If the load index of a load range D tire equates to a weight rating of a load range E tire, what advantage is there to buying a load range E?

In researching studded snow tires for my F250 PSD, load range E are hard as hell to find, but the load index of the load range D is roughly equal.

WTF?:confused:

Load index/load range ratings ("C", "D", "E", etc...) are based on how tough a tire is for it's size. Weight rating is an exact number approved by the DOT for how much weight that particular combination of size and load range can carry.

It's not uncommon for larger range "D" tires to have higher weight ratings than smaller range "E" tires.

difference is the ply's.. a "d" is a 8 ply and a "e" is a 10 ply.. Sidewall advantage is the biggest difference.

Ah ha, I see said the blind man as he opened his car door.

That makes sense.

difference is the ply's.. a "d" is a 8 ply and a "e" is a 10 ply.. Sidewall advantage is the biggest difference.

Those are ply ratings, not actual plys. A modern radial 10 ply rated (E) tire does not have 10 sidewall plys.

Pete

I would say the main thing these days that a ply rating implies is max pressure.

Typically an E will go to 80 psi, a D will go to 65 psi and a C will go to 50 psi.

Now a 265/75R16 D will haul the same load at 65 psi as a 245/75R16 at 80 psi. However I like to keep my "ply rating" stock so the pressures on the door still match. IE, if I lend the truck out or get an oil change, and someone fills an E rated tire to 80 psi, no big deal, even if I normally run it at 65 psi. However if the fill a D to 80 psi, that could be bad...

TO me the C - D - E means nothing anymore.
Go by the weight numbers on the sidewall.

If the load index of a load range D tire equates to a weight rating of a load range E tire, what advantage is there to buying a load range E?

In researching studded snow tires for my F250 PSD, load range E are hard as hell to find, but the load index of the load range D is roughly equal.

WTF?:confused:

what size?

the Hankook rt03 are studdable, and the 285x75x16 is an E. weight rating is 37xx iirc

TO me the C - D - E means nothing anymore.
Go by the weight numbers on the sidewall.


x2

while they don't run at 80+ psi...
my 295/75-16 range D tires are stamped for almost 34xx LBS, while a stock type 235/85-16 E tire is right around 3000 lbs.

I'll take the higher weight rating.


I'm sure someone will bring up the 'driveability' factor of having the 'stiffer' tire @80psi....but I've been more than happy w/ my load range D tires loaded heavy for long trips.
I'm a little bit of a tire nazi, and am a big fan of having a little overhead room on my tire/axle weight ratings...

--B

That is a good point, I am going from a 245 LR E (3042 lb max load) to a 265 LRE (3415 lb max load) as my rear axle sees 6k lb towing, and being a FF 14 bolt, I have no fear of overloading it just the tires. A 295 LRD has the same max weight as the 265 LRE but is taller and bigger....

A Hankook RT03 is studdable, but, even with studs, I wouldn't want to drive them on anything other than fresh snow... Anything resembling hardpack or ice is downright scary. Good highway tire for a M/T, and good off road/in sand/etc, but, NOT a snoiw tire in any form of the word. Mine weren't studded, but, they wouldn't help that much, those big tread blocks and no siping just do not make a snow/ice tire.
Personally, I run a set of studded 235/85R16 General Grabber AT2's for winters. I had wanted 285's when I bought them, but I needed tires ASAP, and the 235's were in stock. I have had a couple sets of these tires, and they make a decent dedicated winter, they're no ice tire, but their soft tread still doesn't like enthusastic driving in warm weather, and they chunk like a BFG on gravel roads.