Would you buy 265/75R16 Duratracs E for the price of C?

[absalom]

Es are not better than Cs. Ds are not better than Cs or better than Es etc. Certainly not from a value perspective.

If anything I would suggest you try to find out the ACTUAL weight per tire for the model and size you are looking at.

Looking at 33" sized tires:
My General Grabber AT2s 285x75x16 are 59 lbs per tire and rated D
BFG TAs 285x75x16 / 33s are ~ 55 lbs per and rated E

then looking at 31.5 - 32" tires
* General Grabber AT2s 265x75x16 (31.5") are 53 lbs per tire and rated E only
* Cooper Discover STT 265x75x16 (31.5") are 41 lbs per tire, off road rated and come in load range C.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company - Discoverer STT PRO?

Consider that the stock tires probably did not weigh more than 40 lbs per tire. Now consider you are pushing a tire weighing 59 lbs. That is nearly 50% increase in weight per wheel. It does matter!

I've got the bigger 285s (@ 32.8") but I'd consider going back to the 31.5 and in a much lighter tire in a heartbeat. In fact my friend just bought a set of those lighter weight Cooper Discover tires. He has a Toyota as well. Perhaps down the road I can convince him to let me try them out for a for a few days.

Mind linking the 265/75/16 STT's in load range C? I'm only finding them in E

 

[pluton]

When I got my 4R, I had a choice of stock 265/70 at D rating, or the much sexier 265/75 at load range E. No way I wanted an E on this relatively lightweight truck. Would have gotten load range C tires, if they had been offered.
If you want a "tougher" tire, buy a tougher tire, not a heavier tire.

 

[Road Bull]

I don't know about you guys but my E rated BFG Ko2s ride really well on the road. Can't tell much of a difference coming from a C

Same here. I went from the 265/70/16 Michelin LX to BFG KO2s E rated in 265/75/16. I did a lot of reading before I pulled the trigger on those. I had read a lot of good things about the Goodyear Duratracs, but I had seen a few instances of the sidewall getting punctured. That and I don't really care for the sidewall lug design. To me, it seems like the side lug pattern was a sort of afterthought. I also heard that they could be a bit loud as they wear down.

Granted, this is not first hand experience, but things that I read from other owners. I do a fair amount of highway driving and I wanted something that was going to last, be smooth enough on the pavement, and be capable off road as well. It also had to get good marks in all weather as it tends to rain here a bit in the PNW.

I was coming from the LX tires and my previous experience was with Goodyear's Wrangler Kevlar, which I feel was a pretty good tire, but matched with a truck suspension, was not what I would call smooth.

I got the BFGs on and I was surprised how quiet they were for such an aggressive tread pattern. In fact they are quieter than most sedans that I drive or ride around in. I am not feeling the wagon wheel effect that many seem to talk about. I think that a lot of the "feel" is subjective. I wouldn't mind riding around in someone's 4runner with a "C" rated tire to see if I could feel the difference, but I have no complaints with my BFGs. I really dig em so far.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Mind linking the 265/75/16 STT's in load range C? I'm only finding them in E

Sorry. I misquoted myself .... ATPs not STTs

Tire Details - Discount Tire Direct

 

[absalom]

Sorry. I misquoted myself .... ATPs not STTs

Tire Details - Discount Tire Direct

FWIW, the Discoverer ST's are also available in a 265/75 (quickly becoming my favorite size) in load range C. They don't list it on the site, but several vendors carry stock of this tire.

 

[blizz86]

Same here. I went from the 265/70/16 Michelin LX to BFG KO2s E rated in 265/75/16. I did a lot of reading before I pulled the trigger on those. I had read a lot of good things about the Goodyear Duratracs, but I had seen a few instances of the sidewall getting punctured. That and I don't really care for the sidewall lug design. To me, it seems like the side lug pattern was a sort of afterthought. I also heard that they could be a bit loud as they wear down.

Granted, this is not first hand experience, but things that I read from other owners. I do a fair amount of highway driving and I wanted something that was going to last, be smooth enough on the pavement, and be capable off road as well. It also had to get good marks in all weather as it tends to rain here a bit in the PNW.

I was coming from the LX tires and my previous experience was with Goodyear's Wrangler Kevlar, which I feel was a pretty good tire, but matched with a truck suspension, was not what I would call smooth.

I got the BFGs on and I was surprised how quiet they were for such an aggressive tread pattern. In fact they are quieter than most sedans that I drive or ride around in. I am not feeling the wagon wheel effect that many seem to talk about. I think that a lot of the "feel" is subjective. I wouldn't mind riding around in someone's 4runner with a "C" rated tire to see if I could feel the difference, but I have no complaints with my BFGs. I really dig em so far.

same here... went from a 265 70 16 michelin ms2 to 275 70 17 e rated ko2's and i love it. super quiet and not harsh at all, even at 37 psi cold..

 

[D Farms]

unless someone has measured and can actually quantify the difference between a load range e and c, I dont think we can comment on how much stronger an e load is than a c load, other than the rubber is going to be thicker. you should look at max load instead of the load rating letter, this will give you a more finite number to compare between tires. also there are no 265/75r16 in a c load, only e. how do they do load rating anyways, is it just the max load or is it the max pressure. all i know is all tires ride like shit if you put too much air in them.

 

[BrianSD_42]

FWIW, the Discoverer ST's are also available in a 265/75 (quickly becoming my favorite size) in load range C. They don't list it on the site, but several vendors carry stock of this tire.

Good point. I found them ... https://www.onlinetires.com/search/...prices/16.00/all_tires/all_speeds/page_1.html

 

[absalom]

Good point. I found them ... https://www.onlinetires.com/search/...prices/16.00/all_tires/all_speeds/page_1.html

Those are a great alternative to Duratracs imo.

unless someone has measured and can actually quantify the difference between a load range e and c, I dont think we can comment on how much stronger an e load is than a c load, other than the rubber is going to be thicker. you should look at max load instead of the load rating letter, this will give you a more finite number to compare between tires. also there are no 265/75r16 in a c load, only e. how do they do load rating anyways, is it just the max load or is it the max pressure. all i know is all tires ride like shit if you put too much air in them.

There's a few 265/75's in load range C, but just a few --- Duratrac, the aforementioned Cooper Disco ST's and AT's, a few Yokohama's, General Grabbers, etc. Not many though.

 

[Goyo]

Thank you all !

Went for C's. Yep, it was like that: I was looking for C's, but vendor has E's, and offered them at the same price of the C's. I went with C's because I have had those in my 5th Gen 4Runner in the past. Will report in 50K miles to see how the Duratracs behave in the 3rd Gen. I had Disco ATP in my previous 3rd Gen, for about 8K miles, great tires !

Thank you all for taking the time to answer and post in the poll !

Cheers,

G.

 

[PhdNPrerunners]

Good choice on going with Cs. I've had duratracs in load range c before and I loved them. This time around I went with a 255/75/17 Nitto Trail Grappler in a load range c and that was a big mistake. Even though they are Cs they still weight 59lbs a piece which you can definitely feel the weight. I'm thinking of selling the nittos and going back to duratracs.