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How to find tire load index


Tire Load Index Chart | Tire Buying Guide

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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

Load- Carrying Capacity Index Ratings
Load Index Load (lbs) Load Index Load (lbs) Load Index Load (lbs)
0 99 50 419 100 1764
1 102 51 430 101 1819
2 105 52 441 102 1874
3 107 53 454 103 1929
4 110 54 467 104 1984
5 114 55 481 105 2039
6 117 56 494 106 2094
7 120 57 507 107 2149
8 123 58 520 108 2205
9 128 59 536 109 2271
10 132 60 551 110 2337
11 136 61 567 111 2403
12 139 62 584 112 2469
13 143 63 600 113 2535
14 148 64 617 114 2601
15 152 65 639 115 2679
16 157 66 639 116 2756
17 161 67 677 117 2833
18 165 68 694 118 2910
19 171 69 716 119 2998
20 176 70 739 120 3086
21 182 71 761 121 3197
22 187 72 783 122 3307
23 193 73 805 123 3417
24 198 74 827 124 3527
25 204 75 852 125 3638
26 209 76 882 126 3748
27 215 77 908 127 3858
28 220 78 937 128 3968
29 227 79 963 129 4079
30 234 80 992 130 4189
31 240 81 1019 131 4289
32 247 82 1047 132 4409
33 254 83 1074 133 4541
34 260 84 1102 134 4674
35 267 85 1135 135 4806
36 276 86 1168 136 4938
37 282 87 1201 137 5071
38 291 88 1235 138 5203
39 300 89 1279 139 5357
40 309 90 1323 140 5512
41 320 91 1356 141 5677
42 331 92 1389 142 5842
43 342 93 1433 143 6008
44 353 94 1477 144 6173
45 364 95 1521 145 6393
46 375 96 1565 146 6614
47 386 97 1609 147 6779
48 397 98 1653 148 6844
49 408 99 1709 149 7165
        150 7385

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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How to Determine Truck Tire Load Ratings - Maintenance

Never exceed a tire’s maximum load rating (the limit that is molded into the tire sidewall) or the maximum vehicle load limit shown on the vehicle tire placard, whichever is less. 

Photo: Work Truck

Editor's Note: Check out the updated version of this article, including Q&A from readers, here.

Paying attention to a replacement truck tire’s load rating is critical. The tire must be able to safely support a given amount of vehicle weight. If the tire’s load rating is insufficient, the tire may become overheated and can self-destruct. 

For example, if a passenger car performance tire is selected to replace an original equipment light work truck tire on an SUV, the new tire must meet or exceed the requirement for the specific vehicle weight.

But, what is a tire load rating? What tire load rating do you need? And how do you determine tire load capacity? Check out these tips! 

How to Determine Tire Load Capacity

Do you know how to determine a truck tire's load capacity? To roughly determine the tire load range capacity for each individual truck tire, take the vehicle’s gross vehicle weight (or GVW) and divide by four. If the vehicle gross weight is 4,500 pounds, each tire should be able to safely support at least 1,125 pounds.

However, the gross vehicle weight does not take the additional load, such as the weight of the driver, into account. So, you should never select a truck tire that only meets this minimum weight capability.

Always select a truck tire that offers a greater, or “reserve,” tire load capacity, which will help the vehicle handle and respond to higher-stress emergency situations when loaded.

Understand a Truck Tire's Max Tire Load Range

How are truck tires rated? The tire’s load rating, or “max load,” indicates the individual tire’s safe maximum load-carrying capacity when inflated to its recommended pressure.

Never exceed a truck tire’s maximum load rating (the limit that is molded into the tire sidewall) or the maximum vehicle load limit shown on the vehicle tire placard, whichever is less. The tire is designed and constructed to handle a specific maximum load, and overloading will result in a buildup of excessive heat in the tire, which could lead to tire failure.

The tire load index rating number, which appears on the tire sidewall, is an assigned number that corresponds to the tire’s load-carrying capacity. Alphanumeric tires will display an alpha code that indicates maximum load. The letter can range from “A” to “N” (the higher the letter, the greater the load-carrying capacity at a given inflation tire pressure).

The max load and maximum inflation numbers found on the tire sidewall indicate the maximum load that can safely be carried and the maximum allowable tire pressure. The construction of the truck tire (belts, bead, carcass, liner) dictates the tire’s ability to withstand pressure. The stronger the reinforcements, the greater pressure the tire can hold.

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

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 load index Explanation of designations, calculation and selection

Tire load index is an important parameter that you need to pay attention to when choosing car tires. The tire load index marking is located on the sidewall of the profile and is indicated as a numerical value. What does the tire load index mean? For example, 215/65 R16 98T, numbered "98" indicates that the load capacity or load index of the tire is 750 kg.

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Tire load index table

The designation of the tire load index is indicated in the marking with a combination of numbers. The tire load table below shows all load index values ​​according to their symbol.

Tire load index Explanation table

For passenger cars, a tire load index from 60 to 125 or, in other words, from 250 kg to 1650 kg is used. This range includes both small cars and large SUVs.

What does the maximum tire load index mean

The maximum tire load index (maximum tire load in kg) means that the tire can withstand a certain load at the maximum allowable speed, which is marked as the maximum tire speed index.

How to calculate the tire load index for a car?

For a correct calculation, the index load indicated on the tire must be multiplied by the number of vehicle tires (usually 4), subtracting the curb weight of the vehicle and the weight of the driver with passengers from the resulting value. As a result, the resulting difference will be the value of the free load capacity of the car. In other words, you will get the value of the weight that can be placed in a car without compromising safety when driving at a speed determined by the speed index of the tires used. Let's look at a specific example of how to calculate the tire load index for a car.

For example, tires 215/65 R16 98T, where 98T is the load and speed index marking. Load index "98" corresponds to a load capacity of 750 kg per wheel. We multiply 750 kg by the number of wheels (for example, 4), we get 3000 kg of total load capacity. Now, from 3000 kg we subtract the weight of the car (for example, 1500 kg), the weight of the driver (say, 90 kg) and, for example, 3 passengers with a total weight of 200 kg, we get a difference of 1210 kg, the potential weight of the load that can be evenly placed in the car without reducing the level of safety when maximum speed "T" index in 190 km/h

The load index is the maximum allowable value that it is better not to approach when operating the vehicle. It is necessary to take into account the fact how exactly and where the cargo will be placed in the car. As a rule, the most popular place to place cargo is in the trunk, with the main load on the rear axle, or in other words, on 2 wheels. Based on this, you need to calculate the maximum weight of the cargo in the trunk. How to calculate the bus load in this case? In the example above, the maximum weight of the cargo for the car turned out to be 1210 kg, but if you load the trunk, then the maximum possible weight of the cargo will be at the level of 600 kg, and for safe movement - no more than 450 kg. If the load index is as close as possible to or exceeded, tires can wear out faster and deform under shock loads on rough roads. Using the maximum possible load, relative to the load index, at the maximum possible speeds, relative to the tire speed index - NOT SAFE!

Tire load index decoding

Tire load index decoding is possible only thanks to special tables, such as “Tire load index decoding” (presented on this page above) or with the help of consultants from car tire stores, who should provide any information of interest on the proposed product. When choosing suitable tires, it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that the higher the load index of the tire from the manufacturer's recommended one, the less ride comfort remains, due to the increase in rigidity and the strengthening of the sidewall of the tires to withstand the weight determined by the load index.

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