BFG AT \ E rated VS C rated....
- Thread starter ryangab
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KidVermicious
New member
E rated tires will have tougher sidewalls and a greater load capacity, but they'll also be a much rougher ride. If you wheel in rough rocks or don't carry a spare, go with the E's.
JB.
New member
Depends on what you want. Usually, it ends up being the look people want but if you're actually asking about performance, the BFGs will be a compromise on the highway, but will be good and tough on the trail. You're going up in potential load capacity with the LT tire (any tire described by load range) but substantially down in practical load capacity unless you add air pressure. It takes 10-15 extra psi to match the load capacity of a passenger (P) tire with the same dimensions. Not a big deal since there's a lot of load reserve in the stock tire spec already, but you don't want to be driving around at 80mph in the summer with 32psi in the BFGs which come in LT only. This all applies regardless of load range.
The load range is only about off-road toughness (which you may not need). It has nothing relevent to do with carrying a load in this size vehicle. The load E has no more carrying capacity than the load C until the load carrying requirements surpass the 50psi max for the load C. In a mid-size SUV, you never get close to that.
If you're set on getting the BFGs, I'd get load C mainly due to the weight. It will be plenty tough. Load E will weigh a ton and affect acceleration, braking, and will tax the ability of the shocks which are made for a much lighter tire.
It all depends on how rough you intend to treat them off-road. I'd guess a good P-metric A/T would work great for you but only you know how you'll use them. The P would be better on pavement, though.
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03_4x4Runner
Senior Member
I have put many miles on my load range c bfg all terrains in the Arizona and California desert (265x70x17) and never had a problem in all the rocks. They are getting pretty worn now and I will replace them with the same tires. When aired down to 25 they ride nice on the trails. My normal 37 psi is rough. My freind has load range E bfg all terrains on his 07 4runner and it does ride rougher but he has 18" rims. The load range c will take anything you are likely to throw at them.
JB.
New member
Are your 265/70/17s Q speed rated? Did they wear the way mine did?
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/925422-post5.html
03_4x4Runner
Senior Member
I just went out and looked at my tires. I did not see anything on them about the speed rating. The size is 265/70/r17 and after that there are numbers 112/108R. not sure what the last numbers are and whether the R means R speed rating. My tread loooks similar to your BFG pictures but mine has more like 32k on them. When I am running at higher speed in the desert or climbing steep mountains with sharp rocks mine get cut up like your picture. Sometimes it amazes me how chunked up they get but they always seem to hold there balance and drive fine. But the chunking comes after abuse that punctures normal tires. I do not even go off road anymore when people want to come along with stock tires. I am tired of changing their flats and listening to them whine about getting a flat tire.
03_4x4Runner
Senior Member
I do not know where you off road but in the desert we are running over rocks all day long and ride is much smoother with airing down and it works much better when you run into sand. It feels more like you float over the rocks without as much harshnes.
JB.
New member
Thanks, yeah the R is the speed rating. Mine were purchased in 2005 and were Q. They made a change shortly after that. Not sure what they did. Maybe the sipes were scaled back just a tad.
Offroader5
New member
The R after the 112/108 is the speed rating which is 106mph.
The 112/108 numbers are the load index which is an abbreviated number for the load carrying ability of that tire. Sometimes they also label the actual weight on the tire too. The 112/108 is good for 2200 to 2400 pounds.
I have a set of BFG Rugged Trails on mine in the E rated variety. They do feel a bit more rough on the road and when you run washboard roads/forest roads without airing down. Even airing them down to 20, they barely start to bulge. Only reason I went with E rated tires is because a buddy had this set with at least 80% tread left, and I needed tires. Got them for a steal.
Before running the E's, I wasn't thinking it would have been that big of a deal as far as the harsher ride. Now that I've run them though, my next set of tires when I upsize for the lift will most likely be D's. I'll be going to 33's so I think the D's would be a happy medium. The E's I have now are only 265/70/17, so the shorter sidewall in conjunction with the E's thicker sidewall just make for a much stiffer tire. The added sidewall height with 33's and a step down to the D rating I think would be the sweet spot.
Not sure a 33 in a C rating would have stiff enough sidewalls in my opinion, especially once you add the weight of front & rear steel bumpers, sliders, winch and any other full time carry along goodies in the back.
The 112/108 numbers are the load index which is an abbreviated number for the load carrying ability of that tire. Sometimes they also label the actual weight on the tire too. The 112/108 is good for 2200 to 2400 pounds.
I have a set of BFG Rugged Trails on mine in the E rated variety. They do feel a bit more rough on the road and when you run washboard roads/forest roads without airing down. Even airing them down to 20, they barely start to bulge. Only reason I went with E rated tires is because a buddy had this set with at least 80% tread left, and I needed tires. Got them for a steal.
Before running the E's, I wasn't thinking it would have been that big of a deal as far as the harsher ride. Now that I've run them though, my next set of tires when I upsize for the lift will most likely be D's. I'll be going to 33's so I think the D's would be a happy medium. The E's I have now are only 265/70/17, so the shorter sidewall in conjunction with the E's thicker sidewall just make for a much stiffer tire. The added sidewall height with 33's and a step down to the D rating I think would be the sweet spot.
Not sure a 33 in a C rating would have stiff enough sidewalls in my opinion, especially once you add the weight of front & rear steel bumpers, sliders, winch and any other full time carry along goodies in the back.
