E - Rated Tires
JK Junkie
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 1
From: The San Andreas Fault
Load Range E tires on a JK are very economical. Considering the GVWR of a 2-door is 5000 lbs and 4-door is 5500 lbs, and most Load Range E tires carry at least 3,000 lbs (some well over 4,000 lbs), you only need two and will have plenty of margin.
Now if you can just figure out how to balance the JK on two wheels.
Why exactly would you want Load Range E tires? It would seem to me you would be giving up some off-road flexibility since the sidewalls would be stiffer. Is there some advantage I'm overlooking?
Now if you can just figure out how to balance the JK on two wheels.
Why exactly would you want Load Range E tires? It would seem to me you would be giving up some off-road flexibility since the sidewalls would be stiffer. Is there some advantage I'm overlooking?
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: Baton Rouge, LA
I keep mine at 30 and so far haven't noticed much of a difference over the stock Wrangler STs (the epitome of soft sidewall tires and little load range.) Most of the difference is from the lugs/tread IMO. Then again, Baton Rouge's roads suck so that could be part of it too. When I get a bit more miles on them, I'll update that, but so far so good. Does handle a lot better on the road now (cornering.) No sidewall flex.
JK Junkie
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,017
Likes: 0
From: Lakewood, OH
The higher load range tires now a days, are really max psi based ratings.
The higher load range tires are often more durable, tougher, and wear longer, than the lower load range versions.
They may require MORE pressure to support the same weight, or less, depending upon the exact tire.
The rubber compounds, the tread depths, etc, can differ between say the load range C and E tires, etc....and the higher load range tires are typically more reinforced with different cords and tire carcasses, etc.
The way these extra strong carcasses FEEL is dependent upon HOW they were reinforced.
So, the advantages of the higher load range tires CAN BE, they last for more miles, they are tougher on and off road, they have deeper tread depths, they typically handle better, due to less wishy washy construction, and of course, they can carry more weight.
CAN BE doesn't mean they always DO though....for example, depending upon the size, and the SPECIFIC tire, there are some C rated tires that carry more weight than some E rated tires, and some E rated tires that ride softer than some C rated tires, etc.
The higher load range tires are often more durable, tougher, and wear longer, than the lower load range versions.
They may require MORE pressure to support the same weight, or less, depending upon the exact tire.
The rubber compounds, the tread depths, etc, can differ between say the load range C and E tires, etc....and the higher load range tires are typically more reinforced with different cords and tire carcasses, etc.
The way these extra strong carcasses FEEL is dependent upon HOW they were reinforced.
So, the advantages of the higher load range tires CAN BE, they last for more miles, they are tougher on and off road, they have deeper tread depths, they typically handle better, due to less wishy washy construction, and of course, they can carry more weight.
CAN BE doesn't mean they always DO though....for example, depending upon the size, and the SPECIFIC tire, there are some C rated tires that carry more weight than some E rated tires, and some E rated tires that ride softer than some C rated tires, etc.
I went back and looked up a few of the tires I have personal experience with and came up with a few surprises. I noticed that some E range tires don't carry an 80 psi maximum inflation rate, which I always believed was part of the rating. Both Load Range D and E don't necessarily carry the max psi ratings and some large flotation tires will have reduced inflation rates despite carrying a D or E rating.
Of course ply count has been thrown out the window a long time ago, and in digesting the rest of Load Range Ratings they don't really seem to represent much. Obviously there's a lot of room for improvement and perhaps some day we'll see here in the states an ISO rating system which seems well under way in Europe, with ETRTO being adopted by the ISO.
JK Junkie
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,152
Likes: 0
From: Bloomington, IL
That's good stuff Teej!
Of course ply count has been thrown out the window a long time ago, and in digesting the rest of Load Range Ratings they don't really seem to represent much. Obviously there's a lot of room for improvement and perhaps some day we'll see here in the states an ISO rating system which seems well under way in Europe, with ETRTO being adopted by the ISO.
Of course ply count has been thrown out the window a long time ago, and in digesting the rest of Load Range Ratings they don't really seem to represent much. Obviously there's a lot of room for improvement and perhaps some day we'll see here in the states an ISO rating system which seems well under way in Europe, with ETRTO being adopted by the ISO.
BTW, I have E's on my Jeep, for no good reason, really. They ride fine, but my perspective is that my DD for the last 5 years has been a Dodge 2500 4wd.
