Forum Discussion

sonofgun's avatar
sonofgun
Explorer
Mar 12, 2014

tire question

Newbie question so please be patient. Recently I purchased my first slide in camper, my Mrs wants to give it a go ? [I am a hotel type guy, but what he heck]We got an older (1988) northstar pop up for my tundra. I am going to install sway bars to tighten up the suspension a bit. My plan was to do a few short trips to get a feel and then maybe take it from there. It has been suggested to me that I should also look at a different type of tire, maybe something with a stiffer side wall. Currently I am running a Michelin P275/65 R18. They have a load rating of 2600 lbs
The camper should run about 1400 dry [I think]and I will be towing a quad trailer with about a 250 lb tongue weight

Question is, should I look at a higher load tire,
and if so can I just purchase two for the rear

thanks / Bobh
Truck Campers
  • fishfinder's avatar
    fishfinder
    Explorer
    Mar 13, 2014
    You don't need new tires for your light load. I have a similar camper & boat. Very happy with my P-metrics. In fact, I just replaced with the P-metrics because the load rating is much higher than my loaded axle weight. I got 50,000 from the original tires.

    I did the load range E thing years ago on my F-150 and hated the ride.
  • Reddog1's avatar
    Reddog1
    Explorer II
    Mar 13, 2014
    So, does that mean the load capacity does not tell us how much load the tire will carry? My position is that if you have a given weight, only the stated load capacity will tell you if the tire will support the load.

    I am sure we could discuss the differences in tires for different applications. We could go in to the compounds in a tires. But I think we are talking about a tire for a truck to have the load capacity for the TC. If this is true, why is the load capacity not the most important thing the OP should be looking at?

    Wayne
  • Super_Dave's avatar
    Super_Dave
    Explorer
    Mar 13, 2014
    Wayne, that's not what he was saying. He said a "D" & "E" in the same tire size can have a very close or same weight load rating but an "E" will always be stiffer, take more air and handle better.
  • Reddog1's avatar
    Reddog1
    Explorer II
    Mar 13, 2014
    ah64id wrote:
    Reddog1 wrote:
    My suggestion is to ignore the "E" rating (load rating), and go by the load capacity. You can have an "E" rated tire in different tire sizes, and each will have a different load capacity, as I understand. The load capacity is on the tire, regardless of the tire size, the load capacity is the load capacity.

    Wayne


    E is the load rating, even if a LRD and LRE are rated for 3195lbs the LRE is a tougher tire and will almost always hold more air. More air means cooler rubber, more stability, and better war.

    Load capacity is indeed important, but it's not too common for a LRD to have the same capacity as a LRE of the same size. It does happen, but not the norm.
    With all due respect, a load capacity of a given tire is what it is, the load capacity. All load range "E" tires do not have the same load capacity, in different sizes.
  • AH64ID's avatar
    AH64ID
    Explorer
    Mar 12, 2014
    Reddog1 wrote:
    My suggestion is to ignore the "E" rating (load rating), and go by the load capacity. You can have an "E" rated tire in different tire sizes, and each will have a different load capacity, as I understand. The load capacity is on the tire, regardless of the tire size, the load capacity is the load capacity.

    Wayne


    E is the load rating, even if a LRD and LRE are rated for 3195lbs the LRE is a tougher tire and will almost always hold more air. More air means cooler rubber, more stability, and better war.

    Load capacity is indeed important, but it's not too common for a LRD to have the same capacity as a LRE of the same size. It does happen, but not the norm.
  • Reddog1's avatar
    Reddog1
    Explorer II
    Mar 12, 2014
    My suggestion is to ignore the "E" rating (load rating), and go by the load capacity. You can have an "E" rated tire in different tire sizes, and each will have a different load capacity, as I understand. The load capacity is on the tire, regardless of the tire size, the load capacity is the load capacity.

    Wayne
  • billtex's avatar
    billtex
    Explorer II
    Mar 12, 2014
    ah64id wrote:
    I wouldn't load up a P rated tire with a slide-in, P is for passenger car.

    Get a LT tire (Light Truck) and go from there. A LRD or LRE will be much better, and safer, and should only have a minimal effect on your empty ride.


    Agreed...don't cheap out on tires...get the best E range you can fit.

    Check the wheel ratings too...

    Bill
  • AH64ID's avatar
    AH64ID
    Explorer
    Mar 12, 2014
    I wouldn't load up a P rated tire with a slide-in, P is for passenger car.

    Get a LT tire (Light Truck) and go from there. A LRD or LRE will be much better, and safer, and should only have a minimal effect on your empty ride.
  • Reddog1's avatar
    Reddog1
    Explorer II
    Mar 12, 2014
    I think the tires are carrying close to their maximum. My suggestion is to load up, and have each axle weighed at with scale. You will then know for sure what load capacity tire you need, on the front and rear axle.

    In my experience, a tire running in super hot climates is more subject to fail ahan colder climates. I have ran with bigger tires in the rear, but not on a 4x4 vehicle. I might also point out, a lower load capacity tire typically will have more sway than a tire with the stiffer sidewall.

    Wayne
  • JumboJet's avatar
    JumboJet
    Explorer
    Mar 12, 2014
    sonofgun wrote:
    Newbie question so please be patient. Recently I purchased my first slide in camper, my Mrs wants to give it a go ? [I am a hotel type guy, but what he heck]We got an older (1988) northstar pop up for my tundra. I am going to install sway bars to tighten up the suspension a bit. My plan was to do a few short trips to get a feel and then maybe take it from there. It has been suggested to me that I should also look at a different type of tire, maybe something with a stiffer side wall. Currently I am running a Michelin P275/65 R18. They have a load rating of 2600 lbs
    The camper should run about 1400 dry [I think]and I will be towing a quad trailer with about a 250 lb tongue weight

    Question is, should I look at a higher load tire,
    and if so can I just purchase two for the rear

    thanks / Bobh


    Welcome to the forum!

    I would look at an LT type tire. Yes, you can go with the LT type on the back and P type on the front. I am just one of those people that have the same tire on all 4 corners for rotation purposes. But, back in the day on 2WD trucks, I ran mud grips on the back and street tread on the fronts. If your truck is 4WD, make sure all four tires are the same O.D. If you encounter handling issues, go with LT type all around.

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