E load range tire thoughts on GX

[little_joe]

For those of you running E load range tires on your GX, I'd like to hear your thoughts - positive and negative - about the ride, handling, anything at all.

For some background, I'm running SL Hankook ATm's. IMHO they are a great tire, extremely happy with them. Primary use is DD with some OBX beaches and forest roads/bunny trails. However, they're a bit squishy and I worry a little about the sidewalls. I've searched extensively for tires in 275/70R17, 285/70R17 which are the 2 sizes I'm considering - but those tires by and large only come in SL or E. Cooper AT3 (C load) and some Michelin (D range) are available, but I'm not sold on either just yet.

So, please, fire away..........

 

[freddydt]

I've had E load AT3s in 265/70/17 on mine for around 10k miles. I've enjoyed them. They seem to ride well and are recognized as one of the best ATs out there. I believe Expedition Portal ranked them first in a test they ran of 7 popular ATs. I'm not a tire expert though. About to the Cooper STT Pros on this weekend with my lift. They're E load as well.


Sent from my iPhone

 

[Scat Adams]

I have the 285/70 BFG ko2's in the E load and they are outstanding. Best all terrain on the market imo. I upgraded my suspension at the same time as my tires (previous ones were E load 265 all terrains) but my handling obviously improved tremendously, truck has 150k miles. Don't be afraid about E load, most people go this route with a heavier truck like the GX.

Cheers!

 

[The Great Him]

my Cooper ST MAXXs are E rated, and i love them, personally i think a P rated tire is too soft and will not hold up off road or under towing ect, i dont own a vehicle with P rated tires other than my wifes yaris, all my trucks and SUVs have had and will continue to have E rate tires. the tire is you first and last area of performance and reliability/durability. i chose to not let that be the weak link.

 

[brodon]

E load tires are fine for a vehicle as heavy as a gx. If you dont plan on airing wayyyy down on the trail( im talking single digit bead locker range) you probably wont even notice the difference

 

[wingysataday]

Couldn't agree more scat. BFG at ko2. Best of all time.

 

[little_joe]

I ran D range on my 80 and thought they were perfect. What I'm seeing with E is the weight is a killer - wow! They're often ~10 lbs per tire heavier than a C.

I don't doubt the KO2's are a great tire, I am just not a BFG(Michelin) fan.........

 

[nikramos]

I had duratracs installed first and it looked really good with the rims I bought. I noticed immediately how it affected my acceleration, handling and braking . It also triggered the TPS light due to the extra sidewall hitting the sensor. It is now my daily driver so the additional noise also bothered me. I also lost 2mpg, good thing gas is cheap. It is a great tire but will not work for my intended use for the vehicle. I replaced it with Cooper ATPs (SL rated)within 2 weeks and now like how it drives. It just does not look cool though since it does not have an aggressive sidewall design. I will install KO2s on the lx470 which I intend to use for expedition purposes. Good luck on your decision and remember this is just my own opinion


Sent from my iPad

 

[Finnman]

my Cooper ST MAXXs are E rated, and i love them, personally i think a P rated tire is too soft and will not hold up off road or under towing ect, i dont own a vehicle with P rated tires other than my wifes yaris, all my trucks and SUVs have had and will continue to have E rate tires. the tire is you first and last area of performance and reliability/durability. i chose to not let that be the weak link.

I have been there a few times, not a great feeling being stranded in the MON! 2004 on the way back from the Steens Mountain, we had 2 flats in 1 mile in my dad's expedition, running SL tires. We had to use fix-a-flat, 3 plugs, and an air compressor just to get to the 8 miles to a paved FS road, that's where the compressor died. After spending the night on the ground next to the truck, I walked 2 miles to a FS fire station and had to have them call the headquarters, which called the Sheriff, who called a friend who worked for Les Schwab, on a Sunday morning in eastern Oregon, 4 hours later and $450, we were on the road again!
After this experience, I have never put anything but E rated tires on my trucks!

 

[TahoeLX450]

I have 31.7" E rated Duratracks and I am replacing them with C rated ones. this week. Good Year /Discount Tire is working out a nominal price for the exchange. The reason is that they are vibrating the truck very badly and in 3 weeks I am developing several interior rattles non-existent with the OEM tires. The noise increase was only nominal. I also did notice the drop in performance but then I also went up in size. However, the E rated do weigh 7 lbs more than the C's which = + 28 lbs of rotating mass. I live at 6300' so I am down on power anyway compared to sea level. The tires ride fine on the smooth highway BUT the roads up here are very bad due to constant freeze-thaw conditions.
I will say that the E rated Duratracks (33's) on my now deceased 80 were OK but the extra weight probably helped. The E's do give some peace of mind over rocks when aired down. I do some minor rocky roads here in the Sierra's but 90% of my driving is on rough, often snowy, roads and regular off road excursions during the summer and fall on only moderate trails. So for me they are the wrong ply and I am delighted that the company is willing to swap them.

I don't know if the fact that Duratracks are a commercial tire makes a difference or not...

BTW: I believe in the Duratraks E=10ply D= 6 ply C=6 ply and SL =4 Ply