At one time, you could gauge a tire’s construction and load-carrying capabilities by the number of plies or layers used to make the tire. The days of counting the number of plies may be gone, but the idea lives on in the Tire Ply Rating. Here’s what those ratings mean and how to get the right tires for your needs.
In the early and mid part of the 20th century, cotton fibers were used in tires to add strength. Those fibers ran at a specific angle to the tread to make bias-ply and radial tires. Steel wires would eventually replace the cotton. However, the number of plies (or layers) in a tire was still counted and used to determine its load-carrying capacity when fully inflated.
Fast forward to today, and tire plies are manufactured with rubberized textile cords wrapped under the beads of the tire. This design makes it possible to use fewer plies and layers to achieve equal or greater strength. That’s why we use the term Ply Rating. This information can also be indicated as Load Range.
You’ll find the information about a tire’s Ply Rating on the tire’s sidewall. You’re looking for the Construction Type or Load Range (D in the image below).
While Load Range and Ply are used interchangeably, you’ll need the chart in our article Using Load Index and Load Range to Pick the Right Tires to pinpoint the ply rating that corresponds to a Load Range of A – F.
| LOAD RANGE | PLY RATING |
|---|---|
| A | 2 |
| B | 4 |
| C | 6 |
| D | 8 |
| E | 10 |
| F | 12 |
When referring to the first chart in the article, you’ll notice the Load Index.
This number correlates to the maximum safe carrying capacity of the tire when it’s inflated to its maximum pressure. Higher load index ratings mean your tires may be able to handle a heavier load.
If you don’t see a Load Range or Ply Rating, you might find the letters P (passenger rated, which is 4-ply rated or lower), LT (light truck, which is 6-ply rated or higher), or XL (extra load is typically 4-ply rated with a higher-than-standard Load Index) stamped on the tires.
If you drive a cargo van (such as a Ford Transit), you may see the letter C, which on these particular tires stands for “cargo” at the end of your tire size. This is not to be confused with a 6-ply rated tire. Refer to the Load Index for your vehicle to ensure you get the proper tires. If you’re not sure, stop by Les Schwab.
You can always leave the Tire Ply Ratings, Load Indexes and Load Ranges to the pros at Les Schwab.
We’ll show you the best tires for your vehicle and needs. Schedule an appointment that works for you or stop by your local Les Schwab and we’ll help you out.
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A tire's load pressure durability and tire ply rating go hand in hand. When looking for new tires, often getting the higher load capacity tire might seem like a good idea. But, is that really the case?
Often purchasing the old reliable load range is better. This is where Load Range E tires come into play. They are popular, they offer good performance, and the load range E weight capacity is nothing to sneeze at.
E-rated tires are perfect for wheels handling heavy loads daily. They ensure the durability, controllability, and performance of the vehicle.
The load-carrying capacity of light trucks is categorized by their load range. The load range letter of each tire determines the maximum load pressure a single tire can handle.
Depending on this letter, the tires have more or less durable constructions.
Tires with higher load ranges are able to carry heavy loads, as the tire's plies maintain their ideal tire shape. As the tires do not deform, they are able to also offer better traction, even with LT flotation models. Furthermore, the load range letter will also determine the maximum allowable PSI levels of the specific tire.
Typically light truck, trailer, and commercial truck tires require the highest load ranges available on the tire market. But, what is the max load capacity of these tires? Let's take a look.
On this load range chart, you will see all the important information regarding load range ratings.
Now, the question arises: what is the difference between load range and load index capacity?
Simply speaking, the load index is used for P-metric sizes, while the load range is for trailer and LT tires.
The difference is simply their ply structure and load-carrying capacity.
However, when looking at things closely, their maximum load capacity makes a huge difference between the tire type categories. This is due to it affecting the tires' performance, traction, fuel efficiency, tread life, etc.
The max load durability of P-metric sizes is measured in with load index. The tire load index capacity is represented with numbers, which show the load capacity of passenger cars and SUV tires.
Check out the Tire Load Index Chart below:
Additionally, they can also be separated into Standard Load and Extra Load tires - which are more reminiscent of load ranges. This determines the maximum pressure (load and driving) that SUV and passenger tires can handle safely. Even extra load tires are weaker than LT-metric sizes.
You can find the load index on the tire's sidewall before the
speed rating. Together they form an alphanumeric code that represents the speed and load capacity of each tire.
They will differ from tire to tire, depending on the tire size and performance.
