Okay, I'm a newb and perhaps a tire moron. It's about time for me to get new tires on my '05 CRD Limited. I'm tempted by the BF Goodrich AT tires at Costco. The price is good for my stock size...225/75R16 (which is fine, since I'm unlifted)...but they're LT's not P's. When I had talked to the Bridgestone guy about a set of the Dueller Revos, he said no way he would put LT's on my Liberty.

What will be the noticable difference between the P's and the heavier LT's??? I will be primarily using around town, and up to big snow for ski trips. I definitely want to do some off road with it too, but I'm a newb!

Should I just get the Revo's as a P235/70R/16? How will that affect my ride? FYI...the Bridgestone/Firestone guy said he wouldn't install them since that's only a recommended alt size for the Liberty Sport, not the CRD.

Thanks for your help!

"LT" sizes have a heavier (and usually stiffer) sidewall which will likely affect the ride quality. You need to also consider that your CRD (and mine) is much heavier in the front end than a gasser KJ. You need to take a look at the weight rating of the 235/70/16 (Jeep's alt size) as they are usually a couple of weight classes lower than the factory 225/75/16. Also in important factor on any diesel, this size (235/70) spins more rev/mile than the factory size which will result in higher engine RPM's on the highway hurting your fuel economy. A better choice, 245/70/16 has the same weight rating and roughly the same rev/mile as the 225/75/16.

I too am having the same arguments with my Bridgestone/Firestone dealer over the 245/70's. Our last conversation ended with "How bad do you want my business?" No reply. In all likelyhood, I will end up buying from Tirerack an have them installed elswhere.

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2005 Liberty Sport CRD, Lt Khaki, sunroof

Thankful to now be an EX-CRD owner.

Thanks for the reply! Now I have a few more quesions...

So the only down side to the LT in stock size would be a rougher feeling ride? Can I expect any rubbing with a 245/70/16? Is there any other upside or downside to using this tire size on my unlifted Liberty with stock rims?

Thanks!

"P" is for passenger vehicles(cars) and "LT" is for light trucks(including SUV's),go with the LT's and you will be happy,they will ride better since you have a CRD and they will last longer.The 245/75R16's are only like 1/4" taller(10mm wider) then the 235/70R16's offered on the KJ's so yes they will fit and since your not offroading it you should have no clearance issues and with a CRD no power or mpg loss(lucky devil you having a CRD).

Be careful on the sizes 245/70/16 won't rub (barely). The slightly taller 245/75/16 will rub unless you lift it.

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2005 Liberty Sport CRD, Lt Khaki, sunroof

Thankful to now be an EX-CRD owner.

Thanks for the replies. At the moment I'm leaning towards the BF Goodrich AT's in the LT225/75R16 stock size. The price is good and so far I don't see a downside to running these. Plus, since they are the recommended tire at Costco, I don't have to "convince" anyone to mount these.

"he said no way he would put LT's on my Liberty." Find another tire guy. In some cases (durability) LT is the best choice for the Liberty.

Compare the treadwidth not the "Balloon" section width, ain't much diff. They'll rub when pushed to the limit. The Lt 225/75 is right on time with very little rub at "crazy" flex with no binding. Add longer shocks and a "baby lift" and you'll see more flex with less money than the $$$ spenders with only a smidgen less ground clearance. Remember you only get 1/2 inch at the pumpkin for every inch of tire.

Otherwise its dependent on lift, if you added bumpstops to "limit" your flex, tire size, wheel backspacing and such

I really wish I understood more of this than "find another tire guy." I hope to lift my Lib down the road, but right now I just need tires for it in it's stock condition. Lifting (even a "baby lift") comes after I save up for some skids and maybe even some sliders.

LT tires come in c,d and e load ranges. Watch what range you are buying. E load range tires(which are the most common in 225/75 tires) are 10 ply tires. They will weigh much more than a p rated tire. You will lose mpg and acceleration. How much I don't know on a liberty. They cost me 2-3 mpg on a full size truck(same tire size as stock). They are also much stiffer. Your ride quality will go down. Again, I don't know how much but on a full size truck it was noticable. Ask about the warranty also because most tire manf. do not put a warranty on lt rated tires. I see no need for e range tires unless you are a rock crawler and need the puncture resistance. Also some c and d load ratings are actually lower than the comparable p rated tires. You just have to research it and know what your looking for and what you want out of your tires.

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2005 sport crd-SOLD No regrets

FYI-the MT/R's that come stock on the Rubicons(245/75R16's) that so many of you run are load range E(10 ply),the 265's I run are load range D(still 10 ply),and the 225/75R16's(MT/R's) I first had on before lifted where load range D and 7 ply's.

LT = (durability)

I recently switched from Toyo Open Country AT's (p) to General Grabber AT2's (lt, 10ply) I did experience a drop in MPG's. However the lt being stiffer the vehicle feels more sturdy when driving. The P's have more give and tend to change shape dramatically when cornering. I have Rusty's lift which is soft. So I like the ride and stiffness in the heavier tires.

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IceColeNH #JC060619
03' Renegade
Al's Arms.
3 inch lift; Rusty's springs all around, Rancho struts + 4 electrical conduit washers up front. Old Man Emu in rear.
Moog K3199 in the lowers
General Grabber AT2 - 245 75 16 "load E on a mawl crawler? You don't need those." tire dealer.
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