What is the difference between Load Range D and E for tires?
Valuable details about a tire are contained in the numbers on the side of the tire.The complete description of the tires is contained in the code, which helps people decide whether a tire is suitable for their vehicle or not.
The code on a Light Truck and SUV tire is 35(Diameter)x12.5(Width)R20(Rim Size) E and will have another spot on the tire with Load Index and Speed Rating.The tire's speed rating will be an alphabetic number ranging from L-Z.Load index will run from 0 to 150.Next to the speed rating is the load index.The load index will tell you the load capacity of the tires before the speed rating.Our Claw 35x12.5R20 E has a load index of 121 and a speed rating of Q.You need to read a tire load capacity chart to understand the meaning of the code.
The tire's load rating shows how much a tire can carry.Load carrying capacity is determined by the number of tires and the load capacity of a single tire.It has a load capacity of 3297LBS according to the rating.To get your vehicle's max load carrying capacity, multiply that by four tires.You should always install tires with a load index greater than your original factory-installed tires.
The old measurement standard of "PLY Rating" is the load range.Historically, more plies meant a tire had a larger load carrying capacity, so manufacturers would count them and use this number to indicate carrying capacities.The modern construction of tires does not sacrifice the carrying capacity.Load range tells you how tough the tire is.A tire is equivalent to a 10-ply construction tire if it has an E load range.This tire is built with one or two plies of equivalent strength.
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You put the tire load charts in print.The old load range chart was what I was looking for.The current load index answered my question.