14/16 ply tires are the "exact same tire"?

i always air the radial container tires down to 85 normally grossing 78k. Typically runs fine, BUT my usage is one and done with each chassis, run my tractor at 95 drives, 105 steers

 

“Tire ply ratings are a throwback to the old system when bias ply truck tires were prevalent, which measured a truck tire’s carrying capacity by the number of plies in the carcass or body. Today’s radial truck tires have only one steel ply in the carcass, but it is still used as a measure of their carrying capacity. For example, 14-ply tires carry more weight than 12-ply tires,” said Walt Weller, senior vice president of Double Coin Tires.

When bias tires first came about, the strength of the tire casing was built by adding layers of cotton fabric. Ply rating related to the number of layers of cotton in the tire. Each layer was placed with the thread at an angle to each other. This system added strength due to even tension distribution.

“For example, a Load Range G tire is equivalent to a 14-cotton-ply tire. But, since cotton ply has not been used for many years, having been replaced first by nylon and now with steel cords, these numbers are mostly irrelevant,” said Keller of Continental.

All About Truck Tires: Load Ratings, Sizes & More

 

14 and 16 ply are not the same tire. They have different weight ratings and pressure ratings. 6,105 lbs per tire vs 6,610 and 105 psi vs 120 psi and so forth.

85 psi is too low to me but it all depends on what you’re doing. All of our trucks are 90-105 depending on tire wear and load.

Truck I was driving was 110psi front with g rated Roadmaster tires on a 14,000 front axle. That helped the tire last longer. Drives were 90 psi because the Continental HDL2 didn’t like 100 plus psi and rode on the center tread. At 90 psi, the tires lasted a long time, wore even and flat.

The truck I’m driving now has 14,600 front axle but had G Roadmaster tires on. The tires never lasted past 50,000 kms. The truck was always at the tire’s maximum load limit whether empty or loaded.

Now I’ve got Giti J rated 18 ply at 115 psi. Much much better. 45,000 km and very little wear. Rides better than G or H too.

The H rated tire will last longer than G rated because the rubber is meant for slightly heavier loads.

 

The difference between 14 ply and 16 ply is load rating. The 16 ply is made to handle more weight. And if you read the recommended air pressure on the 16 ply side wall it states 120lbs. 16ply are a good tire for steer tires and spread axles.
85lbs in a tire will cause the tire to run hotter, and effect wear. I run all my tires at 100 to 105.
So the guy is full of it.

 

i think my drives are 14, steers 16, container? Who knows lol

 

Yea

Winner, h and j tires for weight and speed.

Psi, 85 is low personally, bit im ALWAYS well under my max rated tire load, 105 steer, 95-100 drives, trailer, 95, but dont sidewall em.

 

Lucky guy.

 

Yep. Trade secret. Look at tire construction placard on sidewall. No extra plys. Just a pressure increase. 14 ply went from 100 psi max to 105 when the speed limits got raised 20 years ago. 120 psi gives 14 ply a 16 ply rating.
One of the big manufacturers just had a recall on a popular line that hadn’t gone to dealers yet that we just handled because they molded a 14 ply placard on one side and a 16ply on the other. That was just another glitch in the backorder and shortage.