As the load range rating tells you the maximum load capacity of each tire, there will be certain tires that offer less or more plies in their construction. So, where do E-rated tires belong?
Load range E tires come with a 10-ply rating. This means that the construction of the tire offers equivalent strength to a 10-ply structure, but it does not necessarily feature 10 plies. As an example, the actual meaning of the E rating is that a single tire can handle 1,520 lbs at 80 PSI.
This means that all the tires with this rating will have the same maximum load carrying capacity thanks to the cord layers, plies, and internal structure. They are able to carry more load than a load range D or C tire, but less than a load range H size. This is the same for both radial and bias-ply tires.
Load range E is a 10-ply rated tire.
However, this does not mean that load E tires feature a 10-ply construction. Usually, the tires have 1 or 2 plies, which are equivalent in their strength to 10 plies. This construction offers the load range E weight capacity, which is 1,520 lbs/tire.
No, passenger tires cannot be load range E. Manufacturers build these tires with standard load or extra load ratings, but they are not equivalent to LT-metric load ratings.
In fact, most SUV and passenger tires all feature 4-ply ratings. Pay close attention to their sidewall, where you can see their load index and speed rating, as well as their standard load or extra load specifications. Still, keep in mind that the tire load index capacity is less than a load range E max load rating, as passenger tires with load index ratings are smaller.
Let's complicate things even more! Did you know that E1 and E2 load range ratings exist?
Generally speaking, both of these ratings offer the same maximum load and performance.
However, the difference is between their sizes.
E1-rated tires have lower than 305mm footprint widths. They require 80 PSI to perform at the desired level and load capacity. This type of tire is perfect for on-road use, as its footprint optimizes its road gripping ability. Whether they are trailer tires or are used for towing, they will offer excellent driving safety for the vehicle.
On the other hand, E2-rated tires are tire sizes that feature 305mm and wider footprints. They run at lower PSI levels than E1 tires, as they need only 65 PSI to perform. This improves their flotation, which is important for off-road use.
You might have heard of flotation tires regarding agricultural equipment. These tires use less air pressure levels to offer the same performance and traction, without ruining the soil and field quality. E2-rated tires are similar, as they use LT-flotation to grip the surface and optimize their off-road traction.
Yet, even at lower PSI levels, load range E2 tires offer the same max load-carrying capacity.
Depending on the tire ratings, specific tires offer various maximum pressure durability. For example, a tire load range E rating means that the specific model and size can handle 1,520 lbs at 80 PSI. In other words, when the trailer or light truck tires hold the correct air pressure levels of 80 PSI, they can carry 1,520 lbs/tire.
When it comes to light truck tires, and even some trailer tires, models with the tire load rating E are among the most popular ones. There are good reasons for this!
The E ply rating offers the necessary maximum load pressure durability for LT tires. This optimizes vehicle performance, the tire load-carrying capacity, and versatile surface grip, all without hindering the tire's durability.
Combine with their wider range of speed rating options and tire sizes, E-rated tires offer all desired characteristics light truck owners are looking for.
Just remember, it is important for all four tires to have the same load range for the vehicle to securely perform.
Yes, Load Range E tires are good, as they provide the necessary load durability. They are able to typically carry 1,520 lbs at 80 PSI without issues. This makes them perfect for most light trucks, which require higher tire load range capacity.
Load range D and E tires have different weight capacities. For example, a load range D tire can handle 1,220 lbs at 65 PSI, while an E tires carry loads at 80 PSI. If looking at their load durability, load range E tires are better, but that is the only difference between them.
Yes, all load range E tires are 10 ply. This is because load range is determined by the number of plies the tire's construction has. Therefore, load range E means that the tire sports a 10-ply structure, which corresponds with its load durability.
Do you want to choose a tire for your car, but do not understand tire markings well? It's not a problem! In this section, we will help you figure out what tire parameters are, what they mean, and which tire is right for your car.
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195/65 R15 91 TXL
195 is the tire width in mm.
65 - Proportionality, i.e. profile height to width ratio. In our case, it is equal to 65%. Simply put, with the same width, the larger this indicator, the higher the tire will be and vice versa. Usually this value is simply called “profile”.
Since the tire profile is a relative value, it is important to take into account when choosing rubber that if you want to put tires with a size of 205/65 R15 instead of the size 195/65 R15, then not only the width of the tire will increase, but also the height! Which in most cases is unacceptable! (except when both of these sizes are indicated in the car's operating book).
You can calculate the exact data on changing the outer dimensions of the wheel in a special tire calculator.
If this ratio is not specified (for example, 185/R14C), then it is equal to 80-82% and the tire is called full profile. Reinforced tires with this marking are usually used on minibuses and light trucks, where a large maximum wheel load is very important.
R - means a tire with a radial cord (in fact, almost all tires are made this way now).
Many mistakenly believe that R- means the radius of the tire, but this is precisely the radial design of the tire. There is also a diagonal design (indicated by the letter D), but recently it has practically not been produced, since its performance is noticeably worse.
15 - wheel (rim) diameter in inches. (It is the diameter, not the radius! This is also a common mistake). This is the “landing” diameter of the tire on the disk, i.e. is the inside size of the tire or the outside of the rim.
91 - load index. This is the level of maximum permissible load on one wheel. For passenger cars, it is usually done with a margin and is not a decisive factor when choosing tires (in our case, IN - 91 - 670 kg.). For minibuses and small trucks, this parameter is very important and must be observed.
T - tire speed index. The larger it is, the faster you can ride on this tire (in our case, IS - H - up to 210 km / h). Speaking about the tire speed index, I would like to note that with this parameter, the tire manufacturer guarantees the normal operation of the rubber when the car is constantly moving at the specified speed for several hours.
There are two different markings for American tires. The first one is very similar to the European one, only the letters “P” (Passanger - for a passenger car) or “LT” (Light Truck - light truck) are placed before the size.
For example: P 195/60 R 14 or LT 235/75 R15. And another tire marking, which is fundamentally different from the European one.
Example: 31x10.5 R15 (corresponding to European size 265/75 R15)
31 is the outside diameter of the tire in inches.
10.5 is tire width in inches.
R - a tire with a radial design (older tire models were with a diagonal design).
15 is the inner diameter of the tire in inches.
Generally speaking, except for inches that are unusual for us, the American tire marking is logical and more understandable, unlike the European one, where the height of the tire profile is not constant and depends on the width of the tire. And here everything is simple with decoding: the first digit of the standard size is the outer diameter, the second is the width, the third is the inner diameter.
XL or Extra Load is a reinforced tire, the load index of which is 3 units higher than that of conventional tires of the same size.
In other words, if a given tire has a load index of 91 marked XL or Extra Load, then this means that with this index, the tire is able to withstand a maximum load of 670 kg instead of 615 kg (see the table of tire load indices).
M+S or M&S tire marking (Mud + Snow) - mud plus snow and means that the tires are all-season or winter. Many summer tires for SUVs are labeled M&S. However, these tires must not be used in winter, as winter tires have a completely different rubber compound and tread pattern, and the M&S badge indicates good flotation performance.
All Season or AS all season tires. Aw (Any Weather) - Any weather.
Pictogram * (snowflake) — rubber is designed for use in harsh winter conditions. If this marking is not on the sidewall of the tire, then this tire is intended for use only in summer conditions.
Aquatred, Aquacontact, Rain, Water, Aqua or pictogram (umbrella) - special rain tires.
Outside and Inside ; asymmetric tires, i.e. It is important not to confuse which side is the outside and which is the inside. When installing, the Outside inscription must be on the outside of the car, and Inside on the inside.
RSC (RunFlat System Component) - RunFlat tires are tires on which you can continue to drive a car at a speed of no more than 80 km / h with a FULL drop in pressure in the tire (due to a puncture or cut). On these tires, depending on the manufacturer's recommendations, you can drive from 50 to 150 km. Different tire manufacturers use different designations for RSC technology. For example: Bridgestone RFT, Continental SSR, Goodyear RunOnFlat, Nokian Run Flat, Michelin ZP etc.
Rotation or arrow This marking on the tire sidewall indicates a directional tire. When installing the tire, you must strictly observe the direction of rotation of the wheel, indicated by the arrow.
Tubeless - tubeless tire. In the absence of this inscription, the tire can only be used with a camera. Tube Type - indicates that this tire must be used only with a tube.
Max Pressure ; maximum allowable tire pressure. Max Load - the maximum allowable load on each wheel of the car, in kg.
Reinforced or the letters RF in the size (for example 195/70 R15RF) means that this is a reinforced tire (6 layers). The letter C at the end of the size (for example 195/70 R15C) indicates a truck tire (8 layers).
Radial this marking on the rubber in the standard size means that this is a radial construction tire. Steel means that there is a metal cord in the tire structure.
