P225/65R17 vs. 225/65R17

[Hokiefyd]

This is on my CR-V. The car technically takes a 225/65R17 (without the P), but there are some nice tires (and a set in particular that I'm looking at) that come in a P225/65R17.

The load index of the P-metric size is 100, and the load index of the E-metric size is 102. Technically, the P225/65R17 doesn't provide the OE load index, but is that really just a matter of symmantics? The size is the same, and I'm not sure that there's truly a difference in physical construction between a P-metric and an E-metric tire here. I think it's just the way the two different systems' load tables are.

Should I be okay installing P225/65R17 100T tires where 225/65R17 102T tires were originally?

(As an aside, this CR-V already has P225/65R17 100T tires on it, but I'm considering replacement sets, and am stuck on this seemingly small but potentially big difference.)

 

[adamjeeps]

Unless you routinely are carrying heavy loads, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Hokiefyd]

I stopped back in to post a link to a Tire Rack article that seems to answer my question. They agree: as long as the tire size is correct, the difference in load index is irrelevant.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=24

 

[sciphi]

Just don't have Wal-Mart install them when the wheels are on the vehicle, as they'll likely refuse based on that load index being different from OEM. Never mind that they're interchangeable for passenger vehicles as long as the tire size is correct.