I was wrong....10 ply vs 6ply. The whole truth...but the plot thickens on page 5....

One of the best analogies I've heard.

 

Why are you mad that your c-load duratracs gave up after 40,000 miles that you admit included a lot of off-roading? Seems they served you well and ride comfort plus mpg is a big factor which is why you probably got them in the first place

 

235s?? Damn that's a skinny tire.

 

I've packed a mountain bike in the back a few times when I knew I was going to be a LONG way from people by myself.

 

I think it was the 6 flats...

 

So funny, I'm getting ready to move from duratracs to ST Maxx as well. My only hesitation is packed snow and ice traction, as the coopers have MUCH less siping and the duratracs are just fantastic in those conditions.

 

Correct. Plus the last two flats were on tires with only 20k on them as they replaced the two blown sidewall tires. So truly I had 6 tires over that 40k period.

Don't get me wrong, the Duratracs are the best snow tire I have had and they grip well in the desert also. I just got tired of the flats.

 

My only fear as well.

 

Except in tires, the sidewalls are stiffer so less jiggle as you go bigger.

However, is there any truth that higher load rating tires actually are more puncture resistant than lower rating tires? There are no more plys in E than there are a C rated tire if I recall correctly. Plus they are worse for airing down than the C rated tires. It seems that it's only anecdotal why its' better to go up to E rated tires since no manufacture says that they're more puncture resistant.

 

Pizza Cutter? You bet. I always liked the looks of tall skinny tires on Toyota trucks. I used to run 33x9.50 on my 1986 toyota. Loved that size.

Plus the skinny tire will do better in the deep snow. Hoping that offsets the slightly less than ideal snow tread on the ST max.

 

And I thought I was a pizza cutter on 255s!

 

235s FTW Much better for the kind of exploring I do. Haven't looked back since I went narrow and I run them on my 1st and 2nd gen. Wider does look better though.

 

You just can't get that tall on a 235, which is why I like my 255. It's a good middle ground

 

They definitely have more plys...

 

32" is as tall as you go. Same height as a 265/75 which is what I took off.

 

E rated tires have stronger side walls and while there is likely no difference between load E and C from a nails perspective there is when it comes to rock punctures and rock cuts. The rating is for load only, stronger tire has stronger sidewalls and thus harder to tear up.

As far as airing down, it doesnt really matter, almost every legit offroad tire will be an LT load E. In fact I would rather air down an E tire than a C because of the extra sidewall strength.

 

I was in a similar dilemma, didn't want E because of the added stiffness, ride quality and such.

Now that I finally went to an E, I'm very happy and much more confident in my tires.

 

Cooper had a vid:

 

This video gives me warm fuzzy feelings about my tire choice.