Best 10 Ply Truck Tires for Towing: Load Range E Rated

What is the best towing tires with e load range rating for truck and SUV in 2024? In this article, we cover some of the best 10 ply truck tires for towing on the market. 

When looking for a new set of tires, one can be easily overwhelmed by all the options that are available on the market right now. I mean, it’s hard enough to choose between all-season tires, summer tires or winter tires, then you have to choose between highway tires, all-terrain tires and mud-terrain tires if you own a truck or an SUV, and now towing tires? What is this madness? Trust me, you’re not alone in this mess. Even I have problems understanding tires sometimes, and I am pretty much into it.

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Let’s get back to the subject we have here. So, yes, if you plan on using your SUV or pickup truck for towing, you will need tires that are specifically designed for that kind of driving. The thing is, normal tires can’t withstand the weight without deformations. This means that when you put a lot of load on your vehicle, like for example when you tow or haul, the tires will lose their shape and the performance of your vehicle will be seriously worsened. Not just that – safety is a big concern here and that’s why you should be extremely cautious with the tires you choose when towing.

In order to help you better understand tires for towing, I’ve prepared a sort of a buying guide for tires intended for towing (and hauling for that matter). Here you will find the Top 5 best tires for towing, where I’ll include models for highway driving, all-terrain driving and off-road driving. Then, we will take a look at everything there is to know about towing tires and how to choose the right one for your needs, amid all the safety concerns that towing presents to the driver.

Best Load Range E Tires for Towing 2024

1. Michelin Defender LTX M/S

Best highway towing tire

Michelin Defender LTX MS

The Michelin Defender series of tires has become synonymous with SUVs and trucks in the past decade because it offers excellent performance in almost every condition, very quiet and comfortable ride quality, and in load range E or load range D guise, excellent towing capabilities. This is a Michelin after all!

Trust me, if you want a tire that you can put all your trust in, this is the one. It is equipped with an extra steel belt when compared to other tires in this category, which makes it extremely strong and durable. The load range E tires rated, for example, can withstand up to 13,500 pounds, which is simply phenomenal.

And it’s not just the numbers – the Defender LTX M/S provides excellent driving dynamics even when pushed to its limits, giving the driver a lot of control when towing the biggest trailers. I was especially surprised by the performance on the highway – this is a tire that holds itself even at higher speeds.

The best thing about the Michelin Defender LTX M/S is that it works both in dry and wet conditions, with especially good hydroplaning resistance. And while it is not a dedicated snow or winter tire, it can still hold itself in light snow. Another big advantage the Defender LTX M/S has over its competitors is quietness and comfort – it is simply amazing in this regard.

Of big importance to any potential buyer will be the durability aspect of this tire as well. Thanks to the Evertread compound molded into a symmetric tread design, the Defender LTX M/S comes with 70,000-mile tread warranty, which is one of the best in its class.


2. Falken Wildpeak AT3W All-Terrain

Best load range e all terrain tires / best 10 ply tires for towing

Falken Wildpeak A/T3W All Terrain

Falken is a real winner in my book when it comes to performance to price ratio, and the Wildpeak AT3W All-Terrain tire is the perfect example of that. Not only this tire manages to give the driver excellent performance in almost every off-road scenario, but it is also good for on-road driving, and it can even be used as a towing tire in load range E guise.

One of the biggest reasons why it is the best all-terrain towing tires is the Outer Apex Sidewall with secondary bend apex, which makes the tire more resistant to wear and tear, even when pushed to the limits. In the real world, the Wildpeak AT3W holds itself very well when towing a big trailer, without big deformations. Performance is good on the highway, and also in some light off-road scenarios.

The Wildpeak AT3W is also excellent when you’re not towing. It is very comfortable and quiet for an all-terrain tire, it offers good handling and traction in dry and wet conditions, and it can even be used in the snow. Being a 3PMSF-rated tire, the Wildpeak AT3W is safe to use in harsher winters than competitors. It is also a 10 ply tires (load range E tires), which means that it can withstand a lot of weight on its shoulders.

And even though it is cheaper than premium competitors, owners of the Wildpeak AT3W report that they get a very long treadlife from this tire, even when used for towing a lot. All in all, you can’t go wrong with this one!


3. Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac

Best off-road towing tire 

Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac

Get Up to $100 Prepaid Mastercard by mail when you purchase a set of four Goodyear tires.

Valid through Sept 30, 2020
Available at  Goodyear.comTirerack.comDiscountTire.com

If you want a seriously hardcore off-road tire that can also be used for towing, look no further than the Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac. This is not just one of the best tires for off-road usage, but it is also one of the toughest out there. You can use it in the most demanding off-road conditions and then pull a big trailer with it, and do it all over again for dozens of times – Goodyear rates this tire at 50,000-mile tread warranty, which is excellent for an off-road tire.

The secret lies in the rugged tread compound which resists tread block chipping, chunking and tearing, even when towing a big trailer. The self-cleaning blocks and sipes further enhance the ruggedness of this tire, making it seemingly unbeatable in almost every condition. This is one of the few tires on the market that you install it and forget about it – no stone cleaning every time you use it for off-road driving.

While we are at it, this is one of the best tires for off-road driving, on every possible terrain. Be it dirt, gravel or mud, the Wrangler DuraTrac delivers without breaking a sweat. It is even branded as with the 3PMSF symbol, which means that you can have fun on the snow and be safe at the same time.

The Wrangler DuraTrac also comes in several different load ranges, including 10 ply tires. This means that it is an excellent choice for those who plan to tow bigger trailers, as 10 ply tires can withstand up to 3,042 lbs.

That said, you may find it a bit too loud on the highway, but that’s the case with almost every off-road or mud-terrain tire out there. Performance on the road is okay though, with good showing both in dry and wet conditions. 


4. Kumho Road Venture APT KL51

Best budget towing tire

Kumho Road Venture APT KL51

When you purchase set of four (4) select Kumho tires you may be eligible to receive a $75 Tire Rack Prepaid Mastercard by mail-in rebate.

Valid through Sept 30, 2020
Available at 
Tirerack.com

Who said that if you want to tow with your vehicle, you need expensive tires? The Kumho Road Venture APT KL51 is a perfect example of a product that offers excellent performance at a lower price point. Here, you will save a few bucks without losing on capability, as with almost every other Kumho tire.

The tread compound of the Road Venture APT KL51 is specifically designed to enhance treadwear, even when the tire is used for towing. The twin steel belts reinforced by spirally wrapped nylon help the Kumho resist distortion when pushed to the limits. In real life, it is perhaps not at the level of the Michelin Defender LTX M/S, but it’s close enough. And to be honest, not a lot of drivers can tell the difference, even when towing a big trailer.

The Road Venture APT KL51 is especially excellent on the highway, with a trailer or without it. It offers a very smooth and quiet ride and very good handling and traction in both dry and wet conditions. While not a real winter tire, it can still provide enough traction for light snow scenario.

Despite being cheaper than most highway truck tires, the Road Venture APT KL51 is very durable, and the 60,000-mile tread warranty is a perfect example of that.


5. Firestone Transforce HT

Best durable towing tires 

Firestone Transforce HT

$60 Prepaid Visa by mail when you purchase a set of four select Firestone tires.

Valid through Nov 1, 2020

Available at Tirerack.com, Discounttire.com,

I will finish this list with probably the most durable and strongest towing tire of the bunch, the Firestone Transforce HT. If it’s so durable, then why is it not in the first place on this list you ask? It’s simple – the Michelin Defender LTX is better in other categories, such as highway performance and comfort. However, this doesn’t mean that the Firestone is bad – it’s really close!

The reason why the Firestone Transforce HT is so durable and capable of withstanding heavy weights is the Long Link Carbon tread compound, strengthened by twin steel belts, which themselves are reinforced by spiral-wrapped nylon. Thanks to this, this tire keeps its shape even when towing the heaviest of trailers, which is extremely important for safety and stability. This can be seen by the load ranges available, which include 8 ply tires and 10 ply tires.

Other than being very capable as a towing tire, the Transforce HT offers excellent performance in dry and wet conditions, with great traction and straight-line stability. It can even tackle some light snow, but I would still steer away from it in harsh winter scenario. Being very strong, the Transforce HT doesn’t offer the same comfort levels of the best tires out there, but that’s to be expected from a tire primarily intended for towing.

Firestone doesn’t give any tread warranty on the Transforce HT, but from what I know, owners report that it’s long-lasting, even when used for towing very heavy trailers.


Best Tires for Towing - Load Range E - 10 Ply Tires: Buying Guide

How to know if a tire is suitable for towing?

It is very simple to check if a tire is suitable for towing – just be sure that it contains the LT (Light Truck) symbol before the size. This is very important, as the same tire model is available in both “P-metric” or passenger type of tire and “LT” or Light Truck type of tire. When choosing the second one you can be sure that you get a tire that can withstand the additional weight of trucks and trailers.

What are “ply” ratings?

