|
|
09-02-2009, 04:43 PM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Seattle
Posts: 173
|
E series tires
I think I saw this thread somewhere but can't find it now. I'm getting ready to replace my BFG AT's with the same tires. I currently have 285 75 R16 "D" series. Can anyone tell me if the "E" series are better, worse, the same? I can't seem to find anything about them via Google. I've gotten good wear out of the current set, but given the weight of The Van (9,200 lb's!) with just me, food, wine, bourbon, and a couple of fly rods, I want to make sure the tires are in good shape.
thanks..
Tom
__________________
2005 SMB RB 50 4X4 w/ a 6.0 PSD
|
|
|
09-02-2009, 05:36 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Pasadena, CA
Posts: 785
|
Re: E series tires
Quote:
Originally Posted by flyfisher
I think I saw this thread somewhere but can't find it now. I'm getting ready to replace my BFG AT's with the same tires. I currently have 285 75 R16 "D" series. Can anyone tell me if the "E" series are better, worse, the same? I can't seem to find anything about them via Google. I've gotten good wear out of the current set, but given the weight of The Van (9,200 lb's!) with just me, food, wine, bourbon, and a couple of fly rods, I want to make sure the tires are in good shape.
thanks..
Tom
|
Do a search on 'tires' or 'e rated' and you'll find a lot of good info. It is a widely discussed topic.
Short version is that consensus favors the greater load bearing capacity of E rated tires for the SMB vans. Most of the popular tires used on our rigs are available in an E load rating.
Rob
__________________
2006 SMB 4x4, EB-51, 6.0psd
|
|
|
09-02-2009, 05:49 PM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 989
|
Re: E series tires
I'm running E rated Nitto Terragrapplers in your size for about 15k miles so far. All has been good. You should definitely upgrade to E rated tires unless you plan on cutting back on the food/alcohol...which is not recommended.
__________________
2007 Ford RB Diesel SMB 4x4 Pueblo Gold; Custom configuration (aisle layout); PIAA 580 driving lights; Picked up on Oct 19, 2007.
|
|
|
09-02-2009, 09:15 PM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Helena, Montana
Posts: 613
|
Re: E series tires
Ha! Just got my new BFG AT/KO E Rated 10 ply tires mounted today. I've had BFG AT/KO D rated tires for 30,000 miles, but I have become convinced that they are just too close to their real weight rating for safety for my 10,600lb fully loaded Sporty.
I was looking at the new tires this afternoon on the Sporty in the driveway, and they are individually rated at 3,500 lbs. The Sporty's rear axle is holding at least 6,000 lbs of the weight of the van, so it is nice to have around a 400lb safety factor for the rear wheels.
__________________
2006 Baja Tan SMB 4X4 EB50 PH 6LPSD
Mohawk Royalex Solo 14 foot canoe (light white-water)
Mad River Kevlar Explorer 17 foot canoe (flat water)
Dagger Royalex Legend 16 foot canoe (white-water)
Maravia New Wave 13.5 foot raft (fishing and white-water)
|
|
|
09-02-2009, 09:17 PM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Helena, Montana
Posts: 613
|
Re: E series tires
Also, if you research tires on the Tirerack.com, basic Ford E-350 vans (before customization) are recommended to use only E rated tires.
__________________
2006 Baja Tan SMB 4X4 EB50 PH 6LPSD
Mohawk Royalex Solo 14 foot canoe (light white-water)
Mad River Kevlar Explorer 17 foot canoe (flat water)
Dagger Royalex Legend 16 foot canoe (white-water)
Maravia New Wave 13.5 foot raft (fishing and white-water)
|
|
|
09-03-2009, 06:19 PM
|
#6
|
Site Team
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern New Mexico
Posts: 10,177
|
Re: E series tires
BETTER!
__________________
SMB-less as of 02/04/2012. Our savings account is richer, but our adventures are poorer.
|
|
|
09-09-2009, 01:53 PM
|
#7
|
Site Team
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,407
|
Re: E series tires
I switch from BFG AT 285/75/16 D's to the same tire in E's. Much better mileage but rougher ride at 75-80 PSI. American tire gave me the best deal in town. (small town)
__________________
2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer
Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures.......... On and off road adventures
|
|
|
09-10-2009, 11:55 AM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 308
|
Re: E series tires
I think D tires can only hold 50 PSI and SMB recommends 80PSI which E can handle.
Extra pressure = better highway mileage
Here is some non-scientific information
http://forums.dieselpowermag.com/70/626 ... index.html
|
|
|
09-10-2009, 09:27 PM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 7,643
|
Re: E series tires
It's not the PSI it's the weight rating, and the ratings on the sidewall are max weight at max PSI. The problem is Ds aren't rated a high enough weight for the vans (or it is very close, enough that not running at max pressure seems to destroy tires).
The result is you may be able to run an E at some lower percent of max pressure, say the same 60psi, and still have enough weight bearing (some percentage of the max weight at max pressure) to be safe for how heavy the van is. I don't know what the calculations are, but there is a discussion in one of the "weigh your rig" threads, and it varies by tire as all Es are not the same.
__________________
it was good to be back
|
|
|
10-04-2009, 12:09 PM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: San Diego
Posts: 527
|
Re: E series tires
I only have 10 miles on my new E rated BFG Mud Terrains KM2's right now but am doing a 700 mile trip next weekend so should be able to report something. I upgraded from BFG 295/16 AT's which were D rated. I will not go back to a D rated tire. After 38K miles they were in bad shape; cracking, sidewall splitting etc. The 295's had a 65# max air pressure.
Pat O
__________________
2004 SMB 4x4 RB 6.0 PSD; ARP Head Studs, Gen 3 Cylinder Heads, BPD Oil Cooler connected to AMSOil Bypass, a whistling Wicked Wheel Turbo, Coolant Filter, Upgraded alternator, ScanGauge, SCT custom and SMB Fox shocks.
BFG 285/75 R16 KM3 Mud Terrains on ProComp 7069's
|
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|