Tire Load Rating

FL_Crushin said:

How does the tire load rating affect the total towing capacity of the truck. I've got an '05 LE stock except for the airbox mod. I just had a close look at the Conti's and they are rated at a max load of 2601 lbs.

Question - If you get tires that have a higher load rating 2900 or 3300 how does this affect the towing capacity or does it just affect the payload. So is it worth it to go for a higher load rating on the tires, or does it not make any difference to the overall towing capability of the vehicle since the stock tires are rated at 2601?

Click to expand...

Multiply the load rating by 4. This is the max load for the tires. Then subract the truck weight, cargo, passengers, and this is amount you can put on the tongue. 10% of the trailer's weight should be the amount of downforce on the tongue. So a max of 900 lbs if you are towing max.

This means if you have tires rated 2601, you can have 10,404 - 5,400 = 5000 lbs in tongue and cargo weight. However, remember, this is per tire, so weights will vary front to rear. Spreading this out, if you have 7 passengers weighing 150 average each, that leaves you 3950 left. Half of that represents the rear tires or 1975. Take the tongue weight off that, and you are at 1000 or so for cargo in the rear.

Bigger tires will increase cargo capacity, including roof pods, more in cargo area, fatter people (Like Me) etc.