How to find the load range of a tire

Most alphanumeric tires feature a load range of B, which indicates that they are restricted to the load that can be carried at a maximum inflation pressure of 32 psi.

Photo courtesy of Flanker, Own Work, CC By 3.0.

How to Read a Truck Tire's Load Rating Info

Most alphanumeric tires feature a load range of B, which indicates that they are restricted to the load that can be carried at a maximum inflation pressure of 32 psi.

Note: 

• Tire load range C, load range D, or load range E tires are capable of greater loads.
• Most load range C, D, and E tires are intended for light-truck applications.

The tire load-carrying capacity of P-metric tires is rated as either Standard or Extra Load. Standard Load tires are limited by the load that can be supported with a maximum inflation pressure of 35 psi. Extra Load-rated tires are limited to the load that can be carried at a maximum inflation pressure of 41 psi.

Generally, a Standard Load tire will not feature a special designation mark, while Extra Load truck tires will feature an “Extra Load” marking.

Extra Load tires will be branded as “Extra Load” and may be identified by an “XL” (for example LT245/75R15 XL).

It’s important to note that a Standard Load tire (with a normal inflation pressure recommendation of 35 psi) may be marked with a maximum inflation pressure of 44 psi. This does not indicate an increase in the truck tire’s load-carrying capacity, but indicates the tire’s ability to handle higher inflation pressure to accommodate special performance requirements.

Typically, the tire load rating index of a passenger car tire and light work truck tire ranges from 70 to 110. A speed-rated tire’s sidewall markings will indicate size, followed by the tire load rating index and the speed rating. 

Last updated: October 5, 2022

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A Tire’s Load Index

What Exactly Is Tire Load Index?

When the super smart engineers designed and built your car, they crunched some numbers and determined exactly how much weight it could carry safely based on the right tire size and pressure. This is what we call the “tire load index.” The tires that come on your vehicle will have the proper load index, so stick to that number or higher when you purchase new tires. You can also check the vehicle’s manual to find the recommended tire size and load rating.

Why Is Tire Load Index Important?

The tire load index tells you how much weight your tire can carry, and overloading your tires is never a good idea! When you put too much weight on your tires, you can cause damage and wear them down prematurely. Even worse, you run the risk of experiencing a tire blowout. Imagine trying to carry a box full of cement blocks. Just like your legs would buckle under the weight, your tires can completely give out if they’re overloaded.

Using the Tire Load Index Chart

The tire load index lets you know the load carrying capacity of a tire. In other words, it’s the amount of weight your tire can support safely.

For example, if a tire has a load index of 92, it can support 1,389 pounds at maximum air pressure. Multiply that by four tires (4 x 1,389 = 5,556 pounds) to get your car’s maximum load carrying capacity. Never install tires with a lower load carrying capacity than the original tires that were factory installed on your vehicle.

Tire Load Index Chart

Considering Load Index When Tire Shopping

As you can tell, the tire load index is massively important when you’re shopping for new tires. When it’s time to select new tires for your vehicle, you must select tires that can support your car’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). This number can be found in the owner’s manual. To determine if a set of tires will work on your particular car, use the tire load index chart to see how many pounds each tire can support. Multiply that by four (since your vehicle will use four tires). As long as that number is greater than the GVWR of your vehicle, those tires should work. If you think that sounds like a lot of math, don’t worry. Sit back, relax, and let the expert of Tires Plus do the hard work for you. Schedule your appointment for brand new tires today!

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Tire load indexes

Every car enthusiast wants new tires to last at least a couple of seasons - this is both convenient and profitable. But one desire is not enough. For example, increased tire loads have a direct impact on the mileage and endurance of the wheels. So when choosing new tires, pay attention to the load index and take into account your operating rates.

What is the load index and why is it needed

The load index can be conditionally called the load carrying capacity of a tire - in other words, it is the load limit of a car equipped with specific tires at the maximum specified speed. The load indexes of passenger car tires range from 60 to 125 units (or from 250 to 1650 kg). On the tire, it is applied next to the speed index and is indicated by numbers - for example, 98T (where 98 is the load index, T is the speed index).

It is worth noting that a variety of indicators influence this parameter: the degree of tread wear, the tire temperature, and much more. To slightly smooth out the influence of these factors, the manufacturer always leaves a margin of safety of at least 20%. It is especially important to take into account the load index when moving on domestic roads: after all, we have the maximum number of bumps, pits and other bumps on the road.