Letter E (in a circle) - the tire meets the European requirements of ECE (Economic Commission for Europe). DOT (Department of Transportation - US Department of Transportation) is an American quality standard.
Temperature A, B, or C Temperature resistance of the tire at high speeds on the test bench (A is best).
Traction A, B, or C Tire wet braking capability.
Treadwear ; relative expected mileage compared to a specific US standard test.
TWI (Tread Wear Indiration) - tire tread wear indicators. The marking on the TWI wheel can also be with an arrow. Pointers are located evenly in eight or six places around the entire circumference of the tire and show the minimum allowable tread depth. The wear indicator is made in the form of a protrusion with a height of 1.6 mm (the minimum tread value for light vehicles) and is located in the tread recess (usually in the drainage grooves).
DOT - Manufacturer's coded address, tire size code, certificate, issue date (week/year).
Find tires / tire catalogSave article:
In this article:
Are you looking for a set of summer or winter tires for your car but don't understand all those numbers and letters? This problem is easily solved.
In this article, we will show you how to easily and quickly understand what the numbers on the tires mean, what parameters are hidden behind them, and which tires are suitable for your car.
Only then the car will confidently stay on the road when it is shod with rubber with optimal technical characteristics corresponding to the weather, type of coverage and season.
The marking of car tires consists of several meanings. For example, on any wheel, the manufacturer, brand of rubber, and tire size are indicated. The first three numbers on the wheel indicate the size of the rim (in inches, 1 inch equals 2.54 cm), how wide the tire is, and the height of the profile. This marking can be seen if you look at the wheel from the outside.
Photo: Shutterstock
Let's analyze what the numbers on the tires mean on a specific example of a wheel marked 195 60 R16. The first digit of 195 mm is the tread width.
What does the second number on a tire label mean? It shows the relationship between tread height and tire width. The wheel will cling to the coating perfectly if the value of this index is high. Most often, drivers call this parameter the height of the profile.
The last number is the inner diameter of the tire (in inches). Many car owners make the following mistake: they buy tires without taking into account the fact that external parameters change.
So, the height of two wheels marked 185 65 R15 and 210 65 R15 will be different, but the landing diameter is the same. Due to small differences in the profile height and tire width in this example, it will not be possible to mount tires on a car. This should not be forgotten when buying a set of wheels. You can use the tire calculator to find the right tire size for you.
In addition, one more parameter is applied to any wheel, this is the permissible speed. It is located after the numbers on the tires indicating the tire size. This index indicates what maximum speed the tire is designed for.
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What do the numbers on the tires after the speed index mean? Usually there is an indication of the permissible load on one tire. For example, it may look like this: "88T". This figure means that when driving at the maximum possible speed of 190 kilometers per hour, the load on one wheel should be no more than 560 kilograms.
Photo: Shutterstock
To make it clearer what the numbers on the tires mean, consider the European marking of the Cordiant Sport 3 225/65 R17 106H tire model.
On American tires, you can find two different types of markings that differ from each other.
Consider the first marking: P 195/60 R 14 or LT 235/75 R15. As you can see, it practically does not differ from the European one. However, the size is preceded by the letter P on passenger tires or LT on tires for light trucks.
There is also a second marking, it looks different: 31x10.5 R15. In this case, the usual European marking would look like this: 265/75 R15. What do the numbers on tires with this marking mean (in inches):
It is worth noting that if you do not pay attention to the units of measurement (inches, which are unusual for us), then the American marking will be clearer and more logical in comparison with the European one. Indeed, in the second case, the height of the rubber profile depends on the width of the wheel.
In the American labeling, everything is simpler. For clarity, consider what the first digit in tire size means. It shows the size, that is, the outer diameter. The second number indicates the width, the third - the inner diameter.
You can follow the current promotions on the Halva Installment Card, which will help you profitably purchase the goods you need, here.
How to find out the width of the tire in the usual units of measurement, that is, in mm? To do this, multiply the width in inches 10.5 by 25.4, because one inch equals 2.54 cm. The result is a value of 267 mm. Since there is no given size, we take into account the width of the tire 265, which is obtained after rounding.
The next step is to find out the height of the sidewall, which is measured as a percentage. To do this, perform the following steps: subtract the bore diameter from the outer diameter. Then we divide the resulting value by 2. The figure that we get, then needs to be divided by the width of the profile.
See also
"How to choose winter tires and not miscalculate"
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Thus, in our example, we have the following: ((31 - 15) : 2) : 10.5 = 0.76. The resulting value must be rounded up to 75. As a result, we will have the following markings on tires: 265/75 R15.
