Hi,

I don't tow often, but I do every couple of years when I'm moving. It is time to replace the tires and I don't want to overdo the tires, but get what I need. I'm looking at:


Cooper Discoverer A/T3 Traction Radial Tire - 265/75R16 123R
Cooper Discoverer A/T3 Traction Radial Tire - 265/75R16 116T

I'll be towing about 5K pounds with another 600 lbs in the truck covering 3,000 miles. I have a 97 F150 4.6 4x4 with tow package.

Is the 116T (2756 lbs) enough or should I get the 123R (3417 lbs)? I'm assuming the 116T would handle better, quieter and better MPG when I'm not towing.

 

I had the same truck traded it off when I hit 300,000 miles. To answer your question. You will be fine with the C load tires 116T. I towed a 2000 LBS trailer with a Ford Industrial 2000 tractor on it around 300 miles round trip though the mountains of WA with them on it. Total weight was around 9K.

If you are heading that way from WPAFB to WA then I would run along 80 the passes are easier to run. They are up there so make sure you change the plugs wires fuel filter before you head out.

Enjoy

 

So 116 over 123?

 

do some reading on P vs LT tires, or Load C vs Load E LT tires.
In short, LT / LT E seem to ride a little rougher when unloaded, are generally (there are exceptions) heavier than a P or LT C tire and give you a slight mileage hit.
They make your truck feel more like a real man's truck apparently. For your needs (similar to mine), I think LT E (123) are overkill, but some people still choose them even if they never / rarely tow.

 

I'm fine with the 116T as long as I think it can handle the towing loads

 

They can with ease. The E load (123) ride rougher and are a heavier tire so it hits your mileage a bit. I had E-load tires on my last few truck because of the gravel roads I was running on with weight, they held up better.

 

I don't see a 265/75R16 with 116 load rating. I do see one with 112 load rating, load range C = 2,470 pounds weight capacity.
http://us.coopertire.com/Tires/Light...ERER-A-T3.aspx


Is that enough? That's enough for a max of 4,940 GAWR. Your F-150 doesn't have anywhere near 4,940 pounds GAWR on either axle, so yes, that tire is just fine for your F-150 towing a trailer, assuming you don't exceed the GAWR of your F-150. My rear GAWR is 3,850, so I'll bet yours is less than 4,000 too.


But pump the rear tires all the way up to 50 PSI cold, and the front tires to about 45 PSI cold when towing.


The Load Range E tires are okay, but will result in a much harsher ride than the load range C tires.

 

Here is a link to discount tires with it http://www.discounttiredirect.com/di...yp=Truck%2FSUV