Of course, such coefficients are always calculated with a margin, but it is better to save tire resources for some unforeseen event, and in normal operation it is better to save rubber. After all, tires whose load index is within the acceptable level last longer.

How to calculate the maximum load capacity of a vehicle?

Consider a specific example - your tire is marked 98 T: a coefficient of 98 shows that the load on one tire in this case should not exceed 750 kg. Accordingly, the load on all four wheels reaches 3000 kg - this is the total load capacity of the tires. Subtract from this number the weight of the car itself (for example, 1600 kg), the driver (90 kg) and passengers (85 + 75 kg) and get the potential weight of the cargo that you can load into your car - in this case, 1150 kg. This is the load that your car will withstand at a speed of 190 km / h.

However, the load index is the maximum allowable value, a peak that should not be climbed. The weight of the car and load is not always evenly distributed between the front and rear axles, and passengers often sit in the wrong place for balance, and therefore there should always be a small margin. The most optimal and safe is the load in the amount of not more than 35% of the total mass of the car . After all, for transporting particularly heavy loads, you can always buy tires that have a higher tire load index. But keep in mind that in this case, the load on the suspension will also increase, and this can lead to its premature wear.

Full table of indexes (coefficients) of carrying capacity

LI	kg	LI	kg	LI	kg	LI	kg	LI	kg	LI	kg	LI	kg
0	45	40	140	80	450	120	1400	160	4500	200	14000	240	45000
1	46.2	41	145	81	462	121	1450	161	4625	201	14500	241	46250
2	47. 5	42	150	82	475	122	1500	162	4750	202	15000	242	47500
3	48.7	43	155	83	487	123	1550	163	4875	203	15500	243	48750
4	50	44	160	84	500	124	1600	164	5000	204	16000	244	50000
5	51.5	45	165	85	515	125	1650	165	5150	205	16500	245	51500
6	53	46	170	86	530	126	1700	166	5300	206	17000	246	53000
7	54. 5	47	175	87	545	127	1750	167	5450	207	17500	247	54500
8	56	48	180	88	560	128	1800	168	5600	208	18000	248	56000
9	58	49	185	89	580	129	1850	169	5800	209	18500	249	58000
10	60	50	190	90	600	130	1900	170	6000	210	19000	250	60000
eleven	61. 5	51	195	91	615	131	1950	171	6150	211	19500	251	61500
12	63	52	200	92	630	132	2000	172	6300	212	20000	252	63000
13	65	53	206	93	650	133	2060	173	6500	213	20600	253	65000
14	67	54	212	94	670	134	2120	174	6700	214	21200	254	67000
15	69	55	218	95	690	135	2180	175	6900	215	21800	255	69000
16	71	56	224	96	710	136	2240	176	7100	216	22400	256	71000
17	73	57	230	97	730	137	2300	177	7300	217	23000	257	73000
18	75	58	236	98	750	138	2360	178	7500	218	23600	258	75000
19	77. 5	59	243	99	775	139	2430	179	7750	219	24300	259	77500
20	80	60	250	100	800	140	2500	180	8000	220	25000	260	80000
21	82.5	61	257	101	825	141	2575	181	8250	221	25750	261	82500
22	86	62	265	102	850	142	2650	182	8500	222	26500	262	85000
23	87. 5	63	272	103	875	143	2725	183	8750	223	27250	263	87500
24	90	64	280	104	900	144	2800	184	9000	224	28000	264
25	92.5	65	290	105	925	145	2900	185	9250	225	29000	265	92500
26	95	66	300	106	950	146	3000	186	9500	226	30000	266	97500
27	97. 5	67	307	107	975	147	3075	187	9750	227	30750	267	97500
28	100	68	315	108	1000	148	3150	188	10000	228	31500	268	100000
29	103	69	325	109	1030	149	3250	189	10300	229	32500	269	103000
thirty	106	70	335	110	1060	150	3350	190	10600	230	33500	270	106000
31	109	71	345	111	1090	151	3450	191	10900	231	34500	271	109000
32	112	72	355	112	1120	152	3550	192	11200	232	35500	272	112000
33	115	73	365	113	1150	153	3650	193	11500	233	36500	273	115000
34	118	74	375	114	1180	154	3750	194	11800	234	37500	274	118000
35	121	75	387	115	1215	155	3875	195	12150	235	38750	275	121000
36	125	76	400	116	1250	156	4000	196	12500	236	40000	276	125000
37	128	77	412	117	1285	157	4125	197	12850	237	41250	277	128500
38	132	78	426	118	1320	158	4250	198	13200	238	42500	278	132000
39	136	79	437	119	1360	159	4375	199	13600	239	43750	279	136000

