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I have had two sets of 275/60R20 Duratracs on my truck, aa well as a set of P265/70R16 and LT265/75R16 C range on my Jeep.

The LT’s(even the C range) are a lot burlier looking with the deeper and, i think, more open tread blocks. I liked them a lot more but unfortunately they do not sell a C range in a 20” wheel size and I dont want an E range.

Ive had good luck with mine. They are certainly great in the snow but mine have not seen much mud. I had a set of Blizzaks on my Jeep prior to my Duratracs and I do not miss them. I live in Park City UT and I would say that the Duratracs are probably the most popular tire here.

 

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I’ve been running Duratracs on my 15 Screw 4x4 Lariat for the last 4 seasons and live in Denver, making similar trips. So hope to provide useful feedback without starting the comparison all over.

I run E range/10 ply since I went 1size up (to 275/70r18). Ride COMFORT is only marginally rougher than the oem Goodyear’s were. This is the same exact tire size and load range as used on the new Ram Rebel, and everyone seems to love the ride on those. Degradation is noticeable, but nowhere near as bad as I expected. Wife didn’t even notice, but I did. Oddly enough, ride improved greatly once I bumped up to 55/50 psi front/rear, as the shop only put them to 38-ish. On that note, one thing to know if you go any higher than standard load range is your psi goes up for the same given load. Ask your shop for the inflation tables for whatever you end up with if you change.

So the ride doesn’t take too much a hit with a higher range.

Also, I only have about 11k miles on them, but they look dang near new. So Treadwear seems to be really good.

But I’d still advise against them for 2 reasons:

Handling: folks say handling is surprisingly good, but compared to what? Super Swampers? It won’t be anything like the LTX you come from. Constant corrections at the wheel at all speeds. Endless toying with pressures (great improvement at 50+ psi, but still bad). “Squirmy” with a load of towing. Squirrelly high speed transitions, like quick lane changes. I never feel confident at the wheel any more. Super fatiguing on long trips. This was apparent day 1.

I mention this not to offer another comparison, but as it relates to the load ranges, I suspect these issues would be exacerbated with fewer sidewall plies/lower load range. Just something to keep in mind.

If you want to assess these tires in C range, go test drive a Chevy trailboss or gmc at4. For E range, drive a Ram Rebel. The ride quality will be apples to oranges & an irrelevant comparison, but the transient response and handling impressions should translate.

Secondly is the snow traction, which is a double edged sword. Indeed, deep, fresh snow capabilities are astounding!! I’m a native and have driven on lots of different tires over the winters. Nothing has ever seemed so unstoppable; I feel like I have tracks!

But!: packed snow and ice traction, especially lateral traction, is super disappointing. And as you know, roads are cleared pretty quick here, so most winter weather driving is on snow packed, wet, and/or icy roads, not deep snow. Most of the A/T tires I’ve run in the past surpass this performance in this regard. This makes plain sense just looking at the tread pattern, and how the siping is limited to the shoulders only, and the inner voids are huge.

Though this aspect shouldn’t change based on load range. In fact one reason I selected these because they retain their 3pmsf winter rating across load ranges. Many others lose it for e range. Which my final note is to ensure you ask for the 3pmsf version of this tire, as they also make non-certified versions.

Good luck!

I have not had these issues with my Duratracs. My Jeep's were certainly a little softer but it was also a 32" tire on a 16" rim on a Jeep with a 3" lift, so there was a LOT of sidewall and suspension there. But that thing never handled well, even stock. On the 20" wheel on my truck they have been very good and have never felt the need to go to an LT e range for stability. I run them at 35-40 psi and I tow a 5500 lb travel trailer around Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, etc and never had an issue with them being unstable. My current set was installed in October and have 10,000 miles on them. 5000+ miles of those are towing.

On hard packed snow, I agree, they are not as good. I dont really have a ton of experience with other A/T tires though. Deep snow, 100%, they are beasts. My cousins driveway here in Utah is probably a mile long going up the side of a mountain. Some parts are probably in excess of 10%(definitely more than 7%) and he plows the thing with a Bombardier snow groomer. There is a continuous snow pack on it all winter and they claw their way right up it no problem. His wife has a BMW X5 with Blizzaks and gets stuck a lot.

I did have a 2019 Ram Rebel quad cab in San Antonio as a rental last summer, and that truck rode like a lumber wagon to me. I did not like it. OEM inflation pressure on the door stickers was something like 55 and 45 psi. It handled fine to me though.

 

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Also, in regards to the SL's vs the LT C-range, I wonder if the difference in load capacity is a result of how they rate the load capacity based on pressure. I believe the SL's reach maximum load capacity before the reach maximum inflation pressure. An LT tire's capacity is directly tied to inflation pressure and reaches its maximum rating at its maximum pressure. Because LT-C's are limited to 50psi, their load rating is lower.

I am not sure that I would assume the LT-C is a less durable tire is what I am trying to say.