Hey all

Im looking to replace my OEM Goodyears. They are XL load range. Im goign with 275/55/20s. They have a couple XL range tires, specifically the Open Country AT3s by Toto but they are pricey. Falken wild peaks are too heavy. BFG KO2s are D range, waaaaay too heavy.

I like the General Grabber ATXs but the are SL range. I will be towing a side by side on a trailer, about 6000-6500lbs.

think SL range tires would be ok for towing that??

 

Check and compare the actual load range figures. You may find your OEM XL tires are rated to carry less weight than the standard load tire. Also check the construction the number of tread and sidewall plys. Again, depending on what you choose, the standard load tire may have the same or even sturdier construction. I made a call to TireRack and was informed that the "XL" rating was not the important specification - it was the load rating.

 

Good point. The OEM are 113 as are the generals. The toyos are 117. The Generals are actually more comparable

 

Interested in opinions here too. Been considering going with the KO2s in the 275/55r20 size too (out of habit and experience) but keep looking at the weight and specs and thinking of other options (like the Toyo). Anyway, thanks to all in advance for their thoughts…

 

Here is the data on the OEM “off road tires”. They are 39lb, XL ply but 113 load rating. That’s actually similar to most all terrain SL tires.

the BFGs are 53lb and D ply. That’s 56lbs additional rolling resistance plus another 14lbs on the spare. Lots of folks on here love them and they are fantastic but that’s a lot of weight. Too much for me. Probably would lose 2-4mpg my best guess.

Toyo open country AT3s are XL, 117 load range and 42lb. That’s 44lb less rolling weight. I’ve never used them but generally have very good reviews. Pricey, $318 per.

some prefer the Falken at3. It’s XL, 117 load range and 47lbs. Cheaper, $283 per.

general ATX are SL, 113 load range and 46lb. Also cheaper. $245 per.

Cheapest option are Kenda Klever AT2. XL. 117. 43lb. $189 at Walmart. Have read they are very loud but otherwise pretty positive.

cooper AT3 4s are also very attractive if they looked a bit more aggressive.

im not sure what I’ll do. I’m probably the Toyos. Tires are a big investment and should last a while. Also I’m only looking at 3pms.

 

Some SL’s may have load ratings similar or more than XL, but they are usually limited to lower PSI, many of them below the recommended heavy load psi for the Defender. I was hoping to put Nokian Outpost AT SL’s on, but they max out at 47 psi even though load rating is sufficient.

 

JLR's recommended heavy load PSI is the max psi their OEM tire will handle. While I can't be certain, it's likely they make that recommendation since that's the psi needed to maximize the tire's load carrying capability. An alternative tire whose max pressure rating of 47 that has a higher load index will in fact, carry a heavier load. Personally, I don't think the psi needed to get you to the target load carrying capability is as important as the actual load carrying capability - especially if the delta between the max psi ratings are within 10% of each other.

Also, unless you are truly maxing out your payload or towing greater than the Defender's weight, you'll likely be running a more ride-friendly lower psi.

 

The SL version of the Outpost AT has the exact same load capacity (2535lbs) at 47 lbs as the OEM Adventure XL at 50 psi. So yes, it may be fine at 47 lbs, but it’s moot since my tire place will only mount XL’s on my Defender since they won’t go down from OEM. I also like how the car rides at heavy load psi and tow, so seems wrong to get a tire that can’t go to full recommended psi.

the crazy thing is that LT tires don’t help since their load number is calculated at 80 psi. At 50 psi the load number goes way down, too low for the Defender. I have no desire to drive around on 80 psi. The load capacity for the Outpost at 50 psi goes down to 1833 lbs, which is just too low for a fully loaded Defender that is towing.

 

Personally, I would never consider using any tire which is beneath the design load capacity because when off-road two of the tires may often carry the entire weight of the vehicle and its entire load, as well as each tire experiencing impulse loads when they drop from some height to the ground.

Enjoy !

 

I agree. That’s what’s so surprising to me about the LT load numbers. Seems like a lot of people buy these thinking they are more rugged and can carry heavier loads, but that’s only the case if you run very high pressures, far higher than recommended for the Defender. If you lower LT’s to light load for instance, load capacity ends up being way below oem, and potentially dangerous in a heavy braking maneuver when 80% of the weight goes on the front axle. The see lots of people say they are running LT’s in the 30’s off road, but load goes way down at those pressures and seems dangerous. Sticking to XL’s.