What load range tires (C,D,or E) is everyone running?

[rhs]

Off road and up close

Thanks to all those who responded. I ended up going with the Nitto TG's P rated. I figure they worked for me before so don't screw with it.

JB-Thanks for the lengthy explanation. You explained it well. I tend to over think and "anal"yze things in great detail and wasn't sure what to do.

Hi Schneidermj, Saw your post about getting out and saw that you were pretty close. I am a relatively new 4R owner and have not had the opportunity to 4WD off road. Like you I have been a rock climber but these days I do a lot of different things outdoors. In the winter I ski and snowshoe a lot with my girlfriend and in the summer we hike, bike and camp. I would like to contact a few people that like to do the same and have some fun in the "outback." I don't know if there is a 4Runner club in our neck of the woods so maybe have to just find a few people that enjoy doing the same. Let me know if we can get together sometime in the future. I can be reached at [email protected]. Sincerely, Robert

 

[Gstick]

I know this thread is a few months old, but I'm bumping it up with a question.

I was all set to pull the trigger on a set of Nittos today, but I'm getting conflicting information. Two shops tell me to buy the E and two are telling me the C is fine. I'm really confused. Can somebody chime in that might be running the C rated tires? The only offroading I do will be fire roads and old mining type roads. This is also our daily driver, so the wife will need to be comfortable with the ride.

The ONLY reason to buy the "E load range" tire, would be if you were pulling a heavy trailer, or serious off-roading alot. If you NEVER pull a trailer, or NEVER off-road, then get a "P" tire. It will give your vehicle the "most comfortable ride", and keep your wife happy. If you pull a trailer once in a while, or do some moderate off-roading occasionaly, then without a doubt buy the "C load range" tire.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Comparing the Nittos to my Duratracs the Nittos have a bit better overall on-road manners and dry grip and were solid off road while the Duratracs have a bit better grip in the snow but both seem pretty equal where hydroplane reisstance is concerned. MPGs have been the same with both tires and I've only got about 10k miles on the GYs and they seem to be wearing very well. The Duratracs are a tad noisier but nothing that bothers me.

 

[Koz]

The ONLY reason to buy the "E load range" tire, would be if you were pulling a heavy trailer, or serious off-roading alot. If you NEVER pull a trailer, or NEVER off-road, then get a "P" tire. It will give your vehicle the "most comfortable ride", and keep your wife happy. If you pull a trailer once in a while, or do some moderate off-roading occasionaly, then without a doubt buy the "C load range" tire.

I agree, and the higher the rating the less gas mileage and life.

Koz

 

[ethernectar]

I'm running C rated tires, but haven't done too much wheeling yet, a couple trips in the sierras, Hollister and Pismo. They deform a lot when you air way down, which I suppose makes them susceptible to getting the sidewall cut. However, haven't had any problem and they ride nice on the freeway.

 

[eskimochaos]

C

See sig

 

[JB.]

I was all set to pull the trigger on a set of Nittos today, but I'm getting conflicting information. Two shops tell me to buy the E and two are telling me the C is fine. I'm really confused. Can somebody chime in that might be running the C rated tires? The only offroading I do will be fire roads and old mining type roads. This is also our daily driver, so the wife will need to be comfortable with the ride.

Between the two I'd go C but not because of ride harshness, mostly because the E might weigh considerably more, affecting braking, handling, power, etc. As far as the tire shop's advice, since both those tires are Light Truck tires (described by a single load range letter) they're going to cost more than a passenger tire so bear that in mind when assessing the shop's objectivity.

The overwhelming factor affecting ride comfort is inflation pressure. It's true that the ride firmness increases going up the load range ladder within a tire line (it's less consistent between brands or models within brands) but the effect is small compared to pressure differences. So, for comfort, a passenger tire (P) is vastly more comfortable than an LT, not because of the thinner sidewalls (which have a relatively small effect) but because the range of low pressure options is far bigger. A comfort freak could go, say, 26lbs on a passenger tire for the 4runner and though that would be technically underinflated, it would be no more underinflated, from a load capacity standpoint, than the same size LT at 36psi, which people run all the time (just illustrating, not recommending).

So if comfort is important, the difference between P and LT can be night and day. The Nittos you're looking at (I presume Terra Grapplers) in P-metric would do just fine on fire and mining roads. A benefit of Ps that I considered when I last bought tires was the ability to reduce pressure for quick explorations on dirt and then not worrying about airing back up for pavement and just driving to the nearest air, wherever that might be.

I see the LT version which is D, and the P version which is apparently C.

I covered that above but just to be clear, those load Cs are LTs.

 

[veloindy]

Thanks for the replies, and sorry for the thread hijack. I'm getting C rated Nitto Terra Grapplers, Daystar 2.5/1.5, and alignment on Thursday. I'm looking forward to it!

 

[Cubslover]

D load Yokohama Geos