should I upgrade to 16" wheels for E rated tires??

[roamingaz]

Currently I have 15" rims on my 1991 Ford F150, I also have a four wheel camper on it and although pretty lightweight at 700 lb, it is still a load to carry around plus my new 200 pound rear bumper . Should I upgrade to a 16" wheel and get the E rated tire or stay with the 15" wheel and C rated tire?
What would I gain by going to a heavier tire?

I am planning on Toyo Open country m/t tires 33's

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

I would not go with E-rated tires unless you need the weight rating. You feel every crack in the road with E-rated tires without the weight.

 

[mcgovski]

I would get the appropriate rated tire for the load you are carrying. the tires could be a bad failure point if over loaded...

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I don't find my E-rated tires to ride that badly when inflated to the correct pressure. Some people inflate them to 80psi thinking that is where they need to be, but that's incorrect. The upside as well is the stiffer sidewalls make the truck handle much better. It was terrifying with the P-car tires it came with.

I agree with mcgovski. Determine the load you actually have, and the tires you need to meet it, and go from there.

 

[CJCA]

I would get the appropriate rated tire for the load you are carrying. the tires could be a bad failure point if over loaded...

+1

Looking at my C rated 15s, they are rated for 2270 pounds @ 50psi. That's 4540 pounds total at max psi for the rear axle. Personally I want at least a 20% safety margin for a continuous load, which is approx 900 pounds under the rated max load of my tires.

Time to hit the scales and find your front, rear and total axle weights. Some truck scales don't charge for weighing a vehicle if you don't need certification and a weigh slip.

 

[Rot Box]

I would go with 10plys and I feel it is worth buying new rims to do so considering your campers weight and the weight of all your gear. I agree that it is best to match the tires to the weight, but for me you never know what you are going to pull behind and the weight can really add up quick. As corny as it sounds I would rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it :snorkel:

I like being able to air up to 80psi if needed, and once you air down off road you won't be able to tell much difference in the sidewalls anyway--at least I never could. I dropped to a load range D (trying to save a few dollars) last year and I wished that I wouldn't have. This is just my bias opinion/$.02

 

[bronconut]

Lot's of great "D" rated tires out there also, standard on a lot of F250's might want to look at those over a "E" rated tire.