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Originally Posted by tracker67
I am thinking about outfitting my '05 Tundra double cab with "E" rated tires. Will this enhance tow vehicle stability or are the factory tires ok for long distance towing?
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Given the relatively light Gross Axle Weight Rating (rear) of only 3670 lbs for
all Tundras...including the DC, the OEM tires with their "C" load rating have more than enough weight carrying capability to handle any load that is less than the GAWR. So you definitely
don't need an "E" load rated tire.
However, load rating
per se has very little to do with tow vehicle stability as stability is primarily correlated with sidewall stiffness. And sidewall stiffness in turn is much higher in Light Truck (LT series) tires than in Passenger (P series) tires of even the same load rating. Toyota, like nearly all other half ton truck manufacturers, equips all Tundra models with a P series tire mainly because they ride "nicer" (softer, more road shock absorbent). They're also generally a bit quieter than LT series tires and somewhat cheaper than equivalent LT series tires. If the manufacturers didn't use a "nice" riding P series OEM tire, people doing test drives would find the ride too harsh and go to the competition.
So, first of all, your OEM tires have more than enough load capacity for long distance towing. Secondly, if you want better tow vehicle stability, trade the P series OEM tires for identically sized (or as close as possible) LT series tires with the same "C" load rating. However, don't make the mistake of going to an "all terrain" style tire; a regular "mud/snow" tread design will be much more stable and have much longer tread life.
The OEM tires on my '03 4WD Tundra were the P series quasi-all terrain BF Goodrich "Rugged Trails" model in a 265/70R16 size. Immediately (and I do mean
immediately) after buying the truck, I drove directly from the dealer's lot to Discount Tire and swapped the OEM tires for a set of LT series Michelin LTX M/S in the 265/75R16 size with a "C" load rating. I chose the Michelin LTXs for two reasons: (1) stiffer sidewall for greatly improved towing stability and (2) a reputation for extremely long tread life...many reports of 70K to 90K mile tire life.
After nearly 12K miles, I am extremely happy with the Michelins as they have more than lived up to my high expectations for towing stability, have shown almost zero tread wear, and have excellent traction on dry/wet/snowy roads. This is a tire I can highly recommend.
HTH