4 ply is for load carrying thats why the same size tire as my downtown 150/70 13 , for the 650 bergman is twice the price it is 4 ply, tread is almost the same thickness and it looks the same, probably gets the same milage out of it, with the bergman so on my scooter it would probably last longer, but I am not going to spend twice as much for a tire to get 4 ply, for a few extra miles,