275/60r20 Load D vs 275/70r18 Load E

The Raven · May 9

On 5/2/2024 at 11:08 PM, Bbuster said:

My 2023 1500 LTZ has the factory 275/60r20 P rated tires. Im conflicted between staying with the same size for my next tire or going to 275/70r18. I would be getting BFG KO2 or KO3 in either size as I want to go to a more aggressive AT tire. They are nearly the same tire size but the big difference being the wheel size. My big question is would the 18s in load range E ride better than the 20s in load range D?

OP - before this thread descends into more pointless bickering, i'm bowing out. My very strong recommendation to you is to stick with C-range tires. If you feel that beefier tires will give you increased piece of mind, then by all means go with D. But there's no reason to go to E-range. Regardless of the pressure required, they are unnecessarily heavy which adversely affects fuel mileage, power, and handling...it puts more stress on your suspension, CVs, and hubs, and E's will be louder and harsher-riding than C's at any pressure...even if just by a little. For all those compromises, you don't really gain anything on a 1/2-ton truck - D's are more than enough for towing even if you are at the extreme limit, and sidewall toughness does not increase linearly (or in some cases, at all) with load rating (search the Jeep forums if you want proof of that).

KARNUT · May 9

I’m in the highest range you can get side. And I ran lower pressure unless I was towing. Tires wore fine road noise was non existent. KOs were my only tire because I had no issues and never a flat. I was off road consistently for work along with high mileage driving. My gooseneck had Michelins. Same never a problem.

AJMBLAZER · May 10

Well, I had to have it realigned in December. I drive a lot and roads aren’t great here. The funny wear is from that.

Still…I’ve put up pictures and evidence. You’re making claims based on assumptions, feelings, and “what you’ve seen”. No empirical or real world evidence.

Then you try to do a mic drop after you said it was pointless to argue…again without proving anything.

Yep. Definitely pointless.

The Raven · May 10

13 hours ago, AJMBLAZER said:

Well, I had to have it realigned in December. I drive a lot and roads aren’t great here. The funny wear is from that.

Look, I don't want to continue this argument any further because I know it's not going anywhere...you are asking for proof that can't be provided in this context. But I have to point out that you're doing the exact same thing you accuse me of. Above is the second example - "The funny wear is from that". Where's your proof?

SierraStorm21 · May 11

My biggest issue with E rated tires is the weight. Till today I was looking at Pirelli 275/65/20 116H SL rated tires until I found out that they only make them in the Rivian OE, which is apparently a 57lbs tire. Stock 275/60/20 inch Goodyears on the AT4 are 41lbs. Going to Rivian OE 39% increase in weight per tire. Going to an E is worse yet depending on brand! Not only is that a sizeable hit on mpg, but performance would take a good hit too. I guess if your only concerned about the look, to each their own.

AJMBLAZER · May 11

Eh. Tire durability and performance matter. All what you want to do. Find yourself in a situation without enough tire and things get sketchy quick.

I honestly noticed a 1-2mpg hit at most by going to a taller, heavier AT tire. If I had gone to a wider 35” or bigger and/or a really aggressive tire it would have been worse obviously.

I do a lot of highway miles but I also do light truck things with it so I wanted Light Truck rated tires and not passenger car tires.

The Raven · May 13

On 5/11/2024 at 3:12 AM, Mstorm18 said:

My biggest issue with E rated tires is the weight. Till today I was looking at Pirelli 275/65/20 116H SL rated tires until I found out that they only make them in the Rivian OE, which is apparently a 57lbs tire. Stock 275/60/20 inch Goodyears on the AT4 are 41lbs. Going to Rivian OE 39% increase in weight per tire. Going to an E is worse yet depending on brand! Not only is that a sizeable hit on mpg, but performance would take a good hit too. I guess if your only concerned about the look, to each their own.

YES!! It's tire WEIGHT, not SIZE that matters most. On my former truck, a 2010 Tahoe, I went from the stock "on-road ATs" (Duelers I think) to E-load Duratracs (GY didn't make the D-load ones at that time)...same size, just heavier, and lost 2.5mpg. 3 years later the D-load Duratracs were launched so I went with those at replacement time, and I got 1.5mpg back.

On my Silverado, I went from the stock 32" Duratracs to C-load 35" Territory MTs which weigh a nearly unbelievable 50lbs (weighed on my calibrated hanging scale) and I lost ZERO MPGs. WEIGHT IS KEY. That's a major part of my point - E-load tires affect fuel mileage, offer poorer ride quality, and give you nothing in return on a 1/2-ton truck. On the HDs E-range tires get you the load rating you need to tow the big sh1t you bought an HD to tow. But on 1/2-ton trucks there's really no advantage.

Polo08816 · May 25

On 5/7/2024 at 10:38 AM, AJMBLAZER said:

You'll be fine. A bit more sidewall with the higher load range.

I still wonder if people saying the E range tires will ride terrible are running them at 80psi or something? I have mine at 35psi and even with the Bilsteins the truck rides firm but not hard. It's not like 12" lift leaf springs or anything.

It also depends on what type of LRE tires. Heavy AT LRE tires will ride rougher than a Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 LRE tire.