buddies truck to the shop, and no problems. I haul quite a bit in the summer, and havent had any problems with the D's.

My 285's in D rating are only rated around 100lbs less than a 265 in E rating.

LT265/75R16 3415 lbs
LT285/75R16 3305 lbs

Eric

 

I have load range D's now and every complaint about the way the truck handles ive been told to go back to E's next time. Will do.

Truck feels like its gonna flip at every corner.

 

Emory, Tx.... about 1 hr SE of Dallas. PM me if you want specifics.

RJ

 

two ways to look at what yo need for a tire...

1) determient he max load yo figure you will ever tow, plus teh weight of teh vehicle and bu a tire in that range.. thats ussually the wrong and cheap way.

2) look at what the manufactor recommends and stay in that range.

Now, a disclaimer before I tell this story, I KNOW THIS IS NOT THE NORM!....

1990 I was investigating officer on a fatality accident. A One-ton dually hauling a 1200 lb round bale flipped, landing on a little Toyo.....driver of the Toyo was killed.. I determined primary cause of accident was a blow-out on the duallys LF tire, causeing it to go into teh grass median , where it flipped into oncoming lane..

almost a year later I get supenaed to give a deposition about the wreck, made me look like an idiot...the driver is suing his insurance company, they refused to cover the accident.

Q: Officer, did you check the tread wear on the tires?
A: yes sir, they were in an acceptable and safe condition, almost new .
Q: Did you check the size and load rating of the tires?
A: Size yes.............. uh..... whats a load rating?

Turns out the guy had bought "C" tires less than a week before. Ford recommended "D" tires, and that was what actually caused the accident per the insurance company.....the insurance company refused to cover him because he was not operating the vehicle "legaly and safely" , whiich was the wording of his policy....
Just food for thought ...