I have an 06 F-150 SCab and recently replaced the P's with Michelin M/S2's E rated LT's. Could not be more pleased with the improved ride and handling. Go with a good quality E rated LT, you won't be sorry.
I think this qualifies as HD. I gotta find out if my stock wheels can handle 80psi.
Thanks for the info guys, I'm a newbie to max towing, but thanks to you guys I'll know more when it comes time to hook er up. Don't worry, you're safe on the roads, I don't own a tt yet.
* This post was
edited 07/08/11 09:34pm by Slick Rick *
I have had good luck with Firestone Transforce At's E rated tire on my 2002 F150HD 7700 pay-load pkg. Pull a small 5er and I like the E rated tires. My rear axle rating is 4800lbs.
Are you hauling THAT heavy? I am currently running those E rated BFG A/Ts on my F150. They have been great for towing and Winter driving. However they reduced my mpg's by about 8% and made the ride much stiffer. And now that they've been on the truck for a few years the Winter handling BLOWS really bad despite plenty of legal tread.
You should also bear in mind that you don't have to inflate them to 80 PSI (especially on an F150). Mine are currently at 35 PSI. I've even towed my 6000 lb travel trailer on short trips at that PSI, but I can definitely feel it. Typically I inflate them to around 50 PSI, which has been rock solid.
I'm pretty sure I'm going back to P metric next time. Virtually all of them are rated higher than even your max tow package axle ratings.
Your picture doesn't show a F150 HD truck ratings.
A F150 HD package comes OEM with a 8200 GVWR with 4050 FAWR and a 4800 RAWR with higher rated 7 lug wheel and 17" LT E tires.
Your standard duty F150 has a 7700 GVWR 3750 FAWR and a 4050 RAWR with those huge 20" P tires that aren't the best for towing duties. A 20" E tire will be much heavier than those lightweight 20" P tires.
Your particular truck IMO would be better off with the stock 17" wheels (as the F150 HD) and a LT load range C tires.
"good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" ............ Will Rogers
'03 2500 QC Dodge/Cummins HO 3.73 6 speed manual Jacobs Westach
'97 Park Avanue 28' 5er 11200 gvwr two slides
Bo-man wrote: I have had good luck with Firestone Transforce At's E rated tire on my 2002 F150HD 7700 pay-load pkg. Pull a small 5er and I like the E rated tires. My rear axle rating is 4800lbs.
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I too am very happy with my Firestone Transforce A/Ts' on my Excursion. I will agree that E rated tires on a 1/2 ton truck is a bit much. I doubt that the OE wheels can handle 80 psi and if you cannot keep that much pressure in them then there is no point in getting them.
I have Kumho on the truck, Load Range E.
I have Coopers on the Tioga, Load Range E.
I don't understand all the hassle about wheels rated for 80 PSI. A Load Range E tire does NOT HAVE to be inflated to 80 PSI!
My '06 Rubicon came from the factory with Load Range E tires, inflated to 33 PSI.
I inflate the Cooper E tires on the Tioga to the pressures recommended on the data plate for the OEM Load Range D tires, and it rides and handles great.
Long ago and far away, we used to put 8 ply tires on half ton pickups. They would last nearly forever. IIRC, we would run them at 30 to 35 PSI.
There just is no need to inflate Load Range E tires to 80 PSI. It would be incredibly dumb to load a half ton truck that heavy!
If you want E tires, go for it. Adjust the inflation pressure for the load, and to keep the tread flat on the road, and don't look back!
CM1, USN (RET)
2002 Fleetwood Southwind 32V, Ford V10
Toad: 2006 Jeep Rubicon LJ
Other toad: '06 PT Cruiser, Kar Kaddy dolly
Toy: 1977 Dodge W100 CC SWB, 3/4 ton axles & springs
"When seconds count, help is only minutes away!"
4,050 lb. rear axle. Not HD by any stretch of the imagination. Why would you put 6,200 lb (combined) tires on there? LT 'C' rated would be a much better match.
Asking for the BEST tire is like asking which is the BEST half ton twuck! WHAT is the application you are doing. For awhile on here, the supposid BEST tire was a Michilen XPS rib. WHich frankly, you could not give me a set. A 5 rib tire great for the desert SW, but NO traction what so ever. Another person may find a set of super swampers to be the BEST tire. As they tow, and off road with the TV after setting up camp in mud in the SE!
So the question becomes, WHERE are you towing, what conditions are you in etc. I towed more miles in snow and ice in a ggiven winter towing my trailer tot he local ski area than some do in there lifetime. SO a traction tire was on my list of better tow tires.
BFG AT's, another tire you can not give me from experience. I found some HWY style COopers were better towing in the local snow and ice conditions. along with 50% longer lasting.
Better to ask what brands have worked for folks in the past. I personally prefer Toyo or Cooper. Michilen for me any how, is at the bottom of the list, or for a specialty tire, same with GY.
Marty
05 Chev CC D/A LS Dooley
92 Navistar dump truck, 7.3L 7 sp, 4.33 gears with a Detroit no spin
00 Chev C2500, V5700, 4L80E, 4.10, base truck, no options!
92 Red-e-haul 12K equipment trailer
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