Real world sidewall durability 6ply vs 10ply

Dezert4Runner

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Currently running 285/70R17 KO’s (E rated). Looking at some 285/70R17 KO2’s and trying to decide if I want to try out some load range C tires. They’re about $60-$70 cheaper a set than the E’s and I’d like to see if they make a difference with ride quality since I DD my rig and put about 14k /yr on my tires. There’s also a 7lb difference between the two. Sounds substantial to me.

I’ve run a few sets of KO’s on various vehicles and they’ve always been load range E. Never a single flat. Knowing that my runner is getting put on more trails with sharp rocks than years past, I’m curious about the real world difference between the two in regards to sidewall durability. I know the Duratrac’s are notorious for weak sidewalls (not sure if it’s all load ranges or just C), but my experience with BFG’s is they do pretty well for not being Kevlar like the Goodyear MT/R’s.

Anyone running C rated tires and airing down to 10-15 psi on sharp rock (think Calico) blue/ black rated trails? What tire are you running, load range, and PSI? If there’s no noticeable strength difference, I’ll probably try some C rated tires. My priority is to avoid flats when I do hit the trails and I’ll run the E rated tires again in a heartbeat if I need to.
 

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I think it was @Hank or @theesotericone that I had this conversation with a few months back. Sidewall ply is still 3. It's the tread ply that's 6-10. Or something like that. I'd have to actually go back and dig for the conversation.

As long as you don't buy Duratracs you're probably fine. I think I killed 3 or 4 over the course of 1 1/2 years, all replaced under the road hazard certificate, due to sidewall cuts. I've sliced up my KM2s in both E and D rated and haven't had any issues yet.
 

Dezert4Runner

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I think it was @Hank or @theesotericone that I had this conversation with a few months back. Sidewall ply is still 3. It's the tread ply that's 6-10. Or something like that. I'd have to actually go back and dig for the conversation.

As long as you don't buy Duratracs you're probably fine. I think I killed 3 or 4 over the course of 1 1/2 years, all replaced under the road hazard certificate, due to sidewall cuts. I've sliced up my KM2s in both E and D rated and haven't had any issues yet.

So side wall is 3 on all load ranges and the rubber under the tread is 6-10ply?
 

Dezert4Runner

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So based off the info in those links, today’s tires used equivalent load ratings based of Bias Ply tires of old. It doesn’t really say how they engineered it to meet those specs, just that it’s all about intended weight/ load requirements (duh). Still very vague about sidewall thickness and sub-tread body thickness. I guess my questions regarding everyone’s experiences is still welcome
:thanks:
 

4runner DOA

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So based off the info in those links, today’s tires used equivalent load ratings based of Bias Ply tires of old. It doesn’t really say how they engineered it to meet those specs, just that it’s all about intended weight/ load requirements (duh). Still very vague about sidewall thickness and sub-tread body thickness. I guess my questions regarding everyone’s experiences is still welcome
:thanks:

Yeah I was trying to find another link on sidewalls but I did t try very hard. Haha. I know my d rated km2s are 8 ply with a 3 ply sidewall based on research on the km2 specifically. That being said. I've been as low as 8 psi on them and usually run 18 in the desert. Couple sidewall slashes here and there but nothing that would cripple me. I did toast one inner sidewall on a tire with less than 500 miles on it but I was only aired down to like 25.
 

theesotericone

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I think it was @Hank or @theesotericone that I had this conversation with a few months back. Sidewall ply is still 3. It's the tread ply that's 6-10. Or something like that. I'd have to actually go back and dig for the conversation.

Sweet. I educate someone and they then educate someone else. This is exactly how sites like this are supposed to work. I hate typing shit twice. lol

As far as C/D/E ranges go a lot of that will have to do with what you wheel on. A lot of my local trials are schist, metamorphic tuff, and shale. IE, shit that will puncture a tire fast. I will only run E's. I've seen a lot of flats and most of them where not E's. Once you settle on the tire you want just google "(mytire) Sidewall ply" That will lead you to the manufacturers site where you can see if it's a 3 ply or not. Believe it or not some tires still have 2 ply sidewalls. Also most modern tires use polyester for sidewall ply. It's a little more forgiving to slashes and punctures. Most treads are made with a combo of steel, polyester, and polyamide.

