E-Rated-Tires-vs-G-Rated-Tires-Differences

E Rated Tires vs G Rated Tires (Differences)

RV traveling is a great way to see the country, to enjoy retirement and have a good vacation. One thing you should always consider, are the tires that are on your trailer or RV.

The right tires on your RV or trailer will save you a lot of time, trouble and money. Just make sure to keep them inflated to the right air pressure.

E Rated Tires vs G Rated Tires: One of the main advantages a G rated tire has over the E version is that the former is stronger than the latter. Another is that the G rated tire has a larger margin to it. Then a third advantage the G rated tire has over the E rated one is that it can carry more weight.

To learn about the disadvantages and advantages of the E rated and G rated tires just continue to read our article. We explore the world of tires to get you the best information possible. This information helps you get the right tires for your next RV experience.

What is Load Range G

The load range for a G rated tire refers to how many pounds a G rated tire can carry. For Michelin, Goodyear and Firestone, their G rated tires can carry a maximum of 6175 pounds each.

That amount of weight also needs those tires to have 110 psi. Anything less that that psi and anything more than that load range, you can expect to ruin your tires. You also need to be aware that it is not the rubber of the tire that is actually carrying the weight.

It is the air inside the tires that shoulder the burden and the tire just helps keep the air in place. There is also another factor you should know about before assuming that all letter rated tires are the same in their individual classes.

Different tire manufacturers do not make all tires the same. For example, Firestone and Goodyear have the H rated tire capable of holding about 6610 pounds at 120 psi. Yet, Michelin has their H rated tire holding up to 7160 pounds at 120 psi.

So do not assume that all G rated tires will have the same performance as each other. Read the different tables from the different tire manufacturers to make sure you know what load and psi ratings you need to meet.

What are E Rated Tires

One of the important facts about the letter system used on tires you need to know is that the higher the letter, the greater the amount of weight it can handle. An E rated tire will handle more load weight per tire than a C or D rated tire. But it will hold less than the F or G and H rated versions.

The disadvantage the E rated tire has is that it barely qualifies to be used on heavier rigs.Generally,an E rated tire is best suited for light trucks but if you are constantly pulling heavy loads, it may not be strong enough to handle the weight.

Also, the E lets you know that the tire has a 10 ply rating and its maximum psi is 80. These are factors you need to consider when looking to replace your tires on your RV or trailer. E rated tires should work for lighter and smaller RVs, etc., but not the larger and heavier models.

Also, the E rated tire isn’t designed to work with passenger vehicles. Their ride may not be as smooth as you would like and there are P rated tires that are specifically made to fit passenger cars.

How Much Weight Can a Load Range E Tire Carry

The amount of weight an E tire can carry may depend a lot on the following information, 235/85-16, The class E tire in this category can support up to 3,640 pounds at 95 psi.

Keep in mind that this weight limit is per tire. If your RV trailer only uses 4 tires, then you could possibly carry a load up to 14,540 pounds including the trailer weight.

Each of the 4 tires carry 1/4 of the load. Also, you may need to know the tire load index number. The higher the number the more weight the tire can support. For example, a tire index number of 117 can support 2,833 pounds.

Shopping for tires is not as easy as it once was as there are a lot of calculations that go into the tire’s load capability. Another example is the 225/75-15 tire. It is classified as a load range E tire and has a 10 ply rating. Yet it can only support up to 2,830 pounds at 80 psi.

To get the right tire for your RV and trailer, you need to consult the owner’s manual of your vehicle to cut your search time down.

What is the Difference Between Load Range C and D

The main difference in these two tire ratings is the same as the E and the G difference. The Dis going to be stronger than the C. Plus, it will carry more weight than the C load range tire.

The tricky thing about these letter rated tires is that there will be times where both types of tires will fit on the same wheel. For example, the ST175/80D13 is the same size as the C # AM1ST76 and will fit on the same wheel.

Yet the D rated tire can hold up to 1,610 pounds of weight at 65 psi. The C class tire can only hold 1,360 pounds at 50 psi. Thus if you use a C rated tire, expect your load range to fall dramatically.

One key about using these tires is to check the axle capacity before you buy any C or D tire. Your axle will have some say in which rated tire you can use.

What is the Highest Load Range for a Trailer Tire

Every vehicle on the road today, including trailers, have tires with maximum load ranges. There is no exception to this. For trailers, you will find that the letter rating usually goes from B to E, with B being the lightest and E the heaviest.

