Tire Load Rating

[icarl]

According to http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Jeep_Liberty/Tires_&_Rims the best tire load rating is 'C' for the Liberty. According to my research the tires in the the most used sizes for 16" rim lifted KJs are load rated 'E'. (ie.245/75,235/85,265/75). According to the site above 'E' is too stiff for the liberty. There really isn't a lot in the 'C' size though unless you go to a 15" rim. So my question then is the 'E' size really too stiff for offroad? And, is it worth it to go to a 15" rim to get say a 31x10.5R15 'C' tire?

 

[K Dje Ryu]

MT/Rs are too stiff for off-road? My last two sets of tires have been E rated. Off-road they're great. More plies means less chance of a sidewall cut or a bead breaking on the rocks. They're pretty rough riding on-road but, I don't mind that.

 

[J-Thompson]

It does not make that much diff.
you will only run 32 or so psi in a C or or E range tire
the diff. is that the E can hold twice the weight and twice the psi
psi is measured in Pounds per Square Inch
32 psi in a C or E is still 32 psi but the C will give easier at 32 compared to
the E ,so the C will ride slightly better
off road you will get the same result the C will flex more to get better traction but at the risk if loosing a bead or busting a side wall
This is why the "********* rock crawlers" run bias ply super swampers
their side walls are just as strong as the E but they flex like a C and can be run at pressures as low as 6 psi and still hold up the rig

 

[J-Thompson]

also Tire MFG's are taking longer to "get with the times"
Car MFG's are going with big rims to allow big breaks
Tire MFG's are busy making tires for 20 and 24" rims that can hold up an F250
that they are behind on the "middle market"
a few years back if you had 16" rims then you had a "heavy duty" truck and
needed heavy duty tires to fit 16" rims so this is what you get
now the KJ need's the same size rime as an F250 to clear the breaks?
or does the F250 have small breaks?

IMO stay away from 15" rims as you WILL have rub issues ,BAD

 

[icarl]

Thanks guys. The 'E' doesn't sound as bad now. I'm still partial to 'c' rating because 'c' = lighter = better fuel economy and 'c' is strong enough for my liberty especially since i rarely see rocks where i live, mostly mud, snow and dirt. These tires may be the ticket : http://www.offroaders.com/tech/AT-MT-Tires/Maxxis-Buckshot-Mudder.htm

On the other hand a number of guys on lost are running 15". hmmm, still not sure what to do.