In conclusion, we note one more important nuance - the tire load index should not be less than that indicated on the tires in the basic configuration of the car. Failure to follow this rule may result in an accident. The best solution for calculating the load index is the recommendations of the car manufacturer from the technical documentation.

View tire catalog

Tire marking: tire speed and load index

Contents:

• Introduction
• Speed ​​index
• Load index
• Tire marking example
• Tire marking with colored labels

The selection of tires is carried out taking into account a number of parameters - their diameter, width, and profile height must be taken into account; in addition, the speed index and the load index are of no small importance. The manufacturer always indicates these indicators on the sidewall. What they mean will be discussed below.

The value corresponds to the maximum permissible speed at which tires of this type can be operated. Accordingly, if a motorist plans to drive at a higher speed, it makes sense to think about buying tires with a higher index value.

Speed ​​index table

For example, if the tire has a mark that the speed index corresponds to the letter V, then this indicates that it is strongly not recommended to drive on these tires at a speed of more than 240 km / h.

This is a no less significant parameter, which, in contrast to the value discussed above, is indicated by a number. In the tire label, the load index factor follows the tire diameter.
For example, a value of 91 indicates that the maximum allowable load per tire cannot exceed 615 kg. Accordingly, the total load calculated on 4 wheels should not exceed 2460 kg. The full load index table contains coefficient values ​​from 1 to 279. For 13-inch passenger tires, the load index can be, for example, 75. And for R20 wheels, this coefficient will reach 120.

Load index table

Of course, the given load value does not mean that if it is exceeded, the tire will immediately be torn to pieces. A short-term excess of 20-30% is acceptable, but this should not become a habit.

According to EU regulations (ECE-R54), all tires that are planned to be used for commercial vehicles must be marked with a "Service Description" (translated as "Operating Conditions"). It is a special code next to the tire size, which carries information about the load index calculated for single and dual wheels (as an option - 102/100R).

The information must be recorded on both sidewalls of the tire. The 1st digit indicates the load capacity of the tire in the case of a single installation - the 2nd corresponds to the level of the maximum load on one tire with twin wheels. Additional markings are used to indicate the corresponding tire loads at higher speeds. Additional markings are always circled.

205/55 R16 94H XL

205 - the width of the tire profile, indicated in mm. In this case - 205 mm .
55 - the value of the height of the tire profile in%, determined from its width. In the situation under consideration - 55% of 205 mm will be equal to = 112.75 mm.

Given that the tire profile is a relative value, the following point must be taken into account when selecting rubber: if instead of size 205/55 R16 want to install tires with size 215/55 R16 , then not only the width of the tire will increase, but also its height! Such a situation is in most cases unacceptable (the only exception is the situation in which both sizes are given in the car's operating book). If this ratio is not given (as an option - 185 / R14С ), then this means that its value is 80-82%, and the tire is considered full profile. Reinforced tires with this marking are most often used on minibuses and light trucks - in these vehicles, the maximum allowable wheel load is of great importance.

R - characterizes the design of the tire. In the situation under consideration, the tire is radial - the design determines the location of the carcass cord threads.
To assume that the designation R indicates the radius of the tire is completely wrong. The symbol refers solely to its radial design. There is also a diagonal design (it corresponds to the letter D ), but today almost no one produces it. Reason: poor performance.

16 - the value of the diameter of the wheel (disk), indicated in inches. This diameter for the tire is internal, for the disk it is external. That is why it is called "landing".

94 - load index (it was already mentioned above). The interpretation of the most commonly used coefficients is given in the table of load indices. Often, the load is decoded on the tire itself: two numbers follow the Max Load inscription - the first in kg, the second in pounds.

H - tire speed index. Please note that with this parameter, the tire manufacturer guarantees the normal operation of the rubber when the vehicle is driven non-stop at the specified speed for several hours. The decoding is given in the speed index table.

