Tires for SUV - P or LT?

[thatguy]

Just curious thoughts/comments on tires for a 4x4 small/mid size SUV

What are the advantages/disadvantages of using P (passenger) tire over a LT (light truck) tire? Assuming there will not be hardly any heavy hauling (like you would in a pickup truck bed) since it has smaller cargo area but there could be some towing..

I can see how the heavier sidewalls on the LT may resist sidewall tears/holes off roading - BUT would they be too stuff for when you need lower air pressure in the tire for better traction..


thoughts??

Brian

 

[Verticaltrx]

Just for reference, I have a 3rd gen Toyota 4runner that originally came with P265/70R16 tires. Since I do use it off road as well as for towing and hauling gear, I went with an LT 235/85R16 tire. Much better load capacity, sturdier tire, and actually better fuel economy. You can air them down just like any other tire and they will flex well. I'll air these down to 15psi or so off-road and they do great.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I can see no benefits other than a quieter ride with a P tire. No way I would put them on any of my rigs but thats me. You living where you do I would thank traction in snow and wet is very important and to me that means a LT M/S tire.

Chris

 

[thatguy]

any other comments/thoughts?

 

[clemsonfor]

The price is higher on LT they are stiffer, a good thing, they have more weight capacity. But Look at your tires on it there prolly P tires. Look at the weight rating per tire on the back. Then find the back axle weight and then add the most you think you will put in it or from a hitch weight. That will really tell you if your tires are decent enough in the P form. I would run a P tire if it were me to save money. You can get all terrain P tires.

 

[tcartwri]

Yokahama makes a SUV tire that comes in two pressure ranges, Geolandar A/T S, which has a substantial load capacity boost and only a few pounds difference in weight. I run them on my 05 explorer. That is the one negative with an LT tire is that they are heavy, sometimes twice the weight of a P tire.

 

[B7510HSD]

Yokahama makes a SUV tire that comes in two pressure ranges, Geolandar A/T S, which has a substantial load capacity boost and only a few pounds difference in weight. I run them on my 05 explorer. That is the one negative with an LT tire is that they are heavy, sometimes twice the weight of a P tire.

I also just installed the Yokohama ATS on my truck WOW what a difference over the stock Goodyears!!!!

 

[Fixemall]

The only tires you should run will be specified on the sticker in your door jamb, anything else is not designed to work properly with your suspension and braking system and could result in an unsafe condition, things like sidewall flex and weight can result in increased chance of rollover and increased braking distance.

 

[thatguy]

I went to look up the Geolander A/T S tire on tire rack and it wasnt showing up..

I had entered my vehicle make which uses 265/75/16 tires.. They listed 40 some tires ranging from P to LT - BUT did not show all the tires in that size..

any idea why tirerack would hide applicable sized tires?

Brian

 

[thatguy]

The P tires have a UTQG rating from 100 to 800ish - which typically means higher the number the longer the tire will last..

IF a mfg has the same tire available as a P and LT tire - Can the P rating be used as a reference on how the LT tire will hold up?

Brian

 

[B7510HSD]

My son has been loking for tires for his 3/4 ton in an E rated and they are usually rated for less mileage than the P rated tires in the same tire.....but I wouldn't use anything but an E rated if you haul heavy loads...

 

[thatguy]

My son has been loking for tires for his 3/4 ton in an E rated and they are usually rated for less mileage than the P rated tires in the same tire.....but I wouldn't use anything but an E rated if you haul heavy loads...

I have never seen a LT tire have a rating - at least on tirerack (which posts the ratings that are easily to find).

This is an SUV so i dont see it needing an E rated tire like my Dodge/cummins ram did.. I was considering going with a C/D just for the extra sidewall strength.. Especially since mileage ratings are pretty hard to get warranty on..

Brian

 

[toppop52]

They all either have it in lbs or load range rating such as;
Load Index 100 = Load (lbs) 1764

That weight/load rating is always at maximum recommended inflation pressure.
Many, in fact nearly all tire builders have multiple tire tread patterns that come both in P-Metric and LT.
P-Metric M & S tires are as good in snow as LT tires with the same tread. If you never off road and you don't tow more than a couple thousand lbs, no point in paying for LT. But if you ever run through a frozen puddle like I did 25 years or so ago and the ice cuts the sidewall out and leaves you with a flat tire on 25 degree snowy day up a muddy lane, you'll want LT's.

 

[B7510HSD]

I have never seen a LT tire have a rating - at least on tirerack (which posts the ratings that are easily to find).

This is an SUV so i dont see it needing an E rated tire like my Dodge/cummins ram did.. I was considering going with a C/D just for the extra sidewall strength.. Especially since mileage ratings are pretty hard to get warranty on..

Brian

Well I just put the Yokohama's on my Dakota PU and I can tell they are a whole lot better than the Goodyears GS/A I think they were...These ride alot better down the road and I did some beach driveing last weekend and never needed 4 wheel drive with these where the Goodyears alway required 4 wheel in the soft stuff!! We get a fair amount of rain here to and they don't seem to spin near as bad from a start or around corners as did the Goodyears!! Mine were 265/70/16's and a guy at work bought a set 2 days later and his were as yours 265/75/16's from Discount Tire!

 

[tcartwri]

I went to look up the Geolander A/T S tire on tire rack and it wasnt showing up..

I had entered my vehicle make which uses 265/75/16 tires.. They listed 40 some tires ranging from P to LT - BUT did not show all the tires in that size..

any idea why tirerack would hide applicable sized tires?

Brian

Yokohama Geolandar A/T-S

 

[tcartwri]

The only tires you should run will be specified on the sticker in your door jamb, anything else is not designed to work properly with your suspension and braking system and could result in an unsafe condition, things like sidewall flex and weight can result in increased chance of rollover and increased braking distance.

Mom, can you get off my forum please!

 

[Fixemall]

Mom, can you get off my forum please!

I love it...seriously though, as part of a technical consulting gig I had to read thru the entire case files of the Ford/Firestone debacle, I also spent countless hours with more tire engineers than one should ever have to. I will say I did learn a lot about the engineering that goes into tires.

 

[KML]

After 2 sets of p's ,OEM goodyear somethings (40K miles), Kuhmo ecsta (35K Miles) went with michelin LTX M/S's on the wife's 2006 Highlander. 45K and still look good and perform well. They handle better and have decent traction and ride. Overall much happier with the LT tire even for the added price.

 

[thatguy]

The only tires you should run will be specified on the sticker in your door jamb, anything else is not designed to work properly with your suspension and braking system and could result in an unsafe condition, things like sidewall flex and weight can result in increased chance of rollover and increased braking distance.

I would have to look at the sticker - but i thought it only listed the tire size, not a brand/model...

So you would NOT recommend using an LT tire on a suv if it originally came with P tires?

Wouldnt this fall under Moss-magnoson act for parts - that says IF they dictate you must use certain parts, the parts must be provided to you (or something similar - in regards to using non OEM parts in repairs/service)

brian

 

[B7510HSD]

Why would you want to use a stiffer tire for a "4x4 small/mid size SUV" and give up any comfort you may have unless you haul alot of weight or do some serious offroading ????