For example a C rated tire can handle up to 1,820 pounds at the right psi. If your trailer is a single axle and using only 2 tires, then the heaviest load you can carry is 3,640 pounds.

The maximum load range for a trailer tire depends on its letter rating and psi. Plus, how many tires are on the axle. If you have a dual axle trailer and use four tires, then your C class tires can haul up to 7, 280 pounds.

D and E class tires will carry more weight. The thing to watch out for is not just load range limits. You also need to make sure your tires are not under or over inflated. If they are, then they will wear out faster no matter how much weight you have in your trailer.

Under inflated tires show the wear on the outside, while over inflated tires will show uneven wear.

What Speed are Trailer Tires Rated For

The speed in which you can travel on the highway will depend on the letter rating of your tires. Higher letter rated tires can handle higher speeds while lower-rated ones cannot.

For example, the G rated tire can endure speeds up to 75 miles per hour. The E rated tires usually cannot go faster than 65 miles per hour. There are exceptions to any rule though as the ST225/75R15 which can endure speeds up to 81 mph.

The good news is that there is a chart for everything when it comes to tires. For example, the P195/60R15 87S uses the letter P to indicate a passenger vehicle. An ST in front of the tire size indicates it is a Special Trailer size.

To get the speed rating of that particular tire you have to look at the end of the numbers. There you will see the 87S. The numbers indicate the load range and this tire can hold up to 1,201 pounds. The S indicates the speed rating, which is 112 mph.

To fully understand speed ratings and see the differences click on this link. Keep in mind the lower the letter rating the lower the speed. The chartdoes go up to Z.

The Legality of Using LT vs ST Tires

There seems to be some confusion as to how legal it is to switch from ST tires to LT versions. Each state and province may have their own individual regulations governing tire use. For the RV owner it is important that they understand what the letters and numbers mean when they appear on their tires.

ST is special trailer tires and they have different safety standards, speed ratings and so on from LT which stands for Light Trucks. All ST tires have a maximum speed rating of 65 mph.

To get up to speed on this issue, you need to read the contents at this link and this link. Both websites contain very detailed information to help you see the importance of not placing an LT tire on a trailer that requires and ST style.

3 Key Tire Rules to Follow

Like anything else in life, there are rules to follow if you want to be safe, secure and happy. Finding the right tires for your RV and trailer also have key rules that need to be followed. Here are the 3 main ones and they come from Michelin:

  • 1. Never choose a tire that is smaller in size or has less load - carrying capacity than the tire that came with the vehicle
  • 2. Tires should always be replaced with the same size designation — or approved options — as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer
  • 3. The correct tire size designated for your vehicle should alwaysbe verified with the information in your vehicle owner’s manual in the glove compartment or on the tire information sticker on your driver’s side door

You should also check your local government offices while shopping for tires to see if there are any state or federal rules you need to be aware.In some cases the fines may not be cheap.

The Advantages of E Load Range Tires

Every tire will have advantages over another. The ones that come withe areas follows:

  • 1. They should be cheaper than G rated tires
  • 2. They should have a smoother ride
  • 3. They carry more weight than the B, C and D rated tires
  • 4. They handle off road action better than the lighter rated tires
  • 5. You get more tread wear than the lesser rated tires

The Advantages of a G Rated Tire

  • 1. It carries more weight than lesser rated tires
  • 2. Has a wider margin than lesser rated tires
  • 3. They can handle greater speeds
  • 4. They are safer to usein some cases
  • 5. You get better fuel mileagein some cases

The meaning of P, LT and ST

When it comes to tires, there area number of letters, numbers and special ratings filling the conversation. It is vital to get to know what these letters and numbers mean.

Here are the 3 most common letters combinations you will run into when checking for RV and other smaller vehicle tires:

  • P + Passenger vehicles and they have the most tire designations
  • LT + Light truck usually a pick up that is rated as a 1/2 or 3/4 ton
  • ST+ Special trailer andthese tires are rated for trailers only and have less tread depth than other tires.

Some Final Words

Finding the right tires for your RV or trailer can be tricky. There are so many things you need to know before you purchase new tires. Plus, the information and designations can change,be added to and so on.

When you need tires, you should do your research first. That way you know what the manufacturer recommends and what replacement tires you can use when those are not available.

Here are 2 links to help you in your research. Number 1 and number 2. Getting the right information is the best way to stay safe, secure as well as money.

Leave a Comment: