Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » load range verus load index and cheap tires ?
| load range verus load index and cheap tires ? [message #359981] |
Thu, 05 November 2020 06:52  |
hertfordnc
Messages: 1164
Registered: September 2009
Location: East NC
Karma: 0
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A lot if what i read on GMC pages says we need Load Range E tires which are apparently good for over 3000 lb. or 18,000 lb total, is that right?
Why so much excess capacity ? I'm a big fan of excess capacity (that's why i have an Excursion) but I want to understand.
Meanwhile there are SUV tires on Amazon for under $100 that are 'Load Index 108T' which means they'll take 2200 lb and go 118 MPH.
For a 23 footer a total capacity of 13,200 LB seems just about right.
Dave & Ellen Silva
Hertford, NC
76 Birchaven, 1-ton and other stuff
Currently planning the Great american Road Trip Summer 2021
It's gonna take a lot of Adderall to get this thing right.
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| Re: [GMCnet] load range verus load index and cheap tires ? [message #359982 is a reply to message #359981] |
Thu, 05 November 2020 10:05  |
jimk
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma: 9
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Being an Oriental, I go cheap.
However , after Speaking to lot of people and debating this issue, I put it
to rest and became a Christen and use the more expensive Load Range E.
This was back in 1990.
On Thu, Nov 5, 2020 at 4:53 AM dave silva via Gmclist <
gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:
> A lot if what i read on GMC pages says we need Load Range E tires which
> are apparently good for over 3000 lb. or 18,000 lb total, is that right?
>
> Why so much excess capacity ? I'm a big fan of excess capacity (that's
> why i have an Excursion) but I want to understand.
>
> Meanwhile there are SUV tires on Amazon for under $100 that are 'Load
> Index 108T' which means they'll take 2200 lb and go 118 MPH.
>
>
> For a 23 footer a total capacity of 13,200 LB seems just about right.
>
>
> --
> Dave & Ellen Silva
>
> 1972 Revcon Olds 455, toro drive train. All Stock
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
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--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.gmcrvparts.com
1-800-752-7502
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Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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| Re: load range verus load index and cheap tires ? [message #359985 is a reply to message #359981] |
Thu, 05 November 2020 13:34 |
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Richard RV
Messages: 631
Registered: July 2012
Location: Full-timer for 12 years, ...
Karma: -17
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You're conflating some factors.
Tire pressure determines load capacity. The load capacity of an E range tire is not 3000 pounds at the tire pressure we run at - typically ~65psi. I believe load range E max out at ~2750 pounds or thereabouts at 80psi. If you want to run E range tires at the rated max of 80psi you'll get extra capacity, perhaps lose a few fillings, but...
Load determines tire pressure, which determines contact patch size and prevents uneven tread wear. That higher pressure will kill your tires ahead of schedule. That's for load range E. I do not know the load range D numbers off hand, but...
I've assisted weighing coaches at a number of rallies. The weight distribution is not uniform front to back. The front tires pretty much always carry greater weight. Non-intuitively, a 23' coach carries a greater percentage of the total weight on its front tires than a 26' coach does. How many 23' coaches are at or above 2200 pounds per front tire? Many to most.
Synopsis: there are better places to save money than on tires, and dropping the load range to save a few bucks is begging for a visit from Murphy.
Richard
'77 Birchaven TZE...777;
'76 Palm Beach under construction;
‘76 Edgemont waiting its turn
[Updated on: Thu, 05 November 2020 13:39] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: [GMCnet] load range verus load index and cheap tires ? [message #359986 is a reply to message #359985] |
Thu, 05 November 2020 13:54 |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
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My mother used to say "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make
him drink. The best that you can hope for, is to make him wish to hell that
he would have." That applies to under rated tires for the loads you carry.
Everyone's GMC all up weight is quite different. Tires should match what
ever that is, plus a healthy safety margin.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon
On Thu, Nov 5, 2020 at 11:35 AM Richard via Gmclist
wrote:
> You're conflating some factors.
>
> Tire pressure determines load capacity. The load capacity of an E range
> tire is not 3000 pounds at the tire pressure we run at - typically ~65psi.
> If you want to run E range tires at the rated max of 80psi you'll get that
> extra capacity, perhaps lose a few fillings, but...
>
> Load determines tire pressure, which determines contact patch size and
> prevents uneven tread wear. That higher pressure will kill your tires
> ahead of
> schedule. That's for load range E. I do not know the load range D
> numbers off hand, but...
>
> I've assisted weighing coaches at a number of rallies. The weight
> distribution is not uniform front to back. The front tires pretty much
> always
> carry greater weight. Non-intuitively, a 23' coach carries a greater
> percentage of the total weight on its front tires than a 26' coach does.
> How
> many 23' coaches are at or above 2200 pounds per front tire? Many to most.
>
> Synopsis: there are better places to save money than on tires, and
> dropping the load range to save a few bucks is begging for a visit from
> Murphy.
>
> Richard
> --
> '77 Birchaven TZE...777;
> '76 Palm Beach with 18,477 verified miles;
> ‘76 Edgemonte
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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| Re: load range verus load index and cheap tires ? [message #359994 is a reply to message #359981] |
Fri, 06 November 2020 05:53 |
lqqkatjon
Messages: 2324
Registered: October 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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My personal experience was running a fleet of delivery cube vans back in late 90’s. They were all leased vans and did not pay attention much to what tires they put on.
But we tended to have rear tire blow outs
Occasionally. Lease company would have tire shop come out and install a new tire on side of road.
I then noticed they were installing D rated tires. They were
Rated for the truck, but maybe we were over loading occasionally. Maybe not? I just know when we had them change to E rated tires our blow out issue disappeared.
Maybe there is a ride difference going to a heavier tire. I dont care.
It is also not about weight that is spread over all 6 tires. When you are braking, hitting bumps, ect, individual tires can see different loads.
Jump up and down on a scale.
I would
Rather buy a less expensive brand load range E tire then a more expensive brand 108T.
There are some less expensive tires people
Do run. Your luck may vary.
Also you need to make sure they use properly rated valve stems. Some shops will pop in a valve stem that is not rated to 65psi.
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now.
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
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| Re: load range verus load index and cheap tires ? [message #360075 is a reply to message #359981] |
Thu, 12 November 2020 08:42 |
TR 1
Messages: 348
Registered: August 2015
Location: DFW
Karma: -7
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In general, an E Load rated tire also has stiffer sidewalls... A nice thing to have on a tall vehicle. But I would say you are correct. On a lightly loaded 23 footer, D would probably be sufficient. If it were me, though... I would still run an "E" rated tire. No harm in having excess capacity.
As a fellow Excursion owner, it's interesting to note that I believe 00-03 trucks recommend load range "D" tires... 04-05 they switched to "E", though I am not aware of any difference between the 03 and 04 model years.... We always ran "E" tires on my old 2000 truck which we no longer have, and do currently on our '05...
I actually also run "E" rated tires on my 3200 pound jeep for puncture resistance. I just run them aired down. I'd read that recommendation in a guide published by the state of Texas for driving unmaintained roads in Big Bend park... Interesting read if you are into off highway driving.
https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_p4501_0152k.pdf
Relevant part reads:
"LOAD RANGE E TIRES are
strongly recommended. If you
have standard 4-ply tread/2-ply
polyester sidewalls, stay home.
Six-ply tires are recommended
as an absolute minimum."
FWIW, over several off road trips down there, no punctures to date. Though I have never run a lighter range tire for comparison. Rocks are damn sharp down there, though.
Technically, at the full 80psi, I think the entire weight of the jeep could be safely supported by the capacity of one tire ;-P
Mark S. '73 Painted Desert,
Manny 1 Ton Front End,
Howell Injection,
Leigh Harrison 4bag and Rear Brakes,
Fort Worth, TX
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| Re: load range verus load index and cheap tires ? [message #360151 is a reply to message #359981] |
Mon, 16 November 2020 09:48 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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I use E load range Coopers. They cost about the same is the Pacific Rim tires.
And I remember when Ford went to the 4 different SUVs - the Escape, Expensive, Exclusive, and Exorbitant.
--johnny
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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