Tires: Load range E or C, stock rims, tire guides

Question
I own a used 84 GMC C2500 3+3 non-dually 2WD long bed Camper Special pickup with a curb weight of 6800 lbs. It has a 1 ton suspension and absolutely no placards or labels on it due to the previous owner repainting it to hide the Bondo and rust damage.

I have put a cap on the bed so it's never going to have more  than a few tool boxes or camping gear in the back. I occasionally tow a 17 foot boat on LT235/85R16E tires.  This is my daily driver and I travel about 40 minutes to work and most of my driving is on the highway.  I live and work in the Detroit area of Michigan where there isn't a smooth road or highway within light years and I really need to smooth out the harsh ride.

Do I have to stay with E range tires? I have them inflated around 50 psi as anything higher is unbearable and the road bumps would launch me into another lane and I am afraid to go any lower. From the reading I have done, passenger tires would be too squishy.  I just read about lower load rated LT tires here (I thought all LT tires were E's) and wondered if they would be a good compromise or if it would matter, ride wise, at all.   Also, which tires would be more pothole forgiving... wider or narrower tires?  My head hits the roof as it is.

Ed

Answer
Ed,

According to Tire Guides, this vehicle probably originally had LT215/85R16's inflated to 51 psi front and rear  I say probably because it is hard to match your description to the description in Tire Guides.

If this is true, then with LT235/85R16's you could use around 45 psi and still have the same load carrying capacity.

But as a check, I would measure the inflation pressure build up.  Usually this requires you to measure both the tires when cold and then after an hour's worth of driving - FULLY LOADED!  If you ever see more than 5 psi build up, then you need to use more pressure.

Different load ranges would not help your situation as inflation pressure is really the controlling factor for ride.

Also, if you have stock rims, the tire size selection is going to be limited.  Wider / narrower? - well, it isn't going to happen with the stock rims.

I know this isn't a lot of help, but frankly, using a heavy duty truck as a daily driver is going to mean some compromises - and ride is going to be one of them.