SL tire rating vs C rating for camper shell and RTT

I have a camper shell on my DCSB. Getting Eibach pro lift installed next week with an add a leaf. Also have a roof rack coming for a RTT as well.

My question: I ordered some 285/70/17 Ridge Grapplers in the 4 ply due to weighing 9 lbs or so less than the C rated LT variant. I am going to be hitting trails mostly, so I'm not too concerned with puncturing the sidewalls on a rocks. I just want to be able to maybe save a little gas mileage w/o changing gears right now and hit some trails with my tent, camper shell, and gear.

According to Nitto, both tires can handle the same load. Am I missing anything on this?

 

Take a look at the tread depth.

Can't tell from that picture, but also what are the belts in the tire? Chances are the LT has more reinforcement.

 

Yeah, they both have a 116 load rating. What is the confusion?

Edit: I read as what not why, because dumb. The c load is far heavier, so probably more rubber and maybe another ply layer to add sidewall support.

 

I'm just confused on the need to go to a C rated tire if they are both rated the same for load. The rating just indicates that the tire is thicker right? C rated being 6ply and the other being 4ply?

Would that difference matter when considering the weight ill be carrying? I'm under the impression the thicker tires are good to prevent punctures but thats not really a concern

 

The tread depth is bigger on the c rated tire. I don't know about the belts

 

Higher load rated tires may offer more puncture protection but they don't necessarily or automatically have more puncture resistance just because of their load carrying ability. Usually, higher load tires are made to support higher air pressure, in turn, able to carry more weight. This doesn't mean they have more puncture resistance, though they may have more puncture resistance as a side effect. It's a misnomer that higher load rated tires have more puncture resistance and stronger sidewalls/tread because they are higher load rated. The load rating is a rating of how much air pressure they can hold along with their construction being able to support that air pressure and weight. There are off-road tires that are not high load rated, but built to resist punctures, and are more puncture resistant than high load rated tires. It's all about the construction, not about how much weight the tire can support, when considering puncture resistance

 

C rated tires typically are rated for LESS load capacity than standard load tires of the same size. But they are a LITTLE tougher constructed, especially in the sidewall. They aren't generally used on trucks meant to carry loads, but are a good choice for a tougher tire on a SUV like a Wrangler. On a truck I'd skip right over C's and go to E's if I didn't want to stay with standard load tires.

I've had them all on various trucks. The heavier LT tires don't have a significant impact on fuel mileage as long as everything else is the same. It is wider and taller tires with more aggressive tread that kills fuel mileage. If you compare same size tires with the same or similar tread there isn't any measurable difference between a SL tire and an E rated tire. But most people go to larger, more aggressive tires when using E rated tires. The heavier tires will hurt acceleration some and may ride a little harsher. My trucks have had noticeably more pep moving from a start or accelerating to change lanes with lighter tires on them. But once moving at highway speeds it doesn't take anymore fuel to keep them moving

 

I'm just second guessing my decision to order the 4ply tire because I wasn't sure if the thickness played a role in how much weight they could support. Puncture isn't really a concern. I just wanted to make sure they could handle the camper shell, gear, and rtt. I know that Nittos site clearly says they are identical in load ability but just wanted to make sure.

 

It's probably something that you will never be able to know for sure. Nitto may have only certified the heavier tire to the same load rating even if it could carry a greater load. I don't know why they would do that but, Nitto isn't exactly known for great tires, either.

Where did you see the number of plies?