XL - this characteristic indicates that the tire is reinforced. Its load index is 3 units higher than conventional tires of the same size.

Separately, it is necessary to mention the RunFlat technology, which provides for the strengthening of the sides of the tire. As a result of damage, such a tire does not deflate and sag under the weight of the car, but allows you to drive a certain distance at a certain speed even after a complete loss of pressure. Those. The wheels are provided with additional protection. This quality is marked on tires in different ways - RSC, MOE, AOE - depending on the brand of car.

In addition to the above symbols in the form of letters and numbers, important information is indicated on the tires through colored labels. Below is an interpretation of each of them.

The marking is yellow (may be in the form of a circle or a triangle).

Apply in the lightest part of the tire. When installing a new tire on a rim, the yellow mark should be aligned with the heaviest part of the rim (easy to identify - it always corresponds to the nipple attachment point).

The label makes it possible to optimize the wheel balance and use lighter weights. On used tires, the yellow marking is no longer relevant - tire wear leads to a shift in its balance.

Red marking

It has the appearance of a red dot on the tire and indicates the location of the maximum deviation of the radial force. At this point, the tire has the largest radius due to the greater number of layers and it is the most rigid. Inhomogeneity of tire plies is normal during tire manufacture.

The red dot on the tires during installation must match the white dot on the rims (note that both marks are placed on the original car tires). The white dots on the rims indicate the location closest to the center of the wheel. Alignment of the red dot on the tires and the white dot on the rims is recommended to reduce the effect of maximum heterogeneity in the tire. So it is possible to provide a better balance of the power characteristics of the wheel. In conventional tire fitting, one should not attach great importance to the red mark - it is better to focus on the yellow mark, combining it with the nipple.

Number in white stamp

Corresponds to the individual number of the inspector conducting the final inspection of the tire at the manufacturing plant. The stamp can also be of other colors, this does not change the meaning of the label.

Colored stripes

These designations are applied to the tire tread for easy identification of the tire in stock. For tires of all models and different sizes, this marking is different. There is no single unification of the application of colored stripes. Details on the marking of certain colors on tires are prescribed in the manufacturer's specifications, and can also be indicated on its official website.

Colored stripes make it easy to identify the size and model of a single stack of tires stacked in a warehouse. The semantic load of color bars on the bus is unambiguous.

Additional data that can be identified from the marking on the side of the tire

• The letter C in the tire marking means that the tires are “reinforced” (added up to 8 reinforcing layers), with a large load factor.

• The letter E, circled - compliance with European standards.

• DA (stamped) - Minor manufacturing defects, which do not interfere with normal operation.

• DOT - compliance with US quality standards.

• M + S (mud and snow) - the designation indicates that the tires are all-weather. The designation AS and All seasons are interpreted in the same way.
  The snowflake design indicates that the rubber can be used in the most severe winter conditions. In its absence, the tire can only be used in the warm season and in the absence of a large amount of precipitation.

• Made in Finland - country of origin.

• MaxLoad - the maximum permissible load based on each wheel of the machine, in kg.

• Max Pressure - the maximum allowable pressure level in the tire, in kPa.

• Outside or Side Facing Out and Inside or Side Facing Inwards - indicates tire asymmetry. It is necessary to install with the Outside inscription outward, and the Inside inscription - inward.

• PLIES: TREAD - tread compound.
• RF (Reinforced) - designates a reinforced structure (up to 6 reinforcing layers.
• RSC tires are tires that allow you to continue driving a car at a speed not exceeding 70 km / h with an absolute decrease in pressure in the tire that occurs due to a puncture or cut). The distance that can be driven is determined by the manufacturer - the value varies from 50 to 150 km.
• Rotation - indicates that the tire is directional. When installing a tire, it is necessary to strictly observe (along the arrow) the direction of rotational movements created by the wheel. With asymmetric tires: LEFT - the tire is installed on the left side of the car. RIGHT - the tire is installed on the right side of the car.

• 
  Sidewall - composition of the sidewall layer

• Tubeless - tubeless tire. If this inscription is not present, then it is possible to use a tire only with a camera.

• TubeType - indicates the possibility of operation with a camera only.

• Steel - indicates the presence of a metal cord in the tire.

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