DVexile
Adventurer
P tires are typically significantly weaker as far as puncture resistance, both tread and side wall, compared to a LT tire. Honestly, if you plan on going off road get an LT tire of some kind.
Once in LT land the load range (C, D or E) is actually a little bit confusing as it does not directly related to load carrying. Rather it relates to the maximum tire pressure allowed. Notionally one would expect a tire that can handle a higher pressure to also have better puncture resistance but I don't know of any proof of that. You'll see those load ranges also as "ply ratings" such as 6, 8 or 10 ply. That is just a legacy hold over from ancient cotton bias ply tires and how much pressure they could hold. The numbers have no meaning as to the number of plies actually used on a radial tire (usually 3 for an off road LT tire). In general one also expects that a higher load range tire (meaning maximum pressure) would also carry a larger load but that is not a given and in fact no usual for at equal pressures (not maximum, but equal) that the lower load range tire might have slightly more load capacity. Load is specified by the "load index".
You can read more here:
http://forums.off-road.com/tire-tips-what-works-best/267645-lt-tires-how-they-work.html
In short, LT tires are going to be heavier than P tires and they will be far more durable off road as well. Once beyond that distinction of P vs LT all the differences in load range and what not are not at all straight forward.
Once in LT land the load range (C, D or E) is actually a little bit confusing as it does not directly related to load carrying. Rather it relates to the maximum tire pressure allowed. Notionally one would expect a tire that can handle a higher pressure to also have better puncture resistance but I don't know of any proof of that. You'll see those load ranges also as "ply ratings" such as 6, 8 or 10 ply. That is just a legacy hold over from ancient cotton bias ply tires and how much pressure they could hold. The numbers have no meaning as to the number of plies actually used on a radial tire (usually 3 for an off road LT tire). In general one also expects that a higher load range tire (meaning maximum pressure) would also carry a larger load but that is not a given and in fact no usual for at equal pressures (not maximum, but equal) that the lower load range tire might have slightly more load capacity. Load is specified by the "load index".
You can read more here:
http://forums.off-road.com/tire-tips-what-works-best/267645-lt-tires-how-they-work.html
In short, LT tires are going to be heavier than P tires and they will be far more durable off road as well. Once beyond that distinction of P vs LT all the differences in load range and what not are not at all straight forward.