BFG All Terrain load range D vs E, snow ability

[jlee]

TireRack says the BFG All Terrain T/A KO load range E is not rated for severe snow, yet the load range D model is. Does anyone know how much of a difference there is in snow ability? I'm not going to be driving in snow much at all, but if I want to head up north in the winter it'd be nice to do so without dying.

I can get a deal on a set of E tires, but I'm still on the fence.

 

[skyking]

did you get a big truck?
The E's have more plies, higher max pressure, higher load rating. It all adds up to a stiffer tire that will not grab as well. This is especially true when lightly loaded. Letting some air out of E's does not do as much as it does with the lighter tires.
I'd get just as much tire as you need and no more to keep a nice ride and good traction. I'm stuck with the E's on my dodge. Sometimes it is like rolling on Fred Flintstone Specials

 

[jlee]

did you get a big truck?
The E's have more plies, higher max pressure, higher load rating. It all adds up to a stiffer tire that will not grab as well. This is especially true when lightly loaded. Letting some air out of E's does not do as much as it does with the lighter tires.
I'd get just as much tire as you need and no more to keep a nice ride and good traction. I'm stuck with the E's on my dodge. Sometimes it is like rolling on Fred Flintstone Specials

Nope, another Tacoma. The guy I got it from has a spare set of 285/75/16 E-rated tires he'll sell me with wheels, but if they're not the better option I may keep looking.

It has 31x10.50 BFG's on the back and some very worn-out something or other on the front. I'm debating between picking up two used 31's and running that for now, or the E's from him.

 

[skyking]

If they are the size you posted in the links, those are the right tire for my 8800 pound Dodge diesel. Heck they are even oversize for it. I think it would ride like ass.

 

[jlee]

If they are the size you posted in the links, those are the right tire for my 8800 pound Dodge diesel. Heck they are even oversize for it. I think it would ride like ass.

He's selling the set (2x 80%+ tread and 2x 90%+ tread) on TRD wheels for $700, but if it's that bad I'll look at other options. I'm looking at 32-33" tires.

My truck has two good 31x10.50 BFG AT's on the back now (front tires are gone), so I may try to find a couple more used 31" BFG's on Craigslist and just run those for a while. They look silly, though, way too small.

 

[herm0016]

what are you using this truck for? off road mostly? DD? snow?

 

[Throckmorton]

I think E would be way too stiff for a Tacoma. I have the D on my Cherokee and they're perfect.

 

[jlee]

what are you using this truck for? off road mostly? DD? snow?

It'll be split between DD and offroad - have plenty of alternatives so given the choice I'll err towards the side of offroad.

 

[herm0016]

if its a good deal, go for the bfg's. they are good tires for a lot of things, but not the best an anything. E tires will ride stiff on a taco. I would stick with c or d tires max. P is fine too. i think people go overboard on their load ratings. I have p tires on my truck and they are rated for more weight than the gvw of the truck.

we had a lot of side wall issues with the e rated bfg's on our f-350s and switched to the bridgestone revo2. no more sidewall issues, but more flats. I am trying out a set of bridgestone 695's on my work truck and like them so far, with about 2k on them.

for my 1/2 ton I am looking at either the bridgestone 695, the general at2 or Michelin ltx a/t2 for my next set. we take week long trips on and off road with our slide in camper, so my tire choice is pretty critical and i have done extensive research to get to those 3 choices. a balance of on and off road performance for me is key. I can not stand the highway performance of a mud tire and most of the AT tires are good at one thing or another and have little balance.

I use the blizzak dm-v1 for my winter tire and absolutely love them. my tire guy offered to buy them back for his truck after this winter, because he hated his firestone winter tires after having these last season.

 

[jlee]

It's $700 for 16" TRD wheels and the tires (285/75/16). I found a set of Falken 31 all seasons on Nissan wheels at $350 (almost new), so I may grab those for now and then figure out what I want to do later.

On the other hand, I do want 16's eventually (Tundra brakes) so I may be better off to just compromise on the BFGs and settle for the E rating.

 

[herm0016]

those wheels are worth at least 400. so 300 for those tires is a good deal.

does the truck have a small lift? my 1/2 ton takes 265/70/17 or 265/65/18. 285/70/18 requires a 2 in level in the front.

 

[jlee]

It has ToyTec coilovers up front, stock rear. They will fit.

 

[Throckmorton]

Actually I think it's P that I have on my XJ