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I recently attempted to buy tires to replace the standard Goodyear Territory MT's on my '23 Heritage 2 door. I am looking to reduce the weight and size of the tire/wheel combo, and had settled on 255/75-17 (standard on non-Sasquatch Big Bend). I do not intend to perform other than forest service road wheeling in my Bronco, using it primarily for everyday driving/commuting.
The Territory is the 315/70-17 Sasquatch standard tire. C2 load range, 113 load index. Max load capacity of 2,535 lbs per tire @ max 35 psi cold inflation pressure.
The 255/75-17 I'm considering is SL load range, 115 load index. Max load capacity of 2,679 lbs per tire @ max 35 psi cold inflation pressure.
Heritage rims are 17 x 8.5", appropriate for the 255/75 (typical max width 9" for P-tires. 8.5" for LT)
The sales rep is telling me that they will only install a tire with a C2 load range or greater (D, E etc) because that is the OEM specification for the Heritage, and in consideration of the intended load capacity of the vehicle. I pointed out that the 255/75 is standard on the Big Bend model, even when equipped with the optional rear locker, electronic transfer case and tow package. As I see it, the essential difference in the weight of the vehicle would be that added by the front locker, a minimal increase compared to the overall vehicle weight plus payload.
I also pointed out that the capacity of the SL tire was greater than that of the OEM tire, and the rep countered that the load indexes are not comparable because the tires are of different load ranges. I have never seen any discussion of load index that implies the 'apples-to-apples only' limitation of load range relative to load index.
I offer my questions to the forum:
Am I uneducated about tire ratings, or correct in thinking that weight is weight, and it doesn't care what tires are supporting it?
Is it appropriate to only compare load index without consideration of the load range?
Are there other safety or liability considerations in selecting a non-OEM tire size for replacements?
I am here to learn. Thanks in advance for your replies!
The Territory is the 315/70-17 Sasquatch standard tire. C2 load range, 113 load index. Max load capacity of 2,535 lbs per tire @ max 35 psi cold inflation pressure.
The 255/75-17 I'm considering is SL load range, 115 load index. Max load capacity of 2,679 lbs per tire @ max 35 psi cold inflation pressure.
Heritage rims are 17 x 8.5", appropriate for the 255/75 (typical max width 9" for P-tires. 8.5" for LT)
The sales rep is telling me that they will only install a tire with a C2 load range or greater (D, E etc) because that is the OEM specification for the Heritage, and in consideration of the intended load capacity of the vehicle. I pointed out that the 255/75 is standard on the Big Bend model, even when equipped with the optional rear locker, electronic transfer case and tow package. As I see it, the essential difference in the weight of the vehicle would be that added by the front locker, a minimal increase compared to the overall vehicle weight plus payload.
I also pointed out that the capacity of the SL tire was greater than that of the OEM tire, and the rep countered that the load indexes are not comparable because the tires are of different load ranges. I have never seen any discussion of load index that implies the 'apples-to-apples only' limitation of load range relative to load index.
I offer my questions to the forum:
Am I uneducated about tire ratings, or correct in thinking that weight is weight, and it doesn't care what tires are supporting it?
Is it appropriate to only compare load index without consideration of the load range?
Are there other safety or liability considerations in selecting a non-OEM tire size for replacements?
I am here to learn. Thanks in advance for your replies!
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