I finally broke down and got some Bridgestone Revo AT's
I wanted to get the C Load Rated LT tires. When I got home I noticed that they put E-Load Rated tires on.

I know that an E-load rating could carry way more than my 4Runner could ever haul. Should I take them back or just keep the E-Load Rated tires?

 

On pavements, the biggest advantage of the C-rated tires would be the softer ride compared to the E-rated tires which have stiffer sidewalls.

Offroad, the E-rated tires will surely have the advantage in so far as sidewall protection is concerned.

 

If you can handle the ride, I say keep the E's. They will definately have a tougher carcass and sidewall.

 

i was told that the E rated tires needed to be inflated to ~50 psi , otherwise the sidewalls would flex and heat up. i stuck with the P tires since i didn't want to sacrifice my ride quality --- and they reccommended inflating to 27 front and 29 rear. so far i love the ride on my 02.

 

That is not 100% true. We recommend adding 12psi when jumping up in load rating. The "E" load range will be perfectly happy at 35-40 psi for normal driving.

 

They put 50 PSI in my tires. I ended up lowering them to 35.. So I guess I will be ok...

The ride is already rough since i have PP springs, so I can't really tell a difference.

 

Bring them back... those heavier load ratings make for much heavier tires and lower mileage.... If you wheel hard then maybe keep them, they have more layers and thicker sidewalls... if not you're lugging around 3/4 or 1 ton tires on ride.

 

Higher rating equals tougher tire which equals longer lasting.

 

......but not better gas mileage.

It is all a trade-off.

 

Agreed...

 

How much worse could the gas mileage be? I looked up the specs on Bridestone's website and it says that the c-rates weighs 48 lbs and the E- load rated weighs 54 lbs. Can 6 lbs of unsprung weight make that big of a difference?

 

well technically it would be 24 or 30 (if he got a spare), but still can that make that much of a difference?

 

Yep 24 lbs... I still have the stock spare...
Anyone know?

 

The difference is probably not enough to worry about, but "In Theory" more rolling mass < fuel mileage.

 

right, but it's rotational mass... and the mass is at the edges so it does add up against mileage and make you're rig work harder....and just because they're heavier doesn't mean they'll last any longer. The treads are the same. There is extra belting layers as well as sidewall layers, which you need if you're pulling a 40" 5th wheel. You gonna do that? They'll also ride rougher. Don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing heavy duty tires, they just aren't meant for us. I will say this for the heavier load rating though: those extra sidewalls can be useful in some offroad applications where you're having things hitting your sidewall. Around here if you're gonna drive through a cornfield after harvest the corn stalks can sometime puncture sidewalls of light tires.