We have the same truck and I too went from P's to E rated LT's (Michelins). First of all if you have the original shocks with 60K miles they are probably shot. When I replaced mine I could not believe the improvement as you tend not to notice bad shocks day to day until they go away.
Do not soften up your LT's unless you just want to scrub away the tread. Michelin told me to run at 50 psi non towing and since I have a fairly light TT, (4600#), tow at 60 on the front and 62-65 for the rears. Don't let anyone tell you an E rated LT is too much tire as there is no such thing. The tow handling, while never bad, got significantly better when I went to the LT's and it got even better when I added the new shocks. BTW: I went with the top of the line Monroe's and they came with a lifetime warranty. I get a very smooth and quiet ride off of my LT's at 50 psi but they are street tires, not off road, as that is where I (and most folks), do the vast majority of our driving. Good Luck!
"E" rated tires on a 1500/150 is too much! the most that would be needed is "C" rated tires. the "E"`s are just too heavy for the factory suspension to handle. not to mention the fact that running the "E" tires at a very low pressure will not be good for them!
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dodge guy wrote: "E" rated tires on a 1500/150 is too much! the most that would be needed is "C" rated tires. the "E"`s are just too heavy for the factory suspension to handle. not to mention the fact that running the "E" tires at a very low pressure will not be good for them!
1. "Needed" is in the eye of the beholder. Lots of folks and (I am not one of them), running over 1000# of tongue weight plus a serious load in their so called "half ton's".
2. Too heavy for the suspension? Are you kidding me? First see #1 above then throw in all the folks with air bags, pull small fivers etc. Just how heavy do you think E rated tires are? Had no trouble finding E rated LT's in the exact same size as the P's they replaced. They do cost me about .3 mpg due to the fact that they are heavier but I'll gladly accept that for the superior towing and stability they provide.
3. Running them at 50 to 65 psi is not "very low pressure" it's not even "low pressure". It is in fact what Michelin (who knows a fair amount about tires), recommends and mine came with a 70,000 mile tread warranty.
If you want to run less than E rated LT's have at it and with a good set of C raters you will probably be fine but don't disparage those of us who are willing to pay a little more for the best.
dodge guy wrote: "E" rated tires on a 1500/150 is too much! the most that would be needed is "C" rated tires. the "E"`s are just too heavy for the factory suspension to handle. not to mention the fact that running the "E" tires at a very low pressure will not be good for them!
1. "Needed" is in the eye of the beholder. Lots of folks and (I am not one of them), running over 1000# of tongue weight plus a serious load in their so called "half ton's".
2. Too heavy for the suspension? Are you kidding me? First see #1 above then throw in all the folks with air bags, pull small fivers etc. Just how heavy do you think E rated tires are? Had no trouble finding E rated LT's in the exact same size as the P's they replaced. They do cost me about .3 mpg due to the fact that they are heavier but I'll gladly accept that for the superior towing and stability they provide.
3. Running them at 50 to 65 psi is not "very low pressure" it's not even "low pressure". It is in fact what Michelin (who knows a fair amount about tires), recommends and mine came with a 70,000 mile tread warranty.
If you want to run less than E rated LT's have at it and with a good set of C raters you will probably be fine but don't disparage those of us who are willing to pay a little more for the best.
What I`m saying is that a 1/2 ton, unless it is a HD only needs a "C" tire nothing more! my low psi statement was directed at the people saying to run them at the door jamb PSI. and yes an "E" tire is quite a bit heavier than a compareable P tire, take it from someone that mounts and balances them! the springs and shocks were designed to control the dampening forces of the lighter P tires. throwing on heavier tires will cause the suspension to not work properly. and can cause premature suspension and or tire wear.
* This post was
edited 05/09/12 05:40am by dodge guy *
There are a lot of varying opinions on the subject. All I can tell you is that my mechanic (who has some serious qualifications) says that there is nothing wrong w/ running an LT on a 1/2 ton. The fact of the matter is if you off road alot, are really hard on your tires, or tow a heavy trailer, the E tire will perform better than almost anything else. However, with that said, I probably "could" go lighter on tire, but I can't find an LT tire in a 285/75 that is NOT Load Range E.
To Jerem0621, no I'm not defeating the purpose. Yes, If I find that the ride cannot be improved, I would leave things alone. However, I AM willing to put some money into my TV if something can be done.
One thing most people don't realize is the level of road failure in my area, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. But in short, our roads around here basically beat vehicles to death. They are TERRIBLE! When I'm going down Interstate 64 with my setup, it literally feels as if the truck is being shaken apart. I'm just trying to "soften the blow" a bit.
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Drop your tire air pressure. If you have 80 psi LT-E tires, with an empty truck, you only need about 40 psi in the rear and 50-60 psi in the front. Air the rears up to 80 psi when loaded.
If your 285/75 tires are 16", BFG does in fact make their All Terrains in load range D, as well as E. Locally here for me, the D's are actually a little bit more expensive than the E's in that size and not as easily available (not kept in stock), but they can certainly be ordered by any tire shop that carries BFG tires.
SoCalDesertRider wrote: If your 285/75 tires are 16", BFG does in fact make their All Terrains in load range D, as well as E. Locally here for me, the D's are actually a little bit more expensive than the E's in that size and not as easily available (not kept in stock), but they can certainly be ordered by any tire shop that carries BFG tires.
I have 285/75R18's. Have yet to see a D rated LT tire in that size, although I'm not saying that I've looked very extensively either. The most popular in that size around my parts is the BFG A/T and that is an E range as well.
As far as your pressure recommendation, I appreciate the response for sure, and what you say makes at least "some" sense but that goes completely against Nitto's recommendations, especially airing them up to 80 while towing. I DO think I could drop to 45 or 40 when not towing, but again, I'd sacrifice the ride before I'd eat my tread away.
My ride actually isn't all "that" bad when not towing. It's brutal when I'm hooked up.
"My ride actually isn't all "that" bad when not towing. It's brutal when I'm hooked up."
Getting back to your original question....get the best new shocks you can find and your problem will disappear like a fart in the wind. Folks that ride in my truck are always shocked at how smooth and quiet the ride is (both towing and non). The Monroe shocks and the street tread LT's at the appropriate pressure make a very nice combination. I am always puzzled when folks complain about how bad their ride is (and why they put up with it). If your truck beats you up something is definitely wrong but should be easy enough to cure with the right gear. Good Luck!
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Folks that ride in my truck are always shocked at how smooth and quiet the ride is (both towing and non). The Monroe shocks and the street tread LT's at the appropriate pressure make a very nice combination. I am always puzzled when folks complain about how bad their ride is (and why they put up with it). 
If your truck beats you up something is definitely wrong but should be easy enough to cure with the right gear. Good Luck! 