JK Freak
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 505
Likes: 0
From: Rancho Cucamonga, Ca
Got e-rated Parnelli Jones Dirt Grips, 35R 16 x 12.5 > I was worried since I had c-rated pro comp XMTs before. I', runnin them at 25 psi and they feel the same as the pcs . . . smoother actually, but my pcs were dust when I switched over.
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: lajunta , colorado
well thank you all. I was looking into over sized tires. To get a true size it seems to be Supper Swamper, or Nitro's. If you are lucky it might be a hair taller. This is where you get into the Load differences. ( D, E ) 18s, 20s. 
JK Junkie
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,017
Likes: 0
From: Lakewood, OH
Not so much worried about Hooligans and for me Toyo MTs were the right tire for a variety of reasons, primarily snow and rain performance for an MT.
I'm going to need to put some of my mad math skills to work and see about where the weight and inflation rates lie. There are certainly a lot of heavier JKs out there, and for many of them load range C tires probably don't really cut it.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 476
Likes: 1
From: NORTHERN Virginia
If there is any way to avoid Es, I will.
I ran E rated Toyos (probably the best tire, but wrong load rating) on my 2 dr for about 9 months. They were too stiff. If I reduced the psi to 25 or 26 so they were not as stiff on the road, I would start the day with flat spots. My commute to work is about 4 miles. So, I spent most of my driving time waiting for the flat spots to go away as the tire warmed up.
I sold them to a friend with a 4 dr, and he likes them. That extra 500+ lbs makes a difference.
The Goodyear MTR w/ Kevlar 35x12.50R15 is a C.
Most 35x12.50R15s and 33x12.50R15a are Cs for most every tire brand.
The BFG Krawler 37x.12.50R17 is a C.
The Toyo MT 37x14.50R15 is a C. Unfortunately, other than the Super Swampers and the discontinued 37x12.50R15 MTRs (old style), there aren't any 37" tires for 15" wheels that I have seen.
There are many D rated tires in several sizes and brands.
As a result, there really is no reason to submit yourself to the ubber heavy and stiff E rated tires on a JK...except for Jpop or others who live around hooligans that slash your sidewalls at night.
I run E rated Toyo MTs on my dually...and I pull 1 TJ and the 2 JKs on a 3 car wedge trailer with it. We are probably over 28k lbs total combined weight going down the highway.
I ran E rated Toyos (probably the best tire, but wrong load rating) on my 2 dr for about 9 months. They were too stiff. If I reduced the psi to 25 or 26 so they were not as stiff on the road, I would start the day with flat spots. My commute to work is about 4 miles. So, I spent most of my driving time waiting for the flat spots to go away as the tire warmed up.
I sold them to a friend with a 4 dr, and he likes them. That extra 500+ lbs makes a difference.
The Goodyear MTR w/ Kevlar 35x12.50R15 is a C.
Most 35x12.50R15s and 33x12.50R15a are Cs for most every tire brand.
The BFG Krawler 37x.12.50R17 is a C.
The Toyo MT 37x14.50R15 is a C. Unfortunately, other than the Super Swampers and the discontinued 37x12.50R15 MTRs (old style), there aren't any 37" tires for 15" wheels that I have seen.
There are many D rated tires in several sizes and brands.
As a result, there really is no reason to submit yourself to the ubber heavy and stiff E rated tires on a JK...except for Jpop or others who live around hooligans that slash your sidewalls at night.
I run E rated Toyo MTs on my dually...and I pull 1 TJ and the 2 JKs on a 3 car wedge trailer with it. We are probably over 28k lbs total combined weight going down the highway.
I second planman's comments. Had 37" Toyo's for about 1500 miles (e rated). Sold them. Got really tired of the flat spots in the morning. Also they were FN heavy. On the plus side when they were balanced (and roadforced) the weight necessary to balance was minimal compared to the Goodyears that I replaced them with.
I really like the Goodyear MTR Kevlars. I think they are loadrange C, but will not swear to it. But they are (atleast) 25 lbs per tire lighter, and with that powerhouse I have under the hood, every lb of unsprung rotating mass counts!
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: Baton Rouge, LA
It's a common misconception. The proper way to say it is "10-ply equivalent" but most just shorten it to 10-ply. For some of the old timers, you have to say that or they get really confused. lol