QuestionQUESTION: I need to replace a blown tire. The size and brand are the same, but I see different OWL numbers (104S OWL, 114S OWL) My current set has 109S OWL. What's the significance?
ANSWER: Rich,
There are parts of your question that do not make sense. If you would please tell me the tire sizes involved, then perhaps I can answer more accurately.
But fundamentally, the numbers are called the Load Index and they relate to the load carrying capacity. "OWL" means "Outline White Letters" and refer to the white sidewall lettering.
What doesn't make sense is that there are 3 different numbers - and I am expecting only 2 different numbers.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: OWL makes sense... The number on my current tires are 109S. There are 2 options listed for the same brand/model# tire (Michelin XC LT4 P255 70 R16). One tire has the number 104S and is slightly cheaper. The other one is 114S. I just don't know what the difference in those numbers mean. Thanks for your help!
AnswerRich,
For a P255/70R16, a 109S makes sense. But for the 2 Michelin tires, neither makes sense. The number should be close to 109.
The only way this makes sense is if the Load Index is 2 numbers - like this: 104/108S or 112/115S. Those would be for "LT" type tires and I do not recommend interchanging "P"'s and "LT"'s.
BTW, the letters are important. They tell you something about the way the tires were designed - and more importantly their inflation pressure vs load carrying capacity characteristics.
I went to look up the Michelin XC LT4's on Michelin's web site ..... well ...... they aren't there. I'm guessing these are tires only offered through a certain sales channel - like Costco, or WalMart.
A little more info is needed, because I am not able to connect the dots. I suspect that there is problem with tire sizing - that is, not all of the Michelin tires are the same size.
