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- May 17, 2020
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Silver Sky
I picked up a set of used BFG KO2s from a Wrangler that comes in Load Range C. Those are about 6# Lighter than the LOAD E version and are way smoother and give the truck noticeably more power and fuel efficiency. So we made a video comparing two different versions of the Nitto Recon Grapplers (because Nitto pays us to make videos).
Both tires were 285/70 R17
One was 285/70 R17 116T rated for 2756# @ 44 PSI and weighs 48#
One was LT 285/70 R17 126/123S rated for 3750 @ 80 PPSI and weighs 54.59#
We tested them on my 2017 Tacoma with stock toyota 17" wheels.
NOTE: Nitto calls the lighter tire an SL or standard load. But for comparison, it's almost identical in spec to the BFG LT Load Range C tire, so that's what I'm calling it. I don't know why they don't call it an LT C load. They didn't elaborate on that for us. In my mind, this is a comparison between Load Range C and Load Range E. Don't confuse SL with P. P = Passenger. That's what Tacomas come with from the dealer. Those are not SL tires.
A Toyota Tacoma weighs, let's say, 7000# max. That's OVER GVWR, but well well under the rating for both tires. So the question is not, can you run SL tires on your 1 ton Ram, but can you run them on your midsize truck?
We wanted to see the difference and if we could convince ourselves that 10-ply tires were unnecessary on a Tacoma.
For my part (it's my truck), we did. I really like the "SL" Recon Grappler. We just got back from Mt. Patterson, which is a remote high-altitude mountain road with lots of rocks and most of them are sharp and rough. The tires held up perfectly. They're a softer rubber compound, and so have good traction, though they are chunking a bit.
I've been averaging 18 - 19 MPG with the tires. I have the speedometer calibrated, and it is within 1 MPH at 70. For off road I'm airing down to 20 PSI with these and that pressure is perfect for "overlanding."
-M