Date:         Tue, 11 Mar 2003 16:24:49 +0000
Reply-To:     Mike Finkbiner <mike_l_f@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mike Finkbiner <mike_l_f@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Simple tire qurestion (boring details)
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

Jay L Snyder <Jay.L.Snyder@USA.DUPONT.COM> said -


My Kirklands are 4 + 2 plies.  6 ply total.  4 in the tread and 2 in the
sidewall.  LT195-75/14 C rated.  Good for 50 psi, load rating of 93.

<SNIP>

Jay -

I'm afraid it doesn't work that way.

I grew up in the tire business. The 4-ply, 6-ply, 8, ply, 10-ply etc.
ratings came from bias ply tires that had that many layers of cotton (later
rayon, etc,) fabric crossing each other at an angle, or on the bias,  Radial
ply tires have one or more plies of fabric all oriented so they run out from
the center of the tire, on the radius, plus a belt of one or more plies
under the tread

The carcass of your tire is made up of two radial plies.  In addition it has
a  two ply belt under the tread.  At no place does it have six plies.

Because of the construction of the carcass it can handle high enough
pressures and weight to have a load rating of 93, which puts it in the range
that the old 6-ply tires had, so it has a '6-ply rating'

I recommend that folks forget about ply ratings, use the newer load rating
scale, and make sure they get tires with a minimum load rating of 93 and 48
psi max.  That meets VW specs for rear axles on an '87 Westy.

Happy trails!

Mike Finkbiner
'87 Westy
Moscow, ID
mike_l_f@hotmail.com

Perception is more real than truth, and belief turns truth into lies.    -
Kedar Nan



_________________________________________________________________
MSN 8 with e-mail virus protection service: 2 months FREE*
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus