Your understanding of Chinese ground weaponry is so fundamentally wrong. It’s like asking “what’s the differences between T-72, T-64, T-80 and T-90? They all looks the same.” It’s a dumb question on so many levels that I don’t even know where to start with.
As others have pointed out many times on this forum, the type + year (of completing state commission qualification) designation has been replaced ages ago. Officially the new designation system follows GJB4528-2002.
Non-professional publications and netizens keep using Type-XX because either 1. They don’t understand the new naming code, or 2. They couldn’t bother recalling the very clumsy new designation, or 3. Sometimes you cannot unveil the official designation before it’s unclassified, or 4. old workhorses like Type-59 are so well know that no one bothers call them the other way.
That being said, one shall at least be aware of the correct designation, of what is actually what.
As to the original post, there is no such things as “Type-85” tank, because these are export-only versions that never passed state acceptance trial and were never included in the official PLA inventory. “Type-85” is a name (as oppose to a designation) invented by its manufacturer to help export marketing efforts. A similar examples is Type-90.
Type-98 or ZTZ-98 was also invented and non-existent, albeit for a different reason. When the Object 9910 parade prototype was unveiled, the real tank (ZTZ-99) was still classified, so people have to invent a name for the 9910. They chose the year it was first witnessed (1998).
Here comes the beast,biggest difference is implementation of new turret equipped with a millimeter-wave radar protection system,maybe stronger engine around 1800hp and new type of explosive reactive armor..In combat, navigation, night observation systems, has been well strengthened. Not only to maintain the original "active / passive" process defense system. It also adds some new system developed by the PLA.View attachment 10228
