I think.. and I may be completly wrong, that the key is "8-ply rated" Meaning
that you could have a 6-ply tire that is just strong enough to meet the 8-ply
strength rating.

If I remember this is what I was told at the neighborhood tire store.

Todd
'88 Westy

BILL wrote:

> I have a question that my local tire shops can't seem to give me an answer
> on.
>
> Yokohama Y370B M&S load range D tires have an 8 ply rating. OK. So why does
> the sidewall state sidewall 2ply poly, tread 2ply steel + 2ply poly?
>
> A local tire shop says you add up the belts. If this were true then these
> tires would be 6 ply rated and not 8 ply rated. Yet Yokohama sticker, etc
> state that they are 8ply rated (1710lbs@65psi) Most LT "C" rated tires
> (6-ply) are 1435lbs? Keeping the tire size the same (195/75R-14).........
>
> Any ideas?
>
> BTW Sears got them all mounted for me on my Westy with a final price of
> $59.40/ea + Balance + I added high pressure stems rated at 80psi. They are
> great tires for my Westy with an M&S rating!. As a matter of fact, they grip
> the road better than the Michelins on my GL. This also means with a softer
> rubber compound, they won't last as long.
>
> Bill                              And the eagles fly, and the rivers run
> '85 GL [*Magic*Bus*]     I look through the night
> '82 Westy [FreeBird]       And I can see the rising sun
> Big Sky Country              And everywhere I go I see You
> <><                                                          ----- Mullins