02
Mar
This terminology has officially been replaced with the letter load rating system. The historical term ply rating goes back to the days when bias ply tires were actually constructed of layer upon layer of cotton fabric yes cotton.
35 Diameterx125 WidthR20 Rim Size E Ply Rating and our tires will have another spot on the tire with Load Index and Speed Rating.
Ply rating on tires. A tire ply rating is an expression of the tires strength and capacity. The ply rating translates in a very direct way to tire capabilities and limitations especially when it comes to inflation and load capacity. If you plan to haul tow or carry heavy loads with your vehicle then understanding the ply rating of your tires is a must.
These days tire ply rating is more commonly expressed as load range. LT-metric LT-flotation and LT-numeric tires are branded with their load range load range E or LRE or their ply rating 10 ply rated on their sidewalls and list their appropriate load range letter in their descriptions as LT24575R-16 E 750R-15 D or 31x1050R-15 C. LT-sized tires featuring section widths of 305mm1250 or wider have their maximum loads and cold tire pressures rated at reduced maximum load pressures.
What is meant by Ply Rating In the early days of bias tires casing strength was built up by adding layer upon layer of cotton fabric. The layers were placed with the thread in each layer at an angle to each other. That added strength because the tensions would be distributed throughout the layers of fabric.
When shopping for new tires you can use this simple chart to refer to the modern term for load capacity ratings on heavy duty tires used on 34-ton and one-ton pickups and SUVs. 2 ply Standard Load 4 ply Extra Load 6 ply Load Range C 8 ply Load Range D 10 ply Load Range E For. Ply Rating refers to how many layers of nylon cord are embedded into the tire design.
The higher the ply rating the larger the load capacity and stiffer the tire will feel. The lower the plies the softer and less responsive the tire will feel. Actual Plies refers to how many actual plies of nylon are in a specific tire.
Tread will almost always have a higher ply count to reduce punctures on various terrains. Quick and Easy Guide to Load Ratings Ply or 8 Ply tires. This comes from the days of bias-ply tires when heavier rated tires had a larger number of internal components.
This terminology has officially been replaced with the letter load rating system. Load C 6 Ply Rated Load D 8 Ply Rated Load E 10 Ply Rated. The term ply rating is seen on many different types of tires it is a measure of the tires strength.
When is comes to ATV Tires the term star rating is a measurement of inflation pressure and is often found on tires with AT designation. Some ATV tires explicitly state the ply rating on the sidewall. Most boat and utility trailer tires have this speed rating which is a maximum of 75mph.
An M indicates the tire has been approved for speeds up to 87 mph 140 kmh and an N is approved for speeds up to 81 mph 130 kmh under optimal conditions. Youll find M and N ratings on tires for temporary use like spare tires. This number can be found in the owners manual.
To determine if a set of tires will work on your particular car use the tire load index chart to see how many pounds each tire can support. Multiply that by four since your vehicle will use four tires. As long as that number is greater than the GVWR of your vehicle those tires should work.
If youre reading your tire sidewall the speed rating will be the last item in the character sequence in the tires size code. Below is an example of a the description on a tires sidewall. Here the tire would have a speed rating of V.
V-rated tires can be driven at 149 MPH. The historical term ply rating goes back to the days when bias ply tires were actually constructed of layer upon layer of cotton fabric yes cotton. Ply rating referred to how many layers or plies of cotton had been used in the tires construction and the number of plies determined the strength of the tire.
In other words ply rating is merely a reflection of how strong a tire is in terms of withstanding higher inflation pressures and carrying heavier loads. The Adoption of Load Ranges. Modern technology has allowed manufacturers to create tires with fewer plies which caused the industry to adopt load range designations over ply ratings.
Light truck tires have two load indexes on the sidewall of the tire unlike passenger tires which only have one. This is because light truck tires are often used on vehicles with dual rear wheels. For example a light truck tire with a load index of 120116 means a load capacity for a single tire of 3086 pounds and a load capacity of 2756 pounds for two tires.
Today the ply rating is a strength comparison based on previous standards for bias ply tires. Load Ranges – Passenger Vehicles Passenger vehicle tire load ranges are rated as light standard or extra load. The load range of a tire is identified by the letters LL molded into the sidewall meaning light load or XL for extra load.
The ply rating reflects the tires overall strength and load capacity. An 8-ply tire is stronger and heavier than a 4-ply tire which is stronger and heavier than a 2-ply tire. Well touch again on ply rating and how it applies to different styles of ATVUTV tires.
Its an important number youll want to key into when choosing what tire. A typical code on a Light Truck. 35 Diameterx125 WidthR20 Rim Size E Ply Rating and our tires will have another spot on the tire with Load Index and Speed Rating.
A speed rating will be an alphabetic number ranging from L-Z stating how fast the tire is rated for. Load Index will be numeric and will run from 0 - 150. Check the tire sidewall to find the letter that indicates the load range.
Tires on a sedan coupe crossover or minivan are usually unmarked because they have a standard 4-ply rating and do not require higher load carrying abilities. However you may find these tires marked as Standard Load SL or Extra Load XL or Reinforced. In short the ply rating and the load range rating are systems of measure for load carrying capacity and Load Range E tires are equivalent to a 10 ply tire.
Advantages of 10 Ply Tires Now you probably want to know if you need 10 ply tires right. Or the benefits of going with a 10 ply tire on a vehicle that doesnt require it.