QuestionI bought this truck used and noticed a week later that it had P-metric tires on it (P265/75/16). It's supposed to have LT245/75/16 E-ply. One pair should be replaced but the other two have enough tread to live with for now. We pull a two-horse trailer that weighs 3500 empty and could have up to 2300 lbs. of horse in it, depending. For now, I moved the best pair to the back and have them at the max inflation of 44 lbs cold. The front pair is at ~40, because the vehicle plate says to inflate the rear to 80 and the front to 50 when running the proper tires. I figure they recommend that for best handling. Have I done the best I can for now? Also, if I replace just the worn pair, what size tire should I buy, and where should I put the new ones, front or rear? I was thinking of going with LT265/75/16 to match the diameter of the old pair, but then I'd have an 80 lb tires at one end and a 44 lb tire at the other. Should I go with a D-ply instead of and E-ply on this replacement cycle? I'd be 2-plys under the recommended tire, but one size larger that the 245's listed on the vehicle.
AnswerDave,
The pressure specified by Dodge on the placard is not only for vehicle handling, but also for load carrying capacity - more being safer.
Your vehicle placard listed the LT245/75R16 tire pressures at 50 psi front and 80 psi rear and that equates to a load carrying capacity of 2205 # / 3042 #.
A P265/75R16 has a load carrying capacity of 2364 at 35 psi (Note: the 44 psi written on the sidewall is for high speed and handling reasons.)
My recommendation would be to remove the P metric tires immediately. Because of the load carrying capacity, they may be damaged and on their way to failure.
According to Tire Guides, your vehicle had an option of an LT265/75R16 LR E at 10 psi lower pressure.
So you could either go with the 245's or the 265's.
But I would not delay this very long - and I would not pull the trailer until you have done so.
