70 Series Tires In Load Range E ??

[Roy W]

Does anyone make a 265/70/R16 in load range E ?? I'd like to replace the 245/75's on my '05 2500HD with something that has a larger footprint, but I want to stay with load range E tires. Tire calculators show that 265/70/16's are the same height as 245/75/16's, but are a little wider. I searched the Tire Rack, but couldn't find any in E range.

[Dewey Faircloth]

Cooper make one rated about 2500 pounds.
listed SUV discocer AT,have on my suburban.
Pull a 30 foot trailer with no problem.
About 60,000miles on last set,20,000 on
the set now.

[Buck]

Roy W,

You don't necessarily have to keep "E" rated tires. Be sure you check out the weight rating. IMHO as a rule with 2500HD and SRW's you should stay at 3000lb load rated tire or higher, because these trucks a heavy and you need the support. I seen a 2500HD once with "C" tires :eek: :eek: The side wall squat just sitting in the parking lot scared me :eek:

The 245/75/16 "E" tires are rated at 3042.
A 265/75/16 load range "D" BFG/AT is also rated at 3042.

[Roy W]

How big a tire can I put on a stock 2500HD 6.5" aluminum wheel??

[Heartbeat Hauler]

Originally posted by Buck:
Roy W,

You don't necessarily have to keep "E" rated tires. Be sure you check out the weight rating. IMHO as a rule with 2500HD and SRW's you should stay at 3000lb load rated tire or higher, because these trucks a heavy and you need the support. I seen a 2500HD once with "C" tires :eek: :eek: The side wall squat just sitting in the parking lot scared me :eek:

The 245/75/16 "E" tires are rated at 3042.
A 265/75/16 load range "D" BFG/AT is also rated at 3042. This is correct and I have contemplated this very change, but I'm wondering if moving to a lower rating, i.e. from "E" to "D" range means you go from a 10 ply to an 8 ply tire. Anybody know for sure?
JP

[DarylB]

Michelin makes them. I run LTX-M/S 265-70-17's on H2 wheels which retain the factory height/speedo settings. They're 10ply tires. Roughly 3400lb load rating @ 80psi.

You definitely dont want to run 70 series tires on the stock 6.5" rims. The H2 wheels are 8.5" wide.

[Buck]

Originally posted by Roy W:
How big a tire can I put on a stock 2500HD 6.5" aluminum wheel?? IMHO a 265 (width) is the widest tire to run on the 6.5" factory aluminum (PYO rims) I don't want to start the heated debate on tire size.......

I have 255/85/16 BFG MT's on my PYO rims, they are for winter service and are 33" tall. They fit the rim very well. ;)

It doesn't matter if it is 70,75 or 85 series, as that refers to the sidewall height.

[DmaxMaverick]

Buck is correct. The 70 is not a "series", like the old days before metric tire size/ratings. the 70 in metric tires is the height of the sidewall as a % of the tread width. For example, a 265/75/16 tire will have a tread width of 265mm, with a sidewall height 75% of 265mm, and a 16" wheel. The letter is the ply rating, D is 8 ply, E is 10. The weight capacity within a ply rating will differ depending on internal volume, circumference, and tread width. USDOT sets the standards the tire mfg's must follow.

The tires I have on my '01 are 285/75/16D. They are D rated, but have a weight capacity of 3305 @ 65 Psi, compared to the OEM's 3042 @ 80 Psi.