🚚💪 Heavy-Duty Pickup
Tire Size Calculator

Calculate optimal tire sizes for heavy-duty pickups with focus on maximum payload capacity, extreme towing, and Load Range E/F commercial-grade durability.

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3/4 & 1-Ton
HD Trucks
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Load Range E/F
10-12 Ply
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Max Towing
15,000+ lbs

Enter Tire Size

💡 Tip: Tire size format is Width/AspectRatio R WheelDiameter
Example: 235/45R18

Enter tire size to see visualization

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Heavy-Duty Pickup-Specific Requirements

Heavy-duty pickups require LT-rated tires only. Load Range E minimum for 2500-series, Load Range F recommended for 3500-series with max payload. Always inflate to max sidewall PSI when loaded. DRW configurations double rear tire capacity for extreme loads.

🚚💪 Heavy-Duty Pickup Tire Essentials

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Load Range E vs F Comparison

Load Range E (10-ply): 80 PSI max, 3,640 lbs per tire, good for 10,000-15,000 lbs towing. Load Range F (12-ply): 95 PSI max, 3,970 lbs per tire, required for 15,000-20,000 lbs fifth-wheel/gooseneck. Load Range G (14-ply): 110 PSI max, 4,400 lbs per tire, commercial extreme duty.

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Single vs Dual Rear Wheels (DRW)

Single Rear Wheel (SRW): Wider tires (285/70R17), better off-road, easier parking. Dual Rear Wheel (DRW): Narrower tires (235/80R17 each), double rear capacity, required for 20,000+ lbs GVWR, better stability. DRW uses Load Range E/F. 6 tires total vs 4 for SRW.

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Commercial vs Consumer Tires

Consumer LT tires (Michelin Defender LTX): 60,000-80,000 mile warranties, quiet, $250-350/tire. Commercial tires (Michelin XDS2): 40,000-60,000 miles, louder, $300-450/tire, but carry 10-15% more weight, retreadable, designed for fleets. Choose based on usage intensity.

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Extreme Load Heat Management

HD pickups at max GVWR generate extreme heat. Use heat-resistant compounds (Goodyear G114, Firestone FS400). Check tire temps hourly when towing heavy - should not exceed 150°F surface temp. Overheating = blowout risk. Reduce speed if temps rise above 160°F.

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Flotation vs Standard Sizing

Standard: LT275/70R18 (metric sizing). Flotation: 35x12.50R18 (imperial sizing, wider footprint). Flotation tires better for off-road, snow, and mud but reduce payload by 5-10%. Stick with metric LT sizing for maximum load capacity and on-road stability.

Tire Strategy for Heavy-Duty Pickups

Stock E to Heavy Duty F

Maximum towing capacity upgrade

Recommended Tire
Toyo M144 or Michelin XDS2
From: LT275/70R18 E
To: LT285/75R18 F
Benefits:
  • ✓3,970 lbs per tire (vs 3,640)
  • ✓12-ply max durability
  • ✓Safe for 18,000 lbs trailers
  • ✓95 PSI max pressure
Trade-offs:
  • •Very harsh ride empty
  • •20% heavier
  • •$350-450/tire

Highway to All-Terrain E

Balanced on/off-road for work sites

Recommended Tire
BFGoodrich T/A KO3 or Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT
From: LT275/70R18 E
To: LT285/70R17 E A/T
Benefits:
  • ✓Off-road traction
  • ✓Severe snow rated
  • ✓Same load capacity
  • ✓Puncture resistant
Trade-offs:
  • •10% louder
  • •5-8% MPG loss
  • •$280-380/tire

Plus-Size for Aggressive Look

Wider stance for heavy loads

Recommended Tire
Nitto Ridge Grappler or Falken Wildpeak AT3W
From: LT275/70R18 E
To: LT295/70R18 E
Benefits:
  • ✓Improved stability
  • ✓Better weight distribution
  • ✓Aggressive appearance
Trade-offs:
  • •May need leveling kit
  • •8-12% MPG reduction
  • •Limited clearance

