Friday, Dec 08, 2023 at 17:33
From my perspective..........
Increasing the load rating of your tyres is typically a useful move unless....
Increasing the strength of the sidewall is usually a double edged sword.
As an explanation.....
I use a Michelin tyre with a very high load rating. It has just one steel ply in the side walls. Nothing else. That is all. So the sidewall is very flexible, it airs down
well and it stays relatively cool.
The typical method of "increasing sidewall strength" is to move from 2 plies to 3 plies. This has some benefit UNTIL you air down and then you find that the sidewalls are stiffer and when aired down create a lot more heat. Heat is the enemy of tyres and that extra heat can quickly and easily damage tyres from the inside.
My choice is to maximise load rating and minimise side wall (actual, not "rating", whatever that is) plies and thickness in order to minimise heat generation.
ps .... For the tyre I use, Michelin actually specify tyre pressures relative to vehicle load and speed while aired down. One of the only manufacturers I have seen that does this.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome
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