Tire Load Range on a FJ40 (Kenda Klever vs BFG K03)

[Biscuit]

I’m going to be doing a disc brake conversion (getting tired of manually adjusting the drums). Which of course on a 1974 means new wheels are needed. Which means I should probably also get new tires to replace my 33x9.5 BFG C rated all terrains that were made circa 2008. Since I need new wheels this also creates some options if I switch to 16” wheels.

Which brings me to the question of tire load rating on the FJ40 for what's available now. I found an old thread from the early days of Mud (https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/on-tire-load-ratings.4618) but tire options have changed a bit in 22 years.

I'm debating the following tires:
The Kenda Klever RT 601s that folks seem to like in 33x9.5 on Toyota wheels are C load rating.
The 235/85R16s I am looking at (BFG KO3 and Fallen Wildpeak) only come in an E rating at that size.

My general understanding is the C rated tires will be “softer” riding at the expense of being less durable (especially sidewalls). E rated more durable but a “harder” ride. Air pressure of course affects this too, sometimes at the expense of tread wear.

My 40 mainly is on-road (lame I know), and might do some light off road, no rock crawling here. I don’t drive the 40 nearly enough to care about tread lifetime, the tires will get old before they are worn out. Normally it’s empty or lightly loaded.

So the question is, does the load rating matter between C and E on a FJ40?

 

[pb4ugo]

I run E rated tires on my 3/4 ton pick up and C's on my 40. I think the letter ratings has a corresponding max range weight rating for the tire. The tire should have a letter rating and a max load weight on the tire at max tire pressure. The max load is for that individual tire.

 

[cruisermatt]

I can't asnwer your direct question comparing the two but we've put the Kenda 33x9.5's AT's on a bunch of 40's since they came out and everyone has been really happy with them. They ride/track/steer really nice and are super quiet.

 

[Mopdog]

I recently went from load range D General Grabbers to Load Range C Mickey Thompsons on my 40 and like the C’s much better.

 

[JohnnyC]

I drive my 40 like it’s a rally car around turns… the C tires tend to have a lot of sidewall rollover when the body rolls.

It’s something to be mindful of when driving with c range

I prefer the higher but have driven several with the 6ply

I am curently running the 10ply E Mastercraft courser cxt 255/85r16

Btw 255 is a 33” tire

 

[WarDamnEagle]

I can't asnwer your direct question comparing the two but we've put the Kenda 33x9.5's AT's on a bunch of 40's since they came out and everyone has been really happy with them. They ride/track/steer really nice and are super quiet.

I don't see that size in their A/T, only in their R/T or their M/T2. I would prefer the A/T but it looks like you have to go to a 12.5 to get a 33" tire on a 15" rim.

 

[Flatlanderfj40]

I don't see that size in their A/T, only in their R/T or their M/T2. I would prefer the A/T but it looks like you have to go to a 12.5 to get a 33" tire on a 15" rim.

The RT is the all terrain. 33x9.50-15 for the win. We sell a ton for the 40’s & 60’. They also have the 10.50 flavor if you like. The MT is pretty aggressive.

 

[77mustard40]

I currently have BFG KM3’s in 10.50 15 on steelies and had KM2’s before these, I really like them on my 40. They are 33’s and amazingly quiet and compliant on-road, IMHO there’s so much noise in a 40 to begin with that I’m not sure there’s as much noticeable difference in sound vs the equivalent AT option. As far as sizing, I’ve really liked my setup and it’s been 10+ years of trouble free use.

 

[Flatlanderfj40]

I currently have BFG KM3’s in 10.50 15 on steelies and had KM2’s before these, I really like them on my 40. They are 33’s and amazingly quiet and compliant on-road, IMHO there’s so much noise in a 40 to begin with that I’m not sure there’s as much noticeable difference in sound vs the equivalent AT option. As far as sizing, I’ve really liked my setup and it’s been 10+ years of trouble free use.

Nice option. Cost variance is easily $100+/tire more vs Kenda. Still rocking my km2’s from 2016.

 

[Pitter Patter]

I recently went from load range D General Grabbers to Load Range C Mickey Thompsons on my 40 and like the C’s much better.

I agree. Prefer the softer ride for non-work trucks

 

[WarDamnEagle]

The RT is the all terrain. 33x9.50-15 for the win. We sell a ton for the 40’s & 60’. They also have the 10.50 flavor if you like. The MT is pretty aggressive.

Apologies in advance for being so pedantic but they also make an AT; just not in that size. I am favoring the RT but have to admit that I don't care for the lugs on the sidewall. Prefer an older school look which the AT has.

Automotive Tires, Passenger Car Tires, Light Truck Tires, UHP Tires | Automotive | Kenda Tires | KLEVER A/T2

automotive.kendatire.com

 

[sogncab]

My opinion, you're not going to stack enough weight on an FJ40 to require an E rated tire.

Given the option, I would take a C rated tire.

 

[steffan]

what sogncab said - I've seen a few people on the site put some ridiculous amounts of weight in their rigs but really, your never going to approach the limit on even a C rated tire (1700lbs per tire - that's about 3,000lbs of payload you could carry). The ride is noticeably softer on a C rating but again, that's a personal preference - some like the firmness and additional road feel. I have an E rated BFG but that's only because that was what was available. I am running them at 20-25 psi for a more compliant/ soft ride

 

[Wasatch Jay]

How/where are you going to use your FJ40?

