How Important is Load Range?

[Gorilla57]

Ply rating is the # of plys under the tread, not the sidewall.

Please don't spread misinformation. Ply rating was for older bias ply tires that used cotton plies as part of their construction. Today's tires use better materials and a load range rating.

Here's a quote from TireBuyer.com:

These days, tire ply rating is more commonly expressed as “load range.” The days of cotton layers or plies forming the internal construction of tires are long gone, so the ply rating no longer has a direct connection to a tire’s construction and number of layers. With modern tire engineering and materials it's possible to create greater tire strength and capacity without adding layers.

Here's a quote from Tire Rack:

Today's load range/ply ratings do not count the actual number of body ply layers used to make up the tire's internal structure, but indicate an equivalent strength compared to early bias ply tires. Most radial passenger tires have one or two body plies, and light truck tires, even those with heavy-duty ratings (10-, 12- or 14-ply rated), actually have only two or three fabric plies, or one steel body ply.

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[SleepEatJeepRepeat]

All I know is my e ply feel like soft rocks on the road and ya they feel damn near I destructible off-road.. but I am going c if I can or atleast d ply next time

 

[blnewt]

Stt pro are tempting great tire light weight ... if I don’t do the ko2 I would go with a d ply stt pro and feel good about it

Not many STT Pros in D rated, I would rock them in E-rated without hesitation though
The Cooper Discoverer MTP has a D-rated 315/70 and those are almost an STT Pro

 

[SleepEatJeepRepeat]

Not many STT Pros in D rated, I would rock them in E-rated without hesitation though
The Cooper Discoverer MTP has a D-rated 315/70 and those are almost an STT Pro

courser mxt by master raft is 69lbs and made by cooper and comes in a d

but the stt pro 37x12.5r17 only come in f ply and that is the size I am going to run

 

[Whiskey 13]

Been running E KO's for years on many different Wranglers. Like how tough they are in the boonies. If I was looking for a 300C ride I would not be driving a Rubicon

 

[blnewt]

courser mxt by master raft is 69lbs and made by cooper and comes in a d

but the stt pro 37x12.5r17 only come in f ply and that is the size I am going to run

No, actually that's one of the STTs that comes in a D-rated, scroll down "Full Specs" then to the 17" bar and check them out
https://us.coopertire.com/tires/discoverer-stt-pro

 

[RFR JLR 2.0]

I wouldn't run anything less that a D rated tire personally. I have E rated now, mainly because that is what they are rated @ in my size. I have run E on my last vehicles too, however. I already have a pretty healthy cut into one of my sidewalls from a Last Chance Canyon run. I you are running rock obstacles, do not run C rated tires. They are a rougher ride, a D might be perfect. Still sidewall thickness is one of my main focuses.

Got some nice scratches in my wheels from Last Chance Canyon. Also running E rated.

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