My 2023 110S originally came with the OEM 255/70R18 Goodyear Adventures. They were fine, but I swapped them for some low mileage Duratracs in the same size when someone who owned a TREK edition upgraded to larger tires. I've been happy with those, but as they wear, I've been looking at moving to BFG KO3s in 265/70R18 to get the slightly larger diameter without having to resort to moving auxiliary coolers, etc. And I don't carry heavy loads (my offroading is day trips, not extended expeditions) or tow a heavy trailer (I have a small Canadian M-101 jeep trailer, like a US M-416). I'm looking for an AT tire that will get me where I need to go with some puncture resistance.

The E-rated KO3s in that size have been out for a few years, but I've been waiting for the D-rated ones to come out this month, hoping they might be significantly lighter. As it turns out, they aren't.

The specs from the BFG website are below. The D rated tires are 0.8 lbs lighter per tire (less than 1.5%).

The only other difference (apart from the expected lower load index, of course) is the tread depth: 15/32nds instead of 16/32nds on the E-rated tires.

So... why would someone choose D-rated over E-rated? It probably won't improve mpg much with so little weight savings. The sidewall is presumably stronger in the E-ratted.

Is the ride on the D-rated tires going to be significantly smoother/more comfortable? The weight difference is so small that I'm honestly surprised BFG bothered creating two different load rated tires in the same size. I'm interested to know why someone would choose the D-rated one.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

 

Interesting data comparison. I wonder if this is,,,, inaccurate (?) which would be odd for a manufacturer site but... new product, lots of sizes, it could happen on the website.

E should, in theory, have stiffer sidewalls, more “ply” 10 vs 8 whatever that actually means now, and be able to carry more weight per tire.

It might be interesting to pose the same question to BF Goodrich and see what they say.

I’m no tire expert but I agree with your logic here. Without the weight penalty, seems like the best choice is to E. If D were significantly lighter, I’d try that for your use case.

 

Here is what I found after a prolonged search for replacement tires for my ‘22 Defender 110.

When to Choose LT Tires (Recommended)

• Off-Roading & Overlanding: LT tires have thicker, more durable sidewalls that resist cuts and punctures from rocks and sticks.
• Towing/Heavy Loads: LT tires (typically Load Range D or E) are designed to handle higher pressures and heavier weight without the "squishy" feeling of passenger (P-metric) tires.
• Airing Down: They are generally more robust when aired down for sand or mud.

The Drawbacks of LT Tires

• Harsher Ride: Due to stiffer sidewalls, you will feel more of the road's imperfections.
• Lower MPG: LT tires are heavier, which often leads to a decrease in fuel efficiency (often reported as a 2–4 MPG loss).
• Road Noise: Due to more aggressive tread, they can be louder.

When to Avoid LT Tires
If your Defender is a daily driver that spends 95% of its time on paved highways, you might prefer P-metric or XL (Extra Load) tires. These provide a quieter, smoother ride and better fuel economy.

My research indicated that the LT tires are great for heavy loads or towing, or serious off-roading due to the thicker, heavier, more reinforced sidewalls but are not the best for daily driving, which you indicated is your main usage. Besides my research, I went to a local tire shop and spoke with the manager who has over 25 years experience and has a wealth of knowledge, and he pretty much said the same thing. You may trade ride comfort and noise for the reinforced sidewalls, and sacrifice mileage due to the heavier weight. The XL rated tires typically inflate to approximately 50 psi, while the LT rated max out at 80 psi, making for a ‘truck-like’ ride. Top of my list for satisfaction, besides the usual Wet/Dry traction, treadwear, comfort, off-road, etc, was ride comfort and noise. I eventually went with Cooper Discoverer Road and Trail AT. I can report that they have met all those criteria and are very quiet at highway speeds, where a heavier tire will produce an annoying drone.

 

I agree with Chuck...no real need for an LT unless you're doing crazy stuff.

 

I took your advice. They replied yesterday:
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Thanks for contacting the BFGoodrich Consumer Care Team. Thank you for reaching out and for your detailed question regarding the 265/70/18 BFG AT KO3 tires in D and E load ratings. I understand why you were expecting a bigger difference in weight between the two.

The main benefit of the E-rated tire over the D-rated is load capacity—a higher ply rating supports heavier vehicle loads and usually comes with slightly more tread depth.

For off-roading day trips and mostly highway use, the D-rated tire will offer a smoother, softer ride. On paper, it may give very slightly better gas mileage. If you were doing heavier off-roading or overlanding, the E-rated tire’s extra rigidity and durability would be worth it, but for your use case, the D-rated KO3 should perform very well.
I hope this helps clarify the differences and what to expect for your driving style. Let me know if you have any further questions!
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For the other commenters who advised p-metric tires instead of LT, the BFG AT KO3 (and the older KO2) are only available in LT sizes.

 

Check out the Falken Wildpeak AT4W. It's available in a non-LT version (it's not p-metric either). It's a great tire...I've run them on my LC200, F350, my son's GX470, and I have them on my Kimberley Kruiser off-road trailer.

 

I live in the snow belt, so I need an A/T tire that does well in snow. I’ve seen enough reviews that say the Falkens don’t do as well as others. To be fair, the voice track from Falken is that the P tire will do better than the LT, but I haven’t seen a test of the P tire.

In this test, Mickey Thompsons do best, surprisingly, but they aren’t available in the size I need. Falkens do poorly in snow. BFGs do well in snow, not so well on sheet ice, but I don’t see ice as often as snow…

 

The Falken AT3W's were amazing in the snow. The 4W's are horrible.

 

Thanks for sharing this...I had no idea the AT4 isn't that great in snow. I live in Western Colorado where snow is a concern as well. I'll have to reevaluate my tire preference...

 

After much research I narrowed my preferences to the Cooper Discoverer Road and Trail AT. They are among the top rated in every category. I went with their 275/55R20 over the OEM 255/60R20, which is a recommended replacement size.