Tire load range change LR C to LR E

Yours are larger than mine, so the numbers may not equate, but I would suggest 34 as your next point. (I have Goodyears as a second set for street use, so this may be a bit of apples-to-oranges.)

Snake

Changed my 2023 WTSq Goodyear LT315’s (LR C) to BFG KO2’s LT315’s (LR E) 10 plys to handle our desert sharp rocks. Any experience/advice on tire pressure? I’m down to 37psi so far but chalk test still shows at the edges…I have wheeled with 10 plys for years due to volcanic sharp rock resistance! Looking forward to any feedback. Thanks all!

Sorry, really can't help you with pressures as I've never run E rated tires.
I see a lot of the true 35 and 37in tires change from C to E. I'm a little concerned about the ride quality plus the extra weight doing something like that. Can you tell much difference?

Deano Bronc

Sorry, really can't help you with pressures as I've never run E rated tires.
I see a lot of the true 35 and 37in tires change from C to E. I'm a little concerned about the ride quality plus the extra weight doing something like that. Can you tell much difference?

I’ve been running 10 ply BFG KO’s for 20+ years. Love/trust the tires. I never thought my rig’s ride ever suffered stiffness wise. I’ve had a lot of ride quality experience due to 43 years of Hwy Dept. road work (LOTS of windshield time). Once the right tire pressure is found, in my opinion, the tires run great. The extra weight probably costs me a tiny cost in fuel mileage but I’m willing to spend that for the extra toughness & security the 10 plys give me in places like the backcountry of Death Valley!

I've run BFG's for decades, on Wranglers. But, only 35" for about 6 years, mud terrain. They didn't call them KO's when I bought my last set in 2012.
I do want to get L315's, KO2. Hoping they are more like the All Terrains. I do want the sturdier side walls for wheeling. I'm in NM.
The weight bothers me, but not as much as a slashed sidewall on the trail.
I would run about 35psi. More for gas mileage. There was no psi that made any Wrangler have a smooth ride. But, I do recall my husband complaining how the mud terrains were wearing. I had All Terrains on a YJ. They were 33". I may have gone with 28 to 30psi. They lasted about 80k miles. But, basically racing slicks at the end.

Thanks for responding! I’m pretty certain I will be running these at 36psi, maybe 35…we’ll see. I’m doing a 5-tire rotate at 3,000 mi. and will measure the treads on all the tires, right, left and center. That will provide the final answer. :-)

BTW, my LT315 KO2’s ride GREAT even at 37psi…I’ll probably use 37 or even 38psi on the rears when towing our lil teardrop trailer.

10 ply…. (Load Range E)…

Darrel

I've run BFG's for decades, on Wranglers. But, only 35" for about 6 years, mud terrain. They didn't call them KO's when I bought my last set in 2012.
I do want to get L315's, KO2. Hoping they are more like the All Terrains. I do want the sturdier side walls for wheeling. I'm in NM.
The weight bothers me, but not as much as a slashed sidewall on the trail.
I would run about 35psi. More for gas mileage. There was no psi that made any Wrangler have a smooth ride. But, I do recall my husband complaining how the mud terrains were wearing. I had All Terrains on a YJ. They were 33". I may have gone with 28 to 30psi. They lasted about 80k miles. But, basically racing slicks at the end.

It sounds like you've been using the KM mud terrain tires rather than the KO all-terrain tires. In general, mud terrain tires will wear worse than all-terrain, weigh more, be louder on-road and return worse fuel economy. The E load rated tires will be stiffer than C load, meaning they will translate more of the road's imperfections into your seat and steering wheel.

If you have space, I'd recommend going the route I did: have one set of wheels and tires for street use and another for off-road use. Not only will you get better comfort and fuel economy in daily driving, but you'll preserve wear on the pricey off-road tires. Plus, you can scuff up the off-road wheels and not feel as bad about it. 🙂 The disadvantage to this plan is storage space is needed and you have to change out your tires before off-road trips. If I plan to go on back-to-back weekends, I'll just leave the KO2s on, but otherwise, I've gotten pretty good at swapping them out. My cordless DeWalt 20v impact driver makes short work of the process.

Thanks for your info, much appreciated. I’ve never run mud terrains just 10 ply All Terrain KO’s and now KO2’s…I’ve driven nothing but 4x4s ever since my 1972 FJ40 Landcruiser that I bought new in ‘72 for $4,000!!! I love feeling the road and the All Terrains, when set up properly, can corner amazingly well!
Happy Trails!

timhood

It sounds like you've been using the KM mud terrain tires rather than the KO all-terrain tires. In general, mud terrain tires will wear worse than all-terrain, weigh more, be louder on-road and return worse fuel economy. The E load rated tires will be stiffer than C load, meaning they will translate more of the road's imperfections into your seat and steering wheel.

If you have space, I'd recommend going the route I did: have one set of wheels and tires for street use and another for off-road use. Not only will you get better comfort and fuel economy in daily driving, but you'll preserve wear on the pricey off-road tires. Plus, you can scuff up the off-road wheels and not feel as bad about it. 🙂 The disadvantage to this plan is storage space is needed and you have to change out your tires before off-road trips. If I plan to go on back-to-back weekends, I'll just leave the KO2s on, but otherwise, I've gotten pretty good at swapping them out. My cordless DeWalt 20v impact driver makes short work of the process.

Sincerely appreciate the suggestions and input. I do want to go with BFGs that are more like the All-terrains. They wore better and were just as good off-road as the mud terrains and had a better ride oon pavement. I'm in NM, so more rocks than mud. But, need better side walls than the stock MTs. Even if it means more weight.

The extra weight for 10 plys is worth it in sidewall protection. And, being stiffer and more weight bearing you can air them a bit down safely softening the ride. I especially like the “new” KO2’s because the rubber was redesigned to not chip on gravel/rocks and, the new rubber plus aggressive siping allowed BFG KO2’s to earn the Canadian “snowflake” rating for excellent winter driving, ice, snow, etc. Here in Reno at 5,000’ elevation that snowflake rating comes in handy! Great off-road tires PLUS really good in the snow! 👍