Changing Tire Pressure When Changing Load Rating

[upszeke]

Why would you want to put an E load range tire on a Toyota Tacoma? Tires are way overrated load carry for a smaller truck

[pteck]

^Sometimes tire selection is not just about on-road load capacity, but also off-road qualities including tread pattern, durability, etc. Some sizes just don't come in P-metric types tires.

I have also gone to a Load Range E LT type tire for the added performance and durability off-road. Like the OP, I have had to increase tire pressures (32 to 36PSI) per the load rating tables. Under tow, I use 44 PSI not so much for more load support, but the added stability it affords.

[smithcreek]

Originally Posted by upszeke

Why would you want to put an E load range tire on a Toyota Tacoma? Tires are way overrated load carry for a smaller truck

Originally Posted by pteck

... not so much for more load support, but the added stability it affords.

I said earlier that the E-rated tires were overkill as far as weight capacity goes, so that's not what I was looking for. Since we bought our AS at the start of last year I'm always trying to improve how well my rig tows as a whole. It has towed well from the start, but along the way I've made small but meaningful improvements. Things like drilling a new hole to shorten the hitch shank, changing the height and angle of ball mount, dialing in the weight distribution using 1/2" bolts in the weight distribution chains, etc.

When it came time for new tires I figured it was worth trying an E rated tire to see if it added any extra stability, like pteck said. Originally I though it was the heavier sidewall itself that provides the benefit, but the tire experts pointed out it's actually the fact that you can, and need to, run them with higher psi.