Need Help and Advice on SL vs E Tires

Alright 4Runner fam, I’d love to get some insight from the community because I am driving myself a little crazy lol. I have a 2021 TRD Pro. I’ve decided on upgrading my tires to the Toyo Open Country AT3s. I am keeping the stock size 265/70/17. I don’t want to modify the body by doing a chop or mess with my mud flaps or fender liners. I also want to make sure my speedometer is accurate and not off so the 285’s are out. With that out of the way. I am absolutely torn between the SL and E load tires… This is what I’ll be doing:

-My 4Runner is my daily driver and sees pavement 90% of the time.
-Most, if not all the off roading I’ll be doing is on easy (green) and moderat (blue) trails. I will not be doing any rock crawling or doing any rubicon or hard (black and red) trails.
-I will be going up to the mountains where it snows.
-I am a photographer so I do tend to go out on more remote locations.

If the AT3’s came in C load, I’d get those BUT they only come in C with the larger 285’s which I do not want to do due to what I stated above. Toyota can get and install the SL’s for me at a good price. If I go E load, I’d have to go else where. If I really wanted C load, I’d have to go with BFG KO2’s, which I had on my previous 4Runner. They alright, they worked well and were reliable. I just want something different. So fam, what do you all think?

 

Get the standard load.

 

Unfortunately, your speedometer is off with the stock size tire (31.7" diameter) by 2-3 mph at highway speeds. If it shows you're doing 70 mph, your actual speed is closer to 67-68 mph. They seem to be more accurate with a 33" tire like a 285/70R17 or 255/80R17.

 

Get SL's if you're staying out if the rocks

Like @Tuco S. Mentioned, 285's actually make the speedometer more accurate than the stock tires. You will read about 3% high with the stock size if I recall correctly.

 

Thank you, I thought I was going bonkers!

 

Another option in a C load for the stock size is Cooper Discoverer AT3 LT.

Falken Wildpeak A/T3W has a C load in the slightly larger 275/70R17 (32.4"). They are fairly heavy at 54 lbs, but the speedometer should be close.

 

I went with SL's (General ATX) in stock size on mine. I wanted to stick with stock size for the reasons you stated, plus I was concerned with weight; E load tires are much heavier than their SL counterparts, I didn't want all that extra rotational weight needlessly killing MPG/Performance.

If you were often offroad, in sharp rocks, I'd say consider the E, but your usage sounds like mine so E is overkill.

 

I've got E rated "LT" Nitto ridge grapplers. No regrets. But I drive over lava rocks. If I lived in the Midwest I'd probably use car tires and get a little better mileage.

Even with the LT tires and the dreaded spacer lift, it rides like a Cadillac compared to my old 97 Tacoma or my 12' Sequoia.

P.S. good call on leaving your Pro stock. That's what I would do.

 

Wow, this is all so helpful. I’m a little bummed out about the whole speedometer thing but if 285’s don’t fit naturally without modifying anything, I don’t want to do it. I’m definitely leaning heavily towards the SL. The Coopers in C load are tempting also.

So everyone thinks, for my use, SL is more than enough?

 

I wouldn't sweat the speedometer thing. I will say that my speedometer is spot on with 285's, driving by mobile radar speed warning areas.

I believe with stock 265's the speedometer will read higher than your actual speed. This may be why the guys with stock sized tires are bragging about 20+mpg fuel mileage.

 

Just my opinion but if you will not be off-roading in rocky areas than I wouldn't worry about tire load ratings, except I wouldn't choose a tire with a rating lower than the manufacturers spec for the 4Runner.

Pick out you're favorite AT and your set. I thought the Pro came with AT's.

 

In my experience I would not use SL for offroad use. My Falken Wildpeak SL 285/70R17 looks very soft. Maybe it's stronger than it looks but I won't take a chance. However it's really comfy on road.

I love BFG KO2 Load C 285/70R17. Very confident over Wildpeaks. I had KO2 Load E before but my wife didn't like the on road comfort. When I had Load E I literally didn't care what I drive over. I have Load C now which is the middle ground.

If you like to go slightly bigger tire like 275/70R17 Falken has Load C option. My buddy runs them and we wheel together.

In short my opinion is if that's the only vehicle you have to offroad don't use SL tires.

Update-

After my KO2s I'm thinking of Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs in Load D.

Also since you told about snow driving, both my BFG KO2 and Falken Wildpeak has "3 peak mountain snow flake" rating so it's good in winter driving.
When I look at Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs I see small sipings on the tread blocks so they should have 3PMSF rating as well but I forgot to check that when I met a friend with them. If you are driving in winter conditions 3PMSF rating is very important. The ones without it the rubber will get harden when temperature drops and be like a hockey puck..

 

Everyone? I doubt there is consensus on any topic, but oil and tires seem to be two topics with the most varied opinions. I'm guessing it's because there is no perfect tire or oil or we would all be running the same thing.

I seem to recall you mentioned on the other forum you are usually by yourself when you go offroad. That factor alone would make me want additional puncture resistance over an SL load, but we all have a different risk tolerance.

Tires are a big expense which is why the tire manufacturers allow for a trial period. Whatever you go with, you can always run them for a few hundred miles and if you don't like them, you can take them back to the tire store and swap them for something else.

