Pickup Need Tires....What Load Range???

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BurnIt13

BurnIt13

Minister of Fire
Jun 10, 2010
636
Central MA
I recently picked up a pick up, a 98 Chevrolet K1500 Extended Cab for $500. 150k miles and a blown motor. It also needs tires.

This truck will be a daily driver for the 4-5 winter months of the year and will be used as utility truck the rest of the year. It will be used to haul about 4 cords of wood back from the parents 50 miles away over the course of the summer as well.

So that said.....what load range tires should I get? I'm pretty sure most 1/2 ton trucks are sold stock with load range C tires but with a half cord of wood in the back I'm probably getting close to the limits.

Will load range E tires ride too rough with an empty load? Or are they just right for a 4,500lbs (empty) pig?

Thanks!

EDIT. The difference in price is considerable as well. Load Range C goes for about $500 a set for quality name brand. Load Range E costs about $200 more.
 
I have E's on my 2004 silverado 1/2 ton. Yes, the ride will be rougher. I also have HD shocks which doesn't help!
 
How much rougher? Lets say on a scale of 1-10 with a 1 being an empty 1980 K30 dumptruck (ask me how I know) and 10 being a Cadillac? Lets for arguments sake say a stock 1/2 ton truck with stock load range C minivan tires is a 5.
 
Most people don't truly need load range E tires unless you regularly haul or tow heavy weights. They're heavier (lower gas mileage), stiffer riding and more expensive. Anything being done with load range E tires on a half ton is probably overweight for what the truck is rated for.
 
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It's not really the load range you need to look at, but the actual weight capacity of the tires. The "Load Range E" tires on my ATV trailer are rated for 1500 lbs each, and the "Load Range E" tires on my truck are rated for over 4000 lbs each.

Figure out how much weight the tires will be carrying when you're fully loaded, and make sure that number doesn't exceed the capacity of the tires.
 
Yep....I tend to be captain overkill so my thoughts go right to the worst possible scenario. I'm sure a neatly stacked 6.5' bed of wood is just less than a half cord of wood. But even 1/3 of oak could easily be 2000lbs.

Of course this would be maybe 10 times a year.
 
Part of the reason I have E rated tires on the 1/2 ton is the extra number of plys on the sidewall.
 
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wvstriper said:
Part of the reason I have E rated tires on the 1/2 ton is the extra number of plys on the sidewall.
Click to expand...

That's the reason a lot of people run them here as well. If you spend lots of time on dirt roads hunting, fishing or logging then the extra ply construction cuts down on the number of flats.
 
I've got load range E Coopers on my Chevy 1500HD, my dad runs el-cheap-o load range A/B's on his Chevy 1500, I feel no ride difference at all. On my last set of Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx, I got 85,000 miles out of the rears with no flats and still had 10%-20% tread left. I run 80% black top, 15% gravel and %5 off road (90% off road during deer season lol... anyway) Best dang tire I ever tried, my tire guy talked me into the Cooper Discoverer S/T this time, made me a deal I couldn't say no to... we will see how they last compared to the S/T Maxx.

Honestly I don't remember the last set of tires I bought that was not load range E... just what I knew to do growing up on gravel roads.
 
My first ever truck was boight with brand new tire from the dealer (used truck). It was a 1500 97 chev, but the tire were Load range P !! I had so many flat, I was doing a lot of off roadin at the time, that I switch to load E, and been on Load E on all my truck after that..... Haven't had a flat since then.
 
I run E rated Nitto Terra Grapplers on my 2007 Silverado 1500. Not harsh at all when unloaded, only slightly over stock. I HIGHLY suggest them.
 
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I doubt you'd see a huge difference in ride quality.

As always, inflation is key. Not the max on the sidewall, or the numbers on the VIN sticker. Adjust the pressure to your vehicle and load. I found my Excursion to be best at 60/50 psi unloaded. When pulling my travel trailer, I went to 65/75. My wood hauling was always close to home, so I never messed with it, though I had some stupid heavy loads.

It took some experimenting, and some of the kiddos' sidewalk chalk to indicate full contact across the width of the tread.
 
Ranger72 said:
I run E rated Nitto Terra Grapplers on my 2007 Silverado 1500. Not harsh at all when unloaded, only slightly over stock. I HIGHLY suggest them.
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X2. I have 35K on mine, mostly highway, lots of life left ( '10 F150 SCrew). I'd buy another set tomorrow. And as far as E rated, you don't have to run 80 psi in them. If the ride is harsh, let a little air out to make the ride more comfortable
 
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I run 40 psi in mine unless I'm towing or hauling.
 
I run around 44 F and 40 R, the extra psi in the front helps them wear more evenly with the 2" leveling kit (295/70-18)
 
Haha, I have been contemplating adding some air to the front, I have a 2" leveling kit in my front too.
 
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Fi-Q said:
My first ever truck was boight with brand new tire from the dealer (used truck). It was a 1500 97 chev, but the tire were Load range P !! I had so many flat, I was doing a lot of off roadin at the time, that I switch to load E, and been on Load E on all my truck after that..... Haven't had a flat since then.
Click to expand...

I think you're going to find that 99% of half tons come stock with P series tires on them.
 
Look at the load rating in comparison to the tire size. A 265/70/17 E is 3200 lbs. A 285/70/17 D is 3200 lbs. as well. Most Light truck tires have 2600 lb. load range which, to me, is sufficient for hauling 1/2 a cord.
 
Ranger72 said:
I run E rated Nitto Terra Grapplers on my 2007 Silverado 1500. Not harsh at all when unloaded, only slightly over stock. I HIGHLY suggest them.
Click to expand...


D8Chumley said:
X2. I have 35K on mine, mostly highway, lots of life left ( '10 F150 SCrew). I'd buy another set tomorrow. And as far as E rated, you don't have to run 80 psi in them. If the ride is harsh, let a little air out to make the ride more comfortable
Click to expand...

X3. The Terra Grapplers are great tires. We have them on both my F-350 and the wife's Jeep. I would definitely recommend them.
 
What's the difference between E and LT rated tires? I just got a 2014 F150 and it has P rated tires, but the ply rating is SL. I think most LT tires are rated for E? Am I right?
 
MJFlores said:
What's the difference between E and LT rated tires? I just got a 2014 F150 and it has P rated tires, but the ply rating is SL. I think most LT tires are rated for E? Am I right?
Click to expand...
Mine came with P metric tires. I got rid of them as soon as I had the money ( I'd guess for the car-like ride and better fuel mileage), around 3K miles. Very soft sidewalls, like a bicycle tire. I didn't necessarily buy mine for the E rating, I bought for that size which happened to be E rated. Not sure if all LT are E, check somewhere like Tirerack.com
 
In the LT tires you have load range C, D and E, wich I think most of the time refer to the ply. C:6 , D:8 and E:10. My dad and father in law have both bought 1/2 ton truck lately and both came with LT tire load C
 
Load range D tires can hold some weight depending on the size.

FWIW, My wifes Tahoe came from the factory with P-Metric tires. I had a set of E rated tires I took off my Ram that still had lot's of tread laying around. Her Tahoe needed tires and since they were the correct size I put them. I immediately noticed a difference in ride quality. The E's were harsh for sure. I recently replaced them with new P-Metric tires and the cushy ride is back. It's funny to see how much the sidewall bulges with the P-metric vs. the E range, big difference.
 
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