search has not resulted in the answers I was looking for.

I understand what the load rating means in technical terms..but I'm looking for a little more specific type..yet more "laymans terms" analysis.

I currently have worn down some E load rated MTR's. I'm not as concerned about on-road life and ride as I am about the likely hood of a bead breaking, and strength of sidewall while I'm scrubbing.

Is it safe to assume that a C rated tire would be "more likely" to fail by breaking a bead than a E rated in identical situations???

From what I have read so far it would also "seem" that a C rated tire would bend/flex more than a E rated tire along it's sidewall in identical situations. Is this correct???

Thanks.

you are correct. e load tires have more plys in sidewall than c load tires. their ability to carry more load is based solely on sidewall strength.

Tire "ply ratings" or "load ratings" no longer actually identify a specific amount of plys the tire has but rather the equivalent strength compared to when it did correspond to the amount of plys. A load range E or "10 ply" tire does not neccesarily have more carcass plys than a load range C or "6 ply" but is stronger and can hold more air pressure and weight.

To answer your question, yes the higher load rating a tire has the stiffer it will be....but in instances of tire scrub and bead breaking the difference will is usually negligible in larger tires.