Load Range vs. Load Index

When your OEM tire has reached its limit, you cannot just pick the first tire you encounter and mount it on your wheels. You have to consider different factors such as Load Range and Load Index. If you are not familiar with these two yet, let us help you to understand more about these tire load range and load index before you buy tires online.

LOAD RANGE AND PLY RATING

Load Range is the classification of tire’s maximum weight and air pressure capabilities. It allows you to know the sturdiness and capability of a tire. Load Ranges is identified by a letter indicated on the tire sidewall and located at the end part of tire size.

P235/75R-15 XL

In the given example above, the load range is XL which stands for Extra Load. The range may differ based on the ply rating of the tire. Ply Rating is an old way to measure the load carrying capacity. The thicker the layer is, the higher the ply rating. It is the same with the load range – the higher load range, the heavier load capacity. Nowadays, manufacturers use few but sturdier plies so the load range is being used to know the toughness and maximum air pressure of the tire. Here are the Load Range and Ply Rating which you can use as a reference to know the load capacity of the tire.

If you are a passenger vehicle owner, you can see the reference below to see the appropriate range for your vehicle. There are three passenger tire load ranges: Light Road, Standard Load, and Extra Load that are commonly 2 to 4-ply tires.

P-Metric Passenger Vehicle Tires

LOAD RANGE	ABBREVIATED	MAX. LOAD PRESSURE
Light Load	LL	35 psi
Standard Load	SL	35 psi
Extra Load	XL	41 psi

While if you are a light truck vehicle owner, you can probably notice wider tire ranges: B, C, D, E, and F.

LT- Metric Light Truck Tires

LOAD RANGE	PLY RATING	ABBREVIATED	MAX. LOAD PRESSURE
B	4	B	35 psi
C	6	C	50 psi
D	8	D	65 psi
E	10	E	80 psi
F	12	F	95 psi

LOAD INDEX AND LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY

Load Index is the indication of the carrying capacity of an inflated tire while Load Carrying Capacity is the indication how much weight a tire can carry. These are both located on the tire sidewall

You can use the provided table below to know the load capacity of your tires.

Load Index & Carrying Capacity

LOAD INDEX	CARRYING CAPACITY (lbs)	LOAD INDEX	CARRYING CAPACITY (lbs)	LOAD INDEX	CARRYING CAPACITY (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

Suggested Keyword/s

Products

Parts

Load Range vs. Load Index

LOAD RANGE AND PLY RATING

P235/75R-15 XL

P-Metric Passenger Vehicle Tires

LT- Metric Light Truck Tires

LOAD INDEX AND LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY

Load Index & Carrying Capacity

Looking for Tires?

Shop for Tires

Looking for Wheels?

Shop for Wheels

CUSTOMER SERVICE