Load E versus XL tires

[Hohn]

The load range is an obsolete way to think about load. The load INDEX is all that matters. Different “e” rated tires will have different load indices in different size.

Index is consistent within each size system (Lt, P, hard metric etc).

Check out the Barry’s tire tech page on this.

 

[Big O Dave]

I noticed that Ford started shipping the 2026 Ford Expedition Max with 18 inch Load E tires. I have never driven on or experienced Load E tires. Please let me know your thoughts in terms of comfort, wear and overall reliability of these Load E tires. I have read the ride is a bit stiffer than the usual XL tires put on full sized SUVs.

I went to the Ford website, and sure enough, it shows E-load range tires for the Expedition. What is striking, and possibly a typo, is that it lists the tires as P265/70R18E. As a former tire dealer, it struck me as either a very new development in the tire industry (that a P-metric tire would be load range E) or that it should have been listed as a LT265/70R18E, and NOT P-metric.

I attempted to search for P265/70R18E tires, and none were found, and the search engine attempted to correct me by saying it should be LT265/70R18E. I also checked Tire Rack and they do not list any P265/70R18E tires.

I'll be interested to find out if there, indeed, is a P265/70R18E tire now.

I would find it remarkable if the Expedition is equipped with LT construction tires, as it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to make it have a smooth ride.

Just my two cents!

 

[CapriRacer]

I went to the Ford website, and sure enough, it shows E-load range tires for the Expedition. What is striking, and possibly a typo, is that it lists the tires as P265/70R18E. As a former tire dealer, it struck me as either a very new development in the tire industry (that a P-metric tire would be load range E) or that it should have been listed as a LT265/70R18E, and NOT P-metric.

I attempted to search for P265/70R18E tires, and none were found, and the search engine attempted to correct me by saying it should be LT265/70R18E. I also checked Tire Rack and they do not list any P265/70R18E tires.

I'll be interested to find out if there, indeed, is a P265/70R18E tire now.

I would find it remarkable if the Expedition is equipped with LT construction tires, as it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to make it have a smooth ride.

Just my two cents!

I went to Tire Rack and they still list the 2026 Ford Expedition Max 18" as 265/70R18. They also don't show any
LT's in that size. I suspect there's a typo in the mix here and that what Ford is actually using are P type tires and not LT. Load Range E.

 

[edyvw]

I went to Tire Rack and they still list the 2026 Ford Expedition Max 18" as 265/70R18. They also don't show any
LT's in that size. I suspect there's a typo in the mix here and that what Ford is actually using are P type tires and not LT. Load Range E.

In race to squeeze out every mpg, LT would be surprising on 1/2 ton platform, especially SUV.

 

[MParr]

The LT tire option is for the 4WD version. It's also an all terrain offering.
You can find this information on the order sheet speciations from Ford.

 

[Skippy722]

Went from P metric to C to E tires on my Ram. Each step up was "harsher" but nothing earth shattering. The p metrics felt like marshmallows but those goodyear SR-A tires were terrible anyway. All were 265/70r17.

The E tires didn't feel like the sidewall was trying to make contact with the road if you chucked it through a corner at speed, which I liked.

 

[AdmiralYoda]

Makes sense on heavy vehicles with high load capacities. The tires don't know if it is an F350 with a load of gravel or an Expedition filled to the brim with people and luggage. A heavy vehicle with heavy duty tires ride fine. The HD suspension is what dictates the comfort, generally.

The tricky part is when you put E load tires on a passenger car or small SUV. They are way too HD for the vehicle and will wear and ride like iron. Do you fill the E load tire to 75-85psi of air like the vehicle that it was intended for requires? Or do you fill it with 32psi like the small SUV requires?

I can tell you that 32 psi on an E-load tire feels....weird. The tires will look low on air, the ride will be unpredictable as the tire will be moving laterally on the rim more than it should. Fill it to 75 psi and you will be bouncing around and lose your fillings on your Toyota Corolla.

 

[Navi]

The police SSV Expedition came with Load E tires. I am guessing a loaded down police vehicle and there is a need for tough tires to resist nails, go offroad, jump medians etc. Now the Active model comes with Load E.

Here are two tires I found by Michelin for this vehicle.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

Ride is bad especially in an unloaded, lighter vehicle. I hate how so many offroad tires are load range E

 

[MParr]

The police SSV Expedition came with Load E tires. I am guessing a loaded down police vehicle and there is a need for tough tires to resist nails, go offroad, jump medians etc. Now the Active model comes with Load E.

