XL vs LT tires?

[95jersey]

So thinking about getting some new tires this spring and moving up to either XL or LT tires. Not sure which is the better option for me? I have a 2018 F150 with OEM P tires now. Towing 6500lb (dry) (8000lb loaded) toy hauler with approx 1200lb hitch.

I only tow a handful of times (6-8) each year, so 90% is daily driving. I don't want a bone jarring ride 90% of the time, so is the XL tire a good compromise or should I just go LT?

[JIMNLIN]

Sorry...my memory was bad. 2756 is the load rating of each tire. I guess the tires WOULD be fine for your 4800# rear axle rating. The tire is the Primacy XC so maybe not really a P rated tire.

The Primacy XC in question is a 18" P class tire at 44 psi.
The only other Primacy XC is a 17" LT class tire at 80 psi.

[babock]

Atlee wrote:
Obviously, it depends on the 1/2 ton truck doesn't it? Two 2300# tires on my rear axle do not equal the rear axle rating of 4800# my F150 has. Ford put OEM LRE tires on it, but my 2014 truck has the HD payload package.

Now, I understand Ford began using LTC tires on later models with the HDPP so maybe they decided LTE tires were overkill. However, since LTE's were on my truck originally, I'll keep putting then on.

babock wrote:
I have the exact truck and will stick with the P tires vs going LT. At least with my trailer, 6000# and 800# of TW, the trailer tows fine with these tires. Each of my truck's Michelin P tires is rated over 2300# my 4 which means my 4 tires are already rated way higher than my max GVW! I prefer to keep the softer ride when not towing as long as my tow experience is already fine.

Sorry...my memory was bad. 2756 is the load rating of each tire. I guess the tires WOULD be fine for your 4800# rear axle rating. The tire is the Primacy XC so maybe not really a P rated tire.

[Cummins12V98]

"For the handling associated with the stiff sidewalls. If you haven't tried LR E tires then you don't know what a difference they make."

Agree 100%

[95jersey]

babock wrote:
I have the exact truck and will stick with the P tires vs going LT. At least with my trailer, 6000# and 800# of TW, the trailer tows fine with these tires. Each of my truck's Michelin P tires is rated over 2300# my 4 which means my 4 tires are already rated way higher than my max GVW! I prefer to keep the softer ride when not towing as long as my tow experience is already fine.

So I looked up the OEM tires that came on the pickup and they also exceed the GVW and any payload I can put in the truck. I guess the only reason to really go XL or LT is the improved feel and towing experience of the stiffer sidewall.

[Atlee]

Obviously, it depends on the 1/2 ton truck doesn't it? Two 2300# tires on my rear axle do not equal the rear axle rating of 4800# my F150 has. Ford put OEM LRE tires on it, but my 2014 truck has the HD payload package.

Now, I understand Ford began using LTC tires on later models with the HDPP so maybe they decided LTE tires were overkill. However, since LTE's were on my truck originally, I'll keep putting then on.

babock wrote:
I have the exact truck and will stick with the P tires vs going LT. At least with my trailer, 6000# and 800# of TW, the trailer tows fine with these tires. Each of my truck's Michelin P tires is rated over 2300# my 4 which means my 4 tires are already rated way higher than my max GVW! I prefer to keep the softer ride when not towing as long as my tow experience is already fine.

[MitchF150]

What's interesting is my OEM spare tire is a LT C rated tire.. ha, ha..



So did Ford think they had to provide me with a LT rated spare tire to equal my OEM P rated tires that I have since replaced with the same size XL rated tires that also have a 50 psi rating?? Hummm.... But, us little "15" truck owners don't have "real trucks" anyway, so I really don't know why all the "HD" truck owners are so concerned??

Oh, I forgot.. We are all supposed to run LT E rated tires to be able to tow anything, right??

Mitch

[babock]

I have the exact truck and will stick with the P tires vs going LT. At least with my trailer, 6000# and 800# of TW, the trailer tows fine with these tires. Each of my truck's Michelin P tires is rated over 2300# my 4 which means my 4 tires are already rated way higher than my max GVW! I prefer to keep the softer ride when not towing as long as my tow experience is already fine.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Ralph Cramden wrote:
LOL :S :h
The OP has a 2018 F150.

3 different wheel sizes available on an 18 F150. Depending on package if it came OEM with P275-65-18 44 max psi or LT275-65-18 80 max psi they're still mounted on the same wheels. Ford is not using one wheel for this tire, and another for that tire, nor is GM, Ram, or anyone else unless you get into something special, like the Raptor.

The OP has not cobbled his 2018 truck together from some pile of 1970's parts he found out behind the barn, or has he?

