Significance of tire load index rating?

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MDI - 11 Jun 2007 04:52 GMT

The original tires of my car are Michelin tires with a load index/speed
rating code of 88S. For reasons that I don't understand, I'm having a
hard time finding Michelin tires with the same or higher load/speed
ratings in the local area. A few local tire dealers don't seem to think
that matching the load rating is critical. They would offer to sell me
tires with a load index of 86 (and there are many brands and models
available, although I have a preference for Michelin). Only 1 technician
recommended against substituting tires of a lower load index for the
original ones.

My question is: In practice, how important is it to use tires with the
same or higher load index than specified by the car manufacturer? (I
checked placard on the car. A pair of 86-rated tires should be able to
bear the weight of the front axle (the heavier of the two) at GVWR, and
do so with some safety margin.)

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Proctologically Violated©® - 13 Jun 2007 02:09 GMT

Don't know the answer, but you can affect the load capacity w/ inflation
pressure, to some extent.
I don't pay much attention to that stuff anyway, esp. since I don't drive
very fast, or much.

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>
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> bear the weight of the front axle (the heavier of the two) at GVWR, and do
> so with some safety margin.)

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