Notated on the sidewall of a tire, the ply rating or load range identifies how much load a tire can carry given the industry standard pressure. Ply rating does not actually constitute how many specific ply layers are utilized to make up the body of the tire but acts as an indication of a tire’s strength in comparison to earlier tires.

We generally see the ply rating in OTR tires when referring to how heavy duty a tire is rated. The most common ply rating range would be 10, 12, or 14 ply rated, which in actuality only has two or three fabric or steel plies. Therefore, while researching tires in today’s market, think of a higher ply rating to indicate a more heavy-duty tire for a more heavy-duty application.

When understanding ply rating, there is a fine balance that you have to reach. On the one hand, having a very high ply rating means the tire cost will be substantially higher. On the other, having a lower ply rating means you have a more cost-effective tire.

Of course, if you need assistance in deciding what kind of ply rating to get for your application, you can always reach out to our sales team. However, on a basic level, what you need to understand is what type of terrain you will face in your application and what level of durability against puncture you need to fulfill that requirement.

These numbers can be relative, considering each tire brand may consider their tires to be a different level of ply rating. So, it’s important to find a tire brand that you trust and have experience with to have a consistent experience, much like how passenger tires utilize a brand-specific UTQG.