 

The Pro does come with ATs. They’re The Nitto Terra Grapplers. Since I just got my rig, I only have a few miles on them. Part of me is thinking of just keeping them and working with them. The other part of me really wants to upgrade to be safe. I’ve read that the tire simply sucks off road and in the rain.

You make valid points. I really appreciate your guidance. It is tough because I want to make the purchase and be done with it. But you’re right, on my free time I do photography and I do end up going out by myself in more remote areas out here in Cali. Although the trails I tend to get on are easy, they do tend to be rocky and rough terrain. That is why I am so torn and asking multiple communities to see what people suggest. E seems overkill but at the same time, they also would give me a bit more protection. The AT3s you suggested look very promising since they’re C load (so are the KO2s). It’s also tough because I am looking for aggressive look and functionality. The struggle is real lol (first world problems).

 

Ha, try 58! But I love mine. They fit with very minimal "modding," in case you're interested, OP.

I was confident in my 265 P rated Wildpeaks. I guess I feel more confident with my LT (C) Wildpeaks in 275.

If I were you, I'd stick with the tires it came with. They're fine. It's certainly not worth upgrading to another tire just because it's a different brand/model, if you ask me. If you are really concerned with their performance, though, upgrade to a bigger size! Unless you pinch pennies at the gas station (like me, lol), I doubt you'll regret it.

 

I am also on the hunt for a compromise between P and E at 265 - I know the feeling lol. I picked up a set of 267/70 R17 Grabber ATXs in C load yesterday (I think they're a new offering from GT), and today I am swapping them in. I believe C load are 6 ply vs 3 ply on the G2s they're replacing? They are definitely beefier.

I'll let you know what I think after some time on them.

 

"Ply" is no longer a thing, really, when it comes to tires. New manufacturing techniques, etc. use different methods for strength. Today they still use C and E, and some even say "3 Ply" but those figures are more just for general reference. All you need to know is that they get "stronger" the farther you go in the alphabet.

P rated tires are made so differently than LT rated tires.. the difference is in the performance, so don't get caught up in exactly what the tire is made of.

Something else to consider is that some tire models have different sidewall, etc. designs for their LT tire versus their P tire.. same model.

 

On the side wall the tires should say what is the actual plies used on tread and sidewall and also it will say what is a ply rating.

Eg- A tire might have 5 ply tread construction and 10pr, which means its capacity is equivalent to a 10ply where as a Standard load with have a 4ply rated compound.

 

Wow, this is incredibly helpful! I feel like simply going with the Toyo Open Country AT/3 265/70/17 SL is going to be the safe bet for me. I can’t help getting in my own head about C and E load. Also part of me is saying, “save the money and keep the Nitto Terra Grapplers on”. The struggle is real…

 

I look forward to reading what you have to say about the tires.

 

HIJACK!: While you're here, care to comment on the TRD Pro FOX suspension compared to your Eibach Pro-Truck lift kit?

 

when I had my 2019 TRD ORP, I loved it. It was a firm and comfortable ride. I had a lot of confidence taking turn and there was no nose dive when braking. I also loved the lift. The FOX suspension is fantastic. It absorbs a lot of the imperfections on the road. At times it feels like I’m floating. My ONLY complaint is that I wish it was about an inch and a half taller. Otherwise I like it a bit better. This all just my opinion.

 

Those MUST be new. I had ATX's put on in late December, at that time the choice for stock size was P or E. Had there have been the option for C I'd have gone with that.

Ultimately I think I'll b fine with P though.

 

Not that it means a thing but you already own them. So why not give them a chance? I'm sticking with them because they are rated AT(even though my Runner will soon be able to accept 285's). One thing I did do. When I purchased the Terra Grappler G2 spare, I added a road hazard policy that covers all 5 tires. fwiw

 

We had Terra Grappler G2's on our '16. There's plenty of rain here (Oregon) and they handled just fine IMHO. Never had any complaints ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

My vote would be to run them out before you upgrade since nothing about your use mandates/warrants a C or E rated tire.

 

You make a valid point. I have this fear of missing out. I keep reading how the Terra Grapplers are terrible and how people switch them out ASAP. Naturally I felt like I have to do the same. I haven’t even given the tires a chance. Since getting my rig, I only have 175 miles on her and that’s about two weeks of driving. In my mind I feel/felt that I should change them out ASAP since everything is so new. That’s also another reason why I want to do it right and I’m struggling between SL and E (C) because I want to everything right the first time. I also fear the “what if’s”. What if I go decided to go on a slightly rocky trail? What if the rocks are sharp? That’s all going through my mind.

 

Never forget. Apollo 13 made it home in no small part thanks to duct tape, cardboard and good Ol' Yankee ingenuity. No offense intended, but you may be looking for perfection where perfection does not exist. Good luck however you go.

 

About what I expected.. I agree. Thanks for your thoughts!

 

I never sniffed 20mpg unless I was at higher elevations. In Dallas, the best I get with mostly around town is 14mpg with 285's. Maybe 15 with 265's. I will stay with the 285's because they look way better.

 

Ahaa.. I guess that's why I get good mpg here in CO..