GEN 1 Toyo MT and ply rating

[bigrig]

I have been very impressed with the 10 ply 35x12.5r17 Toyo MT while offroading. I can say without exaggeration that they held up after taking a boulder hit at 40mph which wrecked my passengers side frontend and ground a deep grove into the side wall due to the UCA rubbing against it. After finding that no uhaul trailer in the vicinity was big enough to tow my truck anywhere, I limped 250 miles home on that tire. (Toyo fan for life).

I have since upsized to a set of 37x12.5r17 Goodyear MT/R Kevlar for daily driving but want a set of 37" Toyos for offroad only use. When looking at the Toyo offerings for 37x12.5r17 tires, they only offer an 8ply version. I am wondering if I will get much less sidewall durability with the two less plys. I realize this is a very specific niche question but would welcome anybody who has experience running these tires. I am hesitant running the 13.5" width Toyos (which offers the 10ply option) as I am guessing they would end up rubbing my fenders off.

For added information regarding fitment... I am running Fox 3.0 coilovers in the front with Rogue UCAs at slightly higher than mid perch and RPG HD rear springs with Fox 3.0 shocks in the rear. I am also running Advanced Fiberglass Concepts fenders (2" rise 2" flare) in the front.

To boil it all down, my questions are:

1. Will I notice a difference between 8ply and 10ply tire when offroading with regards to durability?
2. If I go the 13.5" width how much can I expect to rub and will I blow my fenders off when I jump the truck?

If you have reached this sentence, thank you for reading this far

 

[GCATX]

I don't think ply rating necessarily equals thickness or off road durability. "Ply rating" equals load carrying capacity of the tire at specified psi, not the actual ply number or sidewall thickness.

I once slid off a rock and slashed open a 10 ply rated tire on a new dodge dually, the sidewall was no thicker than a couple stacked quarters.

 

[GCATX]

Oh, and just to add, I also once slashed a 37/17" Toyo MT on a rock crawler, the sidewall was much thicker, seemed like about 3/8", heavy ass tire.

 

[bigrig]

That is very interesting. My assumption about how many "ply" relates to sidewall thickness sounds incorrect based on your experience. Thanks for the information!

 

[bigrig]

I tested my assumptions against the Internet. Thanks again @GCATX for pointing me in the right direction. This article explained it the best for me.

"These days, tire ply rating is more commonly expressed as 'load range.' The days of cotton layers or plies forming the internal construction of tires are long gone, so the ply rating no longer has a direct connection to a tire’s construction and number of layers."

"The ply rating translates in a very direct way to tire capabilities and limitations, especially when it comes to inflation and load capacity. If you plan to haul, tow, or carry heavy loads with your vehicle, then understanding the ply rating of your tires is a must."​

Hope this helps anyone out there who approached ply ratings in the same dumb way I did.

 

[Canuck714]

Just learnded sumtin...