The reason I ask is (in my opinion) there are advantages in a higher weight rated tire over and above the weight carrying capability. Generally speaking, an E rated tire will have more plies than a C rated tire. That makes the tire more impervious to flats caused by sharp objects.

As an example, my wife has an '02 LX470 and it has Toyo Open Country AT3 tires that are E rated. That's the vehicle we usually take when we go to her parent's house in MT. The road in is 11 miles of gravel road and when the road is graded the road grader tends to fracture some of the gravel creating some very sharp rocks. With the stock Michelin tires, flats were not uncommon. With the Toyos? Not a one.

Typically tires with higher weight ratings have those weight ratings at higher tire pressures. But unless you need that weight carrying capability, there is no reason to run all that pressure - which adversely affects ride quality. You can run "normal" tire pressures in higher weight rated tires and get similar right quality to a lower weight rated tire.

 

[igotta40]

I had the BFG KM2 Mud Terrain, 10.50-31-15. They lasted about 20K and then the noise was overwhelming, never again. I put on the Kenda 9.5-33 but not enough miles yet to offer a review of them.

 

[DesertFJ40]

I'm gonna throw a curveball, but Kenda makes a 16 in bias-ply tire with E rating. They are 7.5x16 pizza cutters. It's called the Kenda loadstar "light truck" tire. Kinda hard to find you can find them on obscure trailer-tire websites. I love them. They have a highway tread so they're very quiet, but they're tough as nails. I've run over glass bottles, sharp rocks, cactus, pallets, you name it. They're close to bullet proof. And the ride is smooth on roads. People made fun of me (those people being guys who own lifted jeeps with giant dumb tires that are too heavy to change out if you run a flat) for using them since they're so skinny and for the highway tread that it has; but they will climb up a mountain with ease just like any bfg all terrain overpriced tire.


Only downside is the winter time since they are bias ply. You will have a "square" tire feel when you first drive it in the morning but it rounds out after driving for a few minutes. Just another option for you and to still keep it under the KENDA brand :]

Also, the tread on these Kenda tires are very squishy even after all these years. Very plyable. I've felt radial tires that get hard and stiff after a few years. Hmmm.

 

[Pitter Patter]

I'm gonna throw a curveball, but Kenda makes a 16 in bias-ply tire with E rating. They are 7.5x16 pizza cutters. It's called the Kenda loadstar "light truck" tire. Kinda hard to find you can find them on obscure trailer-tire websites. I love them. They have a highway tread so they're very quiet, but they're tough as nails. I've run over glass bottles, sharp rocks, cactus, pallets, you name it. They're close to bullet proof. And the ride is smooth on roads. People made fun of me (those people being guys who own lifted jeeps with giant dumb tires that are too heavy to change out if you run a flat) for using them since they're so skinny and for the highway tread that it has; but they will climb up a mountain with ease just like any bfg all terrain overpriced tire.


Only downside is the winter time since they are bias ply. You will have a "square" tire feel when you first drive it in the morning but it rounds out after driving for a few minutes. Just another option for you and to still keep it under the KENDA brand :]

Also, the tread on these Kenda tires are very squishy even after all these years. Very plyable. I've felt radial tires that get hard and stiff after a few years. Hmmm.

Alright man, post some pics. I need to see these!

 

[Flatlanderfj40]

Just ordered another 5 for customers 40 here in KC. Perfect stance for any 40/60…Availability becoming an issue

@CruiserTrash

 

[CruiserTrash]

FWIW, for anyone interested in these, I'm still loving them on my 60 after a year and I think they'd be great on a 40. Much quieter than MTs despite the big tread lugs, and no chunky feeling on the road like MTs. No perceptible hit to fuel economy. Great in the rain due to the siping and they performed great all winter here in Denver. I was worried about ice but they do fine. Not as great as a dedicated winter tire of course, but they were very sure footed within reasonable expectations. Certainly better than any highway or MT tires I've had. Only Duratracs have been better for me on ice, and not by much. On the trails here in Colorado the Klever RTs have have been the best tire I've ever run. Our conditions are dry and rocky so my experience in heavy mud is limited - we don't get into much bogging here.

If you live near one of @Flatlanderfj40's Coloradoland or Kansasland tire locations, definitely utilize that. Best service I've had at a tire shop. They actually torqued the lug nuts to the exact amount I requested.

 

[Flatlanderfj40]

FWIW, for anyone interested in these, I'm still loving them on my 60 after a year and I think they'd be great on a 40. Much quieter than MTs despite the big tread lugs, and no chunky feeling on the road like MTs. No perceptible hit to fuel economy. Great in the rain due to the siping and they performed great all winter here in Denver. I was worried about ice but they do fine. Not as great as a dedicated winter tire of course, but they were very sure footed within reasonable expectations. Certainly better than any highway or MT tires I've had. Only Duratracs have been better for me on ice, and not by much. On the trails here in Colorado the Klever RTs have have been the best tire I've ever run. Our conditions are dry and rocky so my experience in heavy mud is limited - we don't get into much bogging here.

If you live near one of @Flatlanderfj40's Coloradoland or Kansasland tire locations, definitely utilize that. Best service I've had at a tire shop. They actually torqued the lug nuts to the exact amount I requested.

Thanks, Jim. We try! Appreciate you.