Anybody run load range C tires?

[huntsonora]

I normally run load range E tires on my bigger vehicles that I use to tow and that I take offload. They are stout!

I have a 2011 4Runner Trail Edition that I need to get tires for and I was going to look for a load range D tire but the BFG's and the Duratracs don't offer a D in 265/70r17. They do have a load range C tire but I don't know anything about them. Will they last as long as the E's? I won't be towing much with my 4Runner but am needing a tire that isn't going to get punctures every other day when I'm guiding hunts.

The C's are lighter and cost less but i just don't know if that's worth the sacrifice. E's might be overkill for a 4Runner though so I thought I would ask the experts

 

[JCMatthews]

The BFG 33X10.5 r15s that I ran on my Cherokee were C rated and I loved them.

 

[bfdiesel]

If it came with E's stick with E's, if it came with D's then stick with D's or E's, if it came with C's then get whatever you want. E's are overkill? Looks like you have about a 6500(6300 according to truck trend) lb. vehicle curb weight of 4750. C rated duratracs are 2470@44 psi and the E's are 3150@80psi. My suburban weighs close to that and I wouldn't put anything less than an E rated tire on it.

The only thing I have C rated tires on is my old 2wd 65 f100, because they are cheap and I can burn them up playing.

 

[LOKNLOD]

I have the C-range duratracs on my '08 Tacoma (265-75-16s). It seems hard to find anything but E-rated tires in that size, the Duratracs were one of the few decent AT types available in C. No issues for me, but everyone's needs are different. Mine sees a lot of pavement time, unloaded. If you are relying on the truck to get you through terrain where the durability of the E's is needed, and punctures/sidewall failures are common, you might have to go that route, even if it means has tradeoffs in ride/cost/mpg. All of those things will seem like no biggie when you're sitting on the side of the trail with a gashed tire that ruins a guided hunt (that I assume is your livelihood). There's lots of guys running E's on Tacomas that love them. I suspect the Runner might be a bit heavier, and you probably have it loaded up with gear or people on hunts, the E may be well suited.

 

[zoblo]

Just got my 4th set of C rated BFG's and they've been great. decent ride on highway with a little noise. run them on my 92 toyota pickup. do a fair amount of off-road with them. only flat I've had is when I backed over a piece of rebar sticking up at an old mine site a few years ago.

 

[LR Max]

My super swamper TSLs are Load Range C. My street tires are Load Range E. As others have said, I went with load range E because that is what the load range of the tire size I wanted.

In reality, you really only need Load range E if you are towing a gooseneck trailer. Even if you load up with a bunch of crap, it still isn't going to tax a Load Range C tire. However a SRW 3/4 ton truck with a 35ft gooseneck with two 6000 lb rock crawlers on the back will give a Load Range E a run for its money. Even then I know many who run at highway speeds with this configuration and haven't had any unusual tire issues (yes, towing wears tires out faster and so does driving 6000 miles on a bad alignment and out of balance tires but that is to be expected).

 

[huntsonora]

My 4Runner will see some forest service roads, pasture roads and unpaved county roads but nothing too terrible. Like I said, my 3/4 ton and 1 ton trucks had E tires with no exceptions but with the lighter 4Runner Trail edition I didn't know if it would be overkill. Sounds like C's with road hazard warranty might be the way to go

 

[Ryanmb21]

I have load range c, (which are to more than the gvwr), why add the extra weight in the worst possible place?

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: I run load range (D) on my jeep and as heavy as it is, I would never run (C)--

The mpg diff. between Cs and Ds is not measureable as a lab report and Cs have a very thin sidewall, usually for "Airing" down tires for rock crawling/flex-

I'd stick with(D) for your 4runner-

:costumed-smiley-007:wings: JIMBO

 

[MotoDave]

I was happy with load range C (BFG AT, 33x10.5R15) on my T100 (4300 lb actual weight)

Sidewalls flexed nicely when aired down.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-...eI/AAAAAAAACeg/CbGwbDoMDBc/s1024/IMG_3156.JPG

 

[huntsonora]

Load range D is what I want but I can't find any in 265/70/17. The duratracs and BFG at's come in C or E

 

[goodtimes]

I don't have scientific data to back it up, but my personal experience (my vehicles + those traveling with me) is that C rated tires suffer sidewall failures far more often than D or E rated tires.

I've used E rated tires on my last two vehicles (wrangler & 3/4 ton Dodge) & only had one sidewall failure (internal separation of a sidewall on a BFG KMII). I'll continue using E rated tires where I can - at least on the vehicles that spend much time in questionable terrain.

 

[Erik N]

I ran BFG AT 33/12.50 on my '72 Wagoneer years ago. "C" rated. Lost a few to logging roads, sidewalls cut each time.

"E" is a no brainer for me. Your loaded 4Runner weighs more than my '88 Suburban.

Also, I sold the duratracs that came on my '96 Burban. Too freaking loud.

[EDIT] I see you are a hunting guide, and these will go on your rig? Then it is a double no brainer! If you get a flat, and your client notices you are running light duty tires, what will he think of you? I personally would run M55's, they come in that size and are strong as hell.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/7861-Toyo-M-55?p=1171020#post1171020

 

[BCHauler]

I ran BFG AT 33/12.50 on my '72 Wagoneer years ago. "C" rated. Lost a few to logging roads, sidewalls cut each time.

"E" is a no brainer for me. Your loaded 4Runner weighs more than my '88 Suburban.

Also, I sold the duratracs that came on my '96 Burban. Too freaking loud.

[EDIT] I see you are a hunting guide, and these will go on your rig? Then it is a double no brainer! If you get a flat, and your client notices you are running light duty tires, what will he think of you? I personally would run M55's, they come in that size and are strong as hell.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/7861-Toyo-M-55?p=1171020#post1171020

I think that this is very sound advice. Most of the people whom I have heard complain about E-rated tires, don't like how rough they are on pavement. The added durability off-pavement will be worth it. No matter how you load your truck, you will know that your tires can take it.

 

[SSF556]

Asking this question on this site is crazy...for every answer you get saying run C's somebody will tell you to run D'sor E's and then someone will tell you to run a commercial medium duty truck tire.