Mike Melton explains how to read tire load ratings and ply counts. A standard load tire (104T) works for minivans and light trucks under 1500 lb GVWR, while 8-ply, 10-ply, and 12-ply tires handle progressively heavier loads for trucks, trailers, and equipment. Match your tire's load index to your vehicle's weight rating.
Today I'm going to talk about load ratings on tires. So if you look at this right here, this is going to be your standard load tire. It's going to go on like your minivans, your passenger car vehicles, and your light trucks like a 1500 truck. Right. So as you see here, you got 104T. So it's a very low number here. And then you got T for your speed rating. So it's going to carry a lot less weight than, say, this tire here. Now, this one here is going to be an 8-ply tire. So in the 8-ply, it's going to handle a lot more load and it's got a 120S. So it's got an S as a speed rating and 120 for the load rating. Okay. So that means it's going to carry a lot more weight. Now, you can't put this on a 2500 truck because— or a 3500 because it will not handle the load of that vehicle. Now, if you come on over here, this is a 10-ply tire. This will handle a lot more load. As you see, the numbers go up 123 and then it's got a Q. So a tire like this is going to handle a lot more load than the other two tires. Now they do make another one that like, say it's a Nitto Ridge Grappler, they make 12-ply. When you're hauling like, you know, trailers or just got a heavy truck itself, you want to try to go with that 12-ply tire because it will last you a lot longer. And if you're, and if you're putting like backhoes and stuff on these trailers or any type of trailer that's got some weight on it, you're going to want a 12-ply tire if it's available in your size.