Here are two tires I found by Michelin for this vehicle.

View attachment 326934View attachment 326935

The Ford order sheet states that the SSV 4×4 Max comes with 265/70/18 E or LT All Terrain

 

[edyvw]

Makes sense on heavy vehicles with high load capacities. The tires don't know if it is an F350 with a load of gravel or an Expedition filled to the brim with people and luggage. A heavy vehicle with heavy duty tires ride fine. The HD suspension is what dictates the comfort, generally.

The tricky part is when you put E load tires on a passenger car or small SUV. They are way too HD for the vehicle and will wear and ride like iron. Do you fill the E load tire to 75-85psi of air like the vehicle that it was intended for requires? Or do you fill it with 32psi like the small SUV requires?

I can tell you that 32 psi on an E-load tire feels....weird. The tires will look low on air, the ride will be unpredictable as the tire will be moving laterally on the rim more than it should. Fill it to 75 psi and you will be bouncing around and lose your fillings on your Toyota Corolla.

The reason why CVTs are still exploding on Subarus. KO2/3 on a Crosstek. What could go wrong?

 

[Fabulous50s]

Im quite sure there is no such thing as a P tire with a load range E. An E load tire would be at least LT rated. Some LTs are 6 ply and some up to 10 ply to take the higher air pressure required for higher load rating.

I found out certain "cargo van size" tires are available in C (commercial) which is higher load rating than LT "E" tires.

Ive been running LT tires on work vans for many years. I believe the XL rating is a bit lighter load than LT (light truck).

From memory:
P lightest (passenger car)
XL intermediate
LT light truck (load range E)
C commercial

 

[CapriRacer]

Im quite sure there is no such thing as a P tire with a load range E. An E load tire would be at least LT rated. Some LTs are 6 ply and some up to 10 ply to take the higher air pressure required for higher load rating.

I found out certain "cargo van size" tires are available in C (commercial) which is higher load rating than LT "E" tires.

Ive been running LT tires on work vans for many years. I believe the XL rating is a bit lighter load than LT (light truck).

From memory:
P lightest (passenger car)
XL intermediate
LT light truck (load range E)
C commercial

Ah ..... Mmmmm ...... I guess I have explain this

Ya' see, there are 2 parallel systems here. A US version and a European one.

In the US version, Passenger car tires have the letter "P" in front of the numbers. Those come in Standard Load (SL = 35 psi rated pressure) and Extra Load (XL = 41 psi rated pressure), the increase in rated pressures allowing more load carrying capacity. These are called P metric tires.

Please note that the rated pressure is different than the max pressure.

LT metric tires are US based. They have the letters "LT" in front of the size. They come in Load Ranges (C = 6 ply Rating, 50 psi rated, D = 8 PR, 65 psi, and E = 10 PR, 80 psi). These carry even more load, because of the higher rated pressures.

Truck/Bus in the US system don't have letters, but also come in Load Ranges (F = 12 PR, 95 psi, G = 14 PR, 110 psi, H, = 16 PR, 125 psi, etc.) And even more load!

In the European system, passenger car tires don't have letters. They also come in Standard Load (SL = 250 kPa = 36.3 psi), and Extra Load (XL aka as Reinforced = 290 kPa, 42.0 psi). These are 100% interchangeable with P metric sizes. These are usually called Eurometric or Metric.

The Europeans don't have LT tires. In their system, they have Commercial type tires with the letter "C" appearing after the size. They don't come in Load Ranges. They use a different system utilizing "Load Index", which directly relates to the Max Load, however, tires come in a variety of Load Indices with appropriate rated inflation pressures, kind of analogous to Load Range.

European Truck/Bus tires also appear in the Commercial section with that Load Index system, but still with the analogous to load Range variety of Load Indices.

You will find many tire retailers mashing those 2 systems together to help tires buyers - but what they really do is confuse things.

Why the different systems? Because of history. These 2 systems developed independently of each other at a time where there wasn't much shipping between continents - unlike today, where the tire industry is truly global in nature. And there is a lot of "Not Invented Here!" going on.

I go into more detail here:

Barry's Tire Tech: Tire Standardizing Organizations

Barry's Tire Tech: Other Types of Tires