14/16 ply tires are the "exact same tire"?

Just got off the phone with Goodyear Commercial. The sales rep wanted to know what pressure I ran, and I told him around 90 to 100 psi depending on how much air the tire felt like holding that day. He told me you only need 85psi to haul 80k. I mean okay, but I don't really care. Do you have 16-ply or not? He said I don't need 16-ply to run 85psi, and that "ply rating" was a hold out from the cotton plies of the old days.

I asked him: "Are you saying 14 and 16 ply are the exact same tire?"

He said: "Yes, they are exactly the same tire. Only difference is you get charged more for FET on a 16-ply."

So I'm thinking this guy is clearly full of ####, but is he correct, and everyone knows this but me?

 

EXACTLY! I said I wanted a tire that wasn't going to put me on the shoulder waiting for roadside just from hitting a pothole. He said it didn't matter.

That's what I figured, but before we even got into the discussion of me wanting 16-ply, he asked what pressures I ran. Which is weird, because nobody has ever asked me that before. So either he was setting up the discussion to push towards his stock, or he's on some kind of crusade.

But I'm not kidding about what he said. I quote: "They're the exact same tire, except they charge more FET on the 16-ply."

 

Anyways, I found some 16-ply Kelly Armorsteel at another outfit. I don't mind paying extra FET for the "exact same tire". I'm generous like that. Turns out it's not the extra strength that keeps the tire running longer - is the karma you get for being so selfless with your money.

 

Yes, I wasn't going to argue the 85psi, because I didn't have a load chart in front of me. He could very well be correct on that one, or at least close enough.