Thanks for the advice 03_4x4Runner. I am confused by the 3 ply sidewall. I assumed the stock tires are 4 ply sidewall. Or are they less than that. I am thinking that for me the 6 ply C rating would be the best compromise. E would be a little much and with a drop in MPG. I am also confused when there is no "load range" rating of C, D or E. I think JB. was trying to explain this to me and that if there isn't the "load range" rating then it is a P tire and the sidewall strength is significantly less. Is that right. Or can you tell anything from the "load index" measured in pounds. Does a higher poundage mean a stronger sidewall and therefore less chance of a flat offroading. Thanks again.
Most stock tires are 2 ply sidewall. I do not recomend going above a load range c or the ride becomes to stiff and the tire does not flex as well over rocks. Go to a tire store and feel the thickness of the sidewall on a stock type tire and an off road tires. You will see the stock tires have thin sidewalls. That is one reason that off road tires are heavier. Look at what tires other people use in the area use (real off roaders, not posers). That is a good indication of what works. There is a reason tires like BFG all terrains are very popular desert tires. Also air down to smooth the ride out. When we are out in the desert and in areas like death valley remember there is no service close by if you have a problem. You need equipment that is proven. I off roaded all over Moab when my 4rnner was stock and took a chance with the stock tires and did not have a problem. But it was always on the back of my mind that I could easily cut a tire. Do you feel lucky. When the car manufactures build specail off road models they typically use BFG all terrains, Hummer, Dodge power wagon, FJ cruiser trail teams edition, ford raptor etc. That should tell you something.
Looks like the tread area is 6 ply. BFGOODRICH ALL-TERRAIN T/A KO TIRE SPECS:
Tire Type: Radial
Tire Size: 285/75R16
Overall Diameter: 33 inches
Tread: 1-ply nylon + 2-ply steel + 3-ply polyester
Sidewall: 3-ply polyester
Get 5 tires, you do not want to be 26 miles from nowhere and have to put a stock spare tire on if needed.
I found this on a death valley site. I do not know why they call suvs bevs.
What are the best kind of tires?
Standard 4 ply tires as found on many passenger cars are more susceptible to damage, air leakage, and blowouts due to their lighter construction. If you see a letter "P" in your tire designation text on the sidewall (such as P265/75R16), you have this type of lighter construction. Park Rangers will tell you that passenger car tires are more likely to go flat if the driver inadvertently runs over a sharp rock. The rangers have told me that flat tires on passenger cars are one of the most common problems suffered by visitors driving the dirt backroads. If you wish to maximize your chances of not having tire problems, 6 ply rated steel belted radial LT tires are your better choice! I would strongly recommend that you run 6 ply LT tires (or greater) due to the more rugged terrain you may encounter on the backroads. Six ply rated tires have at least 4 tread plys + 2 sidewall plys, with some having 3 or 4 sidewall plys (best!). The extra ply construction and steel belts most assuredly give greater protection against sharp objects over which we drive, such as rocks. Changing a tire is not what you probably would like to be spending your time doing, so give yourself the added peace of mind that comes with stronger tires designed for the outback! Look for the letters "LT" on the sidewall text (such as LT265/75R16 or 31x10.50R15LT), which stand for light truck. Six ply rated tires are considered Load Range C. If you have tires that are Load Range D (8 ply, what I run on my BEV) or Load Range E (10 ply), you are even better equipped to survive potentially invasive road obstacles because the higher the rating, the sturdier the tire. Also, be sure that there is still plenty of good tread on your tires to help resist rock punctures. You will most assuredly be ahead of the game to not skimp on tires ... take it from someone who knows. Your tires are your greatest vulnerability! Better tires are worth the extra cost! Don't wait for your current P-rated tires to wear out. I also encourage every BEV to have a good full-size spare, tire changing equipment, and a tire repair kit! I cannot stress this enough, and for those who choose not to heed this advice, unpleasant surprises often await in the worst possible places and times.
Do you have any special suggestions for spare tires?
Yes! All vehicles should most definitely have one spare tire identical in size to the other four. Space saving spares are not acceptable. My last backroad tire damage that brought me to a stop was in 1979, but on that day, I unbelievably suffered two flats before noon in the Mojave Desert (the tires were not steel belted radials). Fortunately, I carried a kit that allowed me to repair both tires on the trail, reinflate them, and carry on. While flats are a rare occurrence for those who drive sensibly with 6 ply rating or higher, you must always plan for them. I definitely suggest that you carry a flat repair kit in your rig, along with a method to reinflate. These items are inexpensive and can be purchased at your local auto parts store. The best type of kit is one in which the job is accomplished using rubber plugs, a steel plunger, and tire glue. There are two types of inflators: one that runs off your power-point in the dashboard, and one that runs using the engine as the air compressor. The former is the easiest to use, and what I now have. Please be sure that your vehicle has the gear necessary to change a tire if needed (jack, handle, and lug wrench). If you have installed an after-market lift-kit on your rig, make sure the jack you have will still go high enough to lift the tire off the ground! Also, toss in a stout piece of wood on which to place the jack in the event you are on sandy ground. Recently, I lost all air in a tire when a large blunt boulder bent the bead - after a lot of reshaping with my sledge hammer, I was able to reinflate the undamaged tire with my small portable air compressor. Watch those rocks, whatever else you do! Steel wheels are sometimes preferable to cast aluminum because they bend rather than break, but today's alloys are pretty tough, so don't worry too much if you have aluminum alloy wheels (most BEV manufacturers now use them). You should be fine.