Top Heavy-Duty Pickup Tire Brands

Michelin

Defender LTX M/S
$$$
Load Range E
•70,000 mile warranty
•Excellent towing stability
•Low rolling resistance
•MaxTouch construction
Available in LT275/70R18 E, LT285/70R17 E, LT265/70R17 E sizes

Toyo

M144 Commercial
$$$$
Load Range F
•12-ply rated
•4,080 lbs capacity
•Retreadable casing
•Fleet-grade durability
Available in LT285/75R18 F, LT275/70R18 F, LT245/75R17 F sizes

Goodyear

Wrangler DuraTrac RT
$$$
Load Range E
•Severe snow rated
•TractiveGroove tech
•50,000 mile warranty
•Dual sidewall
Available in LT275/70R18 E, LT285/70R17 E, LT305/70R16 E sizes

BFGoodrich

Commercial T/A Traction
$$$
Load Range E/F
•Severe service rated
•Retreadable
•Long tread life
•Work truck proven
Available in LT275/70R18 E, LT285/75R18 F, LT265/70R17 E sizes

Firestone

Transforce HT2
$$
Load Range E
•60,000 mile warranty
•Budget commercial
•UNI-T technology
•Highway focused
Available in LT275/70R18 E, LT265/70R17 E, LT245/75R17 E sizes

Official Heavy-Duty Pickup OEM Tire Specifications

ModelYearFrontRearLoad IndexPressure
Ford
F-250 Super Duty
2024LT275/70R18 ELT275/70R18 E125/122R80 PSI (max)
Ford
F-350 DRW
2024LT235/80R17 ELT235/80R17 E (dual)120/117R80 PSI (max)
Ram
3500 HD DRW
2024LT245/75R17 ELT245/75R17 E (dual)121/118R80 PSI (max)
🚚 Important: Heavy-duty pickups require LT-rated tires only. Load Range E minimum for 2500-series, Load Range F for 3500-series.

Heavy-Duty Pickup Tire FAQs

Load Range E vs F for F-350?
Load Range E (10-ply, 80 PSI, 3,640 lbs/tire) sufficient for most F-350 SRW use and towing up to 15,000 lbs. Load Range F (12-ply, 95 PSI, 3,970 lbs/tire) recommended for F-350 DRW, fifth-wheel over 15,000 lbs, or maxing 7,000+ lbs payload. Load Range F costs $50-100 more per tire but provides safety margin.
What tire pressure for max towing?
Use MAX sidewall pressure when towing heavy. Load Range E = 80 PSI max, Load Range F = 95 PSI max. Empty truck: 50-60 PSI. Light towing (5,000 lbs): 65-70 PSI. Heavy towing (10,000+ lbs): 75-80 PSI. Max payload: 80 PSI. Check pressure cold before loading. Underinflation causes blowouts at max load.
Can I use P-metric tires on Ram 2500?
NO. Never use P-metric tires on 3/4-ton or 1-ton trucks. HD pickups require LT (Light Truck) tires with Load Range E minimum. P-metric tires have 2-ply sidewalls and 2,200-2,600 lbs capacity vs LT tires with 3-ply and 3,640+ lbs capacity. Using P-metric on HD truck is dangerous and voids warranty.
How long do Load Range E tires last?
Load Range E tires: 50,000-70,000 miles for highway use, 40,000-60,000 miles for towing/hauling. Rotate every 5,000-6,000 miles. Replace at 4/32" tread (vs 2/32" for cars). Age limit: 6-8 years regardless of tread. Heavy towing accelerates wear - expect 40,000 miles if frequently at max GVWR.
Single vs dual rear wheels for towing?
SRW (Single Rear Wheel) good for 15,000 lbs towing, easier to maneuver, better off-road. DRW (Dual Rear Wheel) required for 18,000-20,000 lbs, double rear capacity, better stability with fifth-wheel. DRW uses 6 tires vs 4, costs $500-700 more per set. Choose DRW if regularly over 15,000 lbs.

Tire Size Comparison Tool

Compare two tire sizes to see the differences in dimensions and speedometer accuracy

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