If the profile height is not indicated on the tire, do not forget that for passenger tires this figure is 80 - 82%, for trucks 88%.
To convert from metric to inch system, we need to perform calculations:
So, we figured out what the numbers on tires with the American marking mean 31 * 10.5 R15
Photo: Shutterstock
XL or Extra Load - this inscription on the wheels means that they are reinforced, that is, the load index is more than 3 units, compared to standard tires with the same size. Simply put, when you see a load index of 9 on rubber1, as well as the inscription XL, which means that this tire is designed for a load of not 615 kg, but 670. For clarity, it is recommended to study the load index plate.
M+S , M&S ("mud and snow") means that the tires are designed for winter (or all-weather). This marking can also be seen on summer wheels for SUVs. But in this case, rubber is not suitable for use in winter, since winter tires have a different composition, as well as a specific tread pattern. "M&S" means you have an off-road wheel in front of you.
All Season or AS, ("for all weather") - all-weather tires.
The snowflake badge indicates that the tires are designed for winter use. Don't see this marking on the side of the tire? So, you can ride on such tires only in the summer.
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Aquatred, Aquacontact, Rain, Water, Aqua or the symbol "umbrella" - means that you have rain tires in front of you.
Outside and Inside lettering indicates that these are asymmetrical tires. When installing them on the car, you should be extremely careful, because they have an outer and inner side. During installation, pay attention to the fact that the inscription "Outside" is located outside, "Inside" - from the inside.
RSC, RunFlat - on such rubber, even if a puncture occurs, you can continue driving at speeds up to 80 kilometers per hour. These tires allow you to drive a distance of 50 - 150 km after the pressure has completely dropped. Depending on the manufacturer, the marking may vary slightly, for example Bridgestone RFT, Continental SSR, Goodyear RunOnFlat, Nokian Run Flat, Michelin ZP.
Rotation or the arrow icon on the side of the tire means that you have a directional tire in front of you. When mounting it, you should take into account the direction of rotation of the wheel, which is indicated by the arrow.
Tubeless - tubeless wheel. If there is no such marking, the tire can only be used with a tube. The inscription Tube Type means that rubber can only be used with a camera.
Max Pressure is the highest allowable tire pressure, Max Load is the maximum load capacity (kg) that the tire is designed to carry.
Reinforced, RF (for example, 195/70 R15RF) means that the tire is reinforced, it has 6 layers. When the letter C is at the end of the marking (for example, 195/70 R15C), which means that this rubber is cargo and it has 8 layers.
Radial – The inscription indicates that the tire has a radial construction. If there is the word "Steel", then the tire is reinforced with a metal cord.
Letter E, circled - rubber meets European ECE standards. The inscription DOT means that the tire meets the American quality standard.
Temperature (A, B or C) - shows how rubber is resistant to high temperatures when driving at maximum speed. When the letter A is indicated, then the heat resistance is the best.
Traction (A, B, C) - indicates how well the tire will brake on wet roads.
Treadwear – The inscription indicates the relative mileage of the tire.
TWI (Tread Wear Indiration) - means tread wear indicator. Most often, next to this inscription is the sign "arrow". Characters distributed in 6 – 8 sections all over the wheel. They indicate the smallest tread depth at which the tire is allowed to operate. The wear indicator protrudes 1.6 mm. This is the minimum allowable tread height for passenger tires. The wear indicator is located in a recess in the tread, most often in the grooves to drain water.
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DOT - manufacturer's address code, coded tire size, certificate, and the week and year the tire was manufactured.
We have analyzed what the numbers mean on winter tires, as well as on summer and all-season tires. However, in addition to them, there is also a color marking, the meaning of which also needs to be known. Usually on tires you can see various symbols of four colors: red, yellow, white and blue.
Photo: Shutterstock
The most commonly used white label is . For example, you might see icons in a small circle. The white marking is applied by a specialist when checking the compliance of the tire with quality standards. If this symbol is present, it means that the product has been checked by the technical control department.
Red color marker can have two meanings. Usually rubber, which has such a marking, is installed at the factory. A small red circle indicates that the tire is the heaviest in this place.
The yellow marker indicates the lightest area of the tire. It is this part of the tire that should be located opposite the spool. This marking helps tire fitters to properly balance the wheel.
Typically, color markings carry useful information for auto mechanics who repair wheels. The car owner does not need to thoroughly understand what the colored markers mean.