🙂 Hi, just like some people think that "RV" means motorhome, others think that "LT" means 80 lbs. Please double check your information Ralph. My F-150 came with LT 275/65R18 C tires from Ford which max out at 50 lbs. cold pressure.

[MitchF150]

Thanks Marty.. If we could "like" posts, I'd "like" yours.. 🙂

Mitch

[blt2ski]

MitchF150 wrote:
I only thought your "real truck" comment was the silly part...

I guess if only HD or heavy trucks are "real trucks" then... Well..

I'll just leave it at that...

Mitch

Then in the whole truck category, Heavy duty trucks are those over 33000 lbs gvwr! ie class 8 rigs. Our pickumups are light duty trucks! I'm sue them REAL heavy duty trucks have different tires yet!

Marty

[MitchF150]

I only thought your "real truck" comment was the silly part...

I guess if only HD or heavy trucks are "real trucks" then... Well..

I'll just leave it at that...

Mitch

[ScottG]

MitchF150 wrote:


Wow Scott.. Never thought you would go there... You been reading too many of oldmans posts I guess.. 😉 he likes that "real truck" thing too... I've always respected your posts in the past..

With my 20" wheels the sidewall on my tires are only 4.5"..

I don't recall the actual sidewall height on my old F150 that had 265/75/16 Lt C tires on them, but they were at least an inch or so more sidewall.. They did fine too. Yes, the P rated tires sucked.. I will give you that..

But until you have actually used the tires in question with the vehicle in question, your "real truck" reply is just silly.

Oh, I have used LT E tires on an F150 and they were a complete WASTE of tire and cost me payload and ride comfort and mpgs.. They didn't make a bit of difference towing compared to the LT C tires I had on the truck (that same 97 F150 I had before).

Mitch

Maybe I should have said HD or heavy trucks.
However, I don't think anyone in this whole conversation is "silly". All points are valid and deserve respect except those that employ passive aggresivenes.
No trucks suspension is going to make up for soft sidewalls. There is simply nothing that can be done to compensate for squirm between the tire and the road.
I also know that some simply wont notice the difference. They may not even notice they're sawing the steering wheel back and forth and making constant corrections. That's not an insult - some people just don't notice these things.
My mechanic buddy thought his TT towed fine until he installed a WDH and realised how much better it could be.

[MitchF150]

ScottG wrote:

MitchF150 wrote:

Since the rear axle rating is only #4050 I'd say the tires far exceed the axle rating so why get LT E tires???

Mitch

For the handling associated with the stiff sidewalls. If you haven't tried LR E tires then you don't know what a difference they make.
That's the reason real trucks use truck tires.

Wow Scott.. Never thought you would go there... You been reading too many of oldmans posts I guess.. 😉 he likes that "real truck" thing too... I've always respected your posts in the past..

With my 20" wheels the sidewall on my tires are only 4.5"..

I don't recall the actual sidewall height on my old F150 that had 265/75/16 Lt C tires on them, but they were at least an inch or so more sidewall.. They did fine too. Yes, the P rated tires sucked.. I will give you that..

But until you have actually used the tires in question with the vehicle in question, your "real truck" reply is just silly.

Oh, I have used LT E tires on an F150 and they were a complete WASTE of tire and cost me payload and ride comfort and mpgs.. They didn't make a bit of difference towing compared to the LT C tires I had on the truck (that same 97 F150 I had before).

Mitch

[blt2ski]

Stiff sidewalls come from a variety of things. You can Have LR G tires, and have soft sidewalls. IE a Michelin XRV, designed for cushy rides for motor homes. Suck on a truck trying to carry a load per say, like my IHC Dump truck. On the other hand, staying in Michelin land, Not made anymore, but the XDE M+S traction tire I have on the rear of the IHC, with the all steel casing, sidewall and tread, they are very stiff! Do not compress with a load on them etc. A much better tire than the XRV IMHO!
On some SW GM's I have had in the past, I had both LR D and E 265-75-16 tires on them. I was usually running at 60 front, 45-60 in the rear depending upon the load. I even had the same brand and tread pattern in a D THen an E when they started being made. Generally speaking, I noticed no handling differences. EXCEPT, when I put 3 yards of topsoil in the bed, ie ~6000 lbs, or 2 yards of rock, also ~6000 lbs. A couple of times two 3600 lbs pallets of Allen Blocks! THEN and ONLY THEN, did I notice the difference between the 8 and 10 ply tire, as the one I could air up to 80 lbs, vs 65 for the other. Otherwise, save the $10 per tire, take your spouse out to dinner!
My son has 10 ply 265-70-17s on his 4wd GM 1500.....only has 35-40 lbs in them! In reality, no need for 10 ply tires, dealer had them in stock, no LR C like he wanted. Would have saved $15-20 per tire. Why?

Marty