Bottom line? Get what suits your wheeling style and the best you can afford.
 

85straight

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I ran c rated ko2s for years and they held up well to my abuse. There are times that I was certain I was getting a flat or blown out side wall, not a single issue. For wheeling on rocks, crawling and such they were terrible traction wise though aired down to 12 even. I’ve hit a boulder going 35-40 right on the sidewall and a bubble resulted.
I put them through every terrain possible, never a flat or blowout...BUT my truck is significantly lighter than yours

I’m now running a c rated mud terrain and love every second of it
 

Dezert4Runner

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All good info, thanks. I’ve put a few sizable gashes in my sidewalls and they were deep enough to concern me but ultimately held up just fine. If the KO2 has 3 ply sidewalks on all their tires, then LR C will do just fine I think. I’ll have to keep digging. I found a chart on BFG’s website that had some tire specs, but unsurprisingly, they didn’t list anything about where in the tires the plus were.
 

4runner DOA

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Sweet. I educate someone and they then educate someone else. This is exactly how sites like this are supposed to work. I hate typing shit twice. lol

As far as C/D/E ranges go a lot of that will have to do with what you wheel on. A lot of my local trials are schist, metamorphic tuff, and shale. IE, shit that will puncture a tire fast. I will only run E's. I've seen a lot of flats and most of them where not E's. Once you settle on the tire you want just google "(mytire) Sidewall ply" That will lead you to the manufacturers site where you can see if it's a 3 ply or not. Believe it or not some tires still have 2 ply sidewalls. Also most modern tires use polyester for sidewall ply. It's a little more forgiving to slashes and punctures. Most treads are made with a combo of steel, polyester, and polyamide.

Bottom line? Get what suits your wheeling style and the best you can afford.

I retain information once in awhile. :rofl:
 

Dezert4Runner

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I ran c rated ko2s for years and they held up well to my abuse. There are times that I was certain I was getting a flat or blown out side wall, not a single issue. For wheeling on rocks, crawling and such they were terrible traction wise though aired down to 12 even. I’ve hit a boulder going 35-40 right on the sidewall and a bubble resulted.
I put them through every terrain possible, never a flat or blowout...BUT my truck is significantly lighter than yours

I’m now running a c rated mud terrain and love every second of it

I liked the 255/80/R17 KM2’s I ran for a while, but I really only went on a handful of trips on them at the most before it was time to swap them out. I had bought them used, and one thing I can tell you about the KM2’s,
Is they wear FAST! They hooked up well though from what I remember.
 

4runner DOA

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I did this, but the tire itself was fine. These km2s have been solid.

IMG_20171112_184514_924.jpg
 

4runner DOA

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I liked the 255/80/R17 KM2’s I ran for a while, but I really only went on a handful of trips on them at the most before it was time to swap them out. I had bought them used, and one thing I can tell you about the KM2’s,
Is they wear FAST! They hooked up well though from what I remember.

Been super happy with my km2s, but my rig barely moves unless it's for a trip so tire wear hasn't been a concern. They definitely take some abuse and grip well.
 

Dezert4Runner

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Been super happy with my km2s, but my rig barely moves unless it's for a trip so tire wear hasn't been a concern. They definitely take some abuse and grip well.

That’s why I am hesitant to get a new set of KM2’s or KM3’s. They cost a lot more than the KO2’s and get about half of the mileage I’ll get out of an all terrain with all my DD’ing. Obviously the trade off is when I hit the trail but if I’m being honest, that’s a couple times a month at best :anon:
 

4runner DOA

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Why am I not surprised you of all people managed to do that to a wheel :rofl:

Still don't even know how I did it. 4low 2nd gear climbing a rock section on white mountain. Got to the top and I was like fuck I think I have a flat.
 

Dezert4Runner

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Still don't even know how I did it. 4low 2nd gear climbing a rock section on white mountain. Got to the top and I was like fuck I think I have a flat.

Yeah I thought steel wheels were a lot stronger than aluminum but looking at the stocker spare wheels, they just don’t look as beefy as a Window D steel wheel.
 
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