Light Truck or LT tires are divided into five different categories, depending on how much weight they can carry via the maximum load pressure. Today, the “ply” is replaced with “Load Range” rating, with the letters B, C, D, E and F next to it. Here’s how they compare:

  • Load Range B (4 ply tire) – maximum load pressure of 35 psi (240kPa)
  • Load Range C (6 ply tire) – maximum load pressure of 50 psi (350kPa)
  • Load Range D (8 ply tire) – maximum load pressure of 65 psi (450kPa)
  • Load Range E (10 ply tire) – maximum load pressure of 80 psi (550kPa)
  • Load Range F (12 ply tire) – maximum load pressure of 95 psi (650kPa)

It is best to always follow this list when buying new towing tires. I recommend never going to the full limit of the tire, as performance worsens the more weight you add, even though the tire is still rated for that kind of pressure.

Should you buy LT tires even if you never tow?

Light Truck tires are really meant to be used for towing or hauling. So yes, if you don’t tow but you haul things with your pickup truck, LT tires are the best option. However, if you own an SUV and don’t plan on using it for towing, then perhaps the best choice is P-metric tires. These tires are lighter and will provide you with better fuel economy, quicker acceleration, and faster top speed. They are also much more comfortable because the sidewalls are not as strong as in LT tires. P-metric tires are available in light load, standard load and extra load, so some of them can be used for hauling and towing smaller trailers.

Can LT tires be used on the trailer itself?

LT tires are only meant to be used on light trucks, as their name implies. For the trailer you are towing, I recommend buying ST (Special Trailer) service tires. These tires are also available in different load ranges, including:

  • Load Range B (4 ply tire) – maximum load pressure of 35 psi (240kPa)
  • Load Range C (6 ply tire) – maximum load pressure of 50 psi (350kPa)
  • Load Range D (8 ply tire) – maximum load pressure of 65 psi (450kPa)
  • Load Range E (10 ply tire) – maximum load pressure of 80 psi (550kPa)

Conclusion

I sincerely hope that this article helped you in choosing the best towing tire with e load rating for your SUV or truck in 2024. And even if the tire isn’t included in this list, you can use the knowledge acquired from the buying guide and find a model that suits your needs. Just remember that very cheap tires are almost never a good solution, especially for towing.

Trailers already push your vehicle and the tires to the limit – you surely wouldn’t want a tire exploding in the middle of a corner, with your family on-board and a big trailer hooked in the back. And even if you own premium tires, always make a visual inspection before going on that long-awaited family trip and be sure that you rotate the tires every 6,000-miles, or at every maintenance.

13 thoughts on “Best 10 Ply Truck Tires for Towing: Load Range E Rated”

  1. I am very happy to see specific info regarding P-Metric tires on SUV/light trucks…and Towing/hauling recommendations made in the same article! My new 2018 Tundra has Michelin P-metric radial tires. Yes they make the ride in this 6500 pound truck nice BUT I\’m seasoned enough to know to replace them w/ 10 ply LT tires before I start towing our new 26\’ travel trailer.

    Reply
  2. I am primarily after a tire to pull a 9000 lb trailer all summer, but, I also use the truck in the winter. We live 1.5 hrs north of Toronto with lots of snow. Would you recommend the Falcon Wildpeak or the Wrangler DuraTrac ?

    Reply
    • I personally shy away from the Duratrac. I\’ve had them on two vehicles, Ford sport track and ford F150. They are hard to balance (325 12.50 18) on F150 and they fly through tread, are noisy as heck and are terrible in any depth of mud. Go with Falken.

      Reply
  3. I use Firestone tires. Always have. In a lite truck I\’veaalways used destinations. I got 85,000 miles on a Nissan Frontier & they still passed inspection in Va. They were borderline BUT they passed. I replaced them when they went on sale. I\’m using transforce ht 10 plys to pull my airstream. They don\’trride bad at all & they are tough as nails. Just my choice. That\’s all.

    Reply
  4. Use 2008 F350 diesel to pack around hard side Lance camper (3600 lbs.)
    equipped with air bags, torklift leaf spring helpers and Hellwig big boy sway bar
    Suggestions for a load E 10 ply tire? Falken? Michelin?

    Reply
  5. Have 2006 Dodge Ram 3500 5.9 Turbo Diesel Duel four wheel drive. Tow fifth wheel with GVW 16,200. What tire for FL to CO lots Rain , light to Med snow not very often.
    Also, which air bag with compressor system to keep level with load? Without it puts weight on back raising headlights

    Reply
  6. I’ve had Goodyear tires on my 1995 Ford F 150 4X4 since it was new and have never had a problem with them! They are a great all-around tire and perform well in all weather and terrain. You can get better tires for mud and snow or better weight capacity but then you give up something else! With the Wrangler you get it all, decent mud, snow traction, and hauling capacity with good fuel mileage and tire life! .As long as Goodyear keeps makin’em I’ll keep buyin’em!

    Reply

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