Tire Load Index Chart: Load Capacity by Number (lbs/kg)

What the load index number means

The load index is a standardized code, not a weight in itself. Each number corresponds to a fixed maximum load per tire, and the same table is used across tire makers. For example, an index of 91 equals 615 kg (1,356 lb), 100 equals 800 kg (1,764 lb), 110 equals 1,060 kg (2,337 lb), 115 equals 1,215 kg (2,679 lb), 121 equals 1,450 kg (3,197 lb) and 126 equals 1,700 kg (3,748 lb). Each one-step increase adds a few percent of capacity rather than a fixed number of pounds, so the gap between 113 and 116 is larger than the gap between 94 and 97.

The figure applies to one tire at the inflation pressure defined for its load type. It is a ceiling, not an operating target. The load it describes includes everything the tire supports: the vehicle's own weight, passengers, cargo and any trailer tongue weight transferred to that axle. The load index is also separate from the speed rating, the letter that follows it in the service description. In 94V, 94 is the load index (670 kg or 1,477 lb) and V is the speed symbol (149 mph). Letters such as Q, T, H, V or W are always speed ratings; the load index is always the number.

Identify the version that applies to your vehicle

Load requirements are set for a specific vehicle configuration, not for a model name. Two trucks sold under the same badge can need very different tires depending on model year, cab and bed length, drivetrain, engine, payload package and whether the vehicle is a half-ton or heavy-duty version. A crossover with a towing package may also differ from the base trim. Before comparing numbers, confirm the model year, trim and configuration from the vehicle's documents. Also note the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) and gross axle weight ratings (GAWR) printed on the certification label on the driver's door jamb.

Then identify the tire itself. The full size marking tells you the tire type: P-metric passenger (for example P265/70R17 113T), Euro-metric without a prefix, or LT light truck (for example LT275/65R18 123/120S). The prefix, load index, speed symbol and any SL, XL or load range letter together form the version you need to match.

Read the correct specification

Start with the Tire and Loading Information placard, usually on the driver's door jamb. It lists the original equipment tire size, the recommended cold inflation pressures front and rear, and the maximum combined weight of occupants and cargo. Some placards and many owner's manuals also show the full service description with load index and speed rating. The owner's manual may list several approved sizes for different trims, which is why the configuration check matters.

The tire sidewall supplies the other half of the picture: the load index in the service description, plus a separately printed maximum load and maximum pressure, stated in pounds and kilograms. To convert an index to weight, use the load index table published by the tire manufacturer or a tire industry standards body rather than an unverified chart. The sidewall maximum pressure is a limit for the tire, not the pressure to run day to day; the placard pressure is the operating value for the original fitment.

Load index versus load range and ply rating

Light truck tires often carry a load range letter as well as a load index. Load ranges C, D and E correspond to the older 6-, 8- and 10-ply rating equivalents and indicate the maximum inflation pressure the tire is built for: 50 psi for C, 65 psi for D and 80 psi for E. The ply rating is a strength equivalent, not a count of the actual layers in a modern radial tire.

Load range and load index are not interchangeable. A 10-ply, load range E tire may carry a 115, 121 or 123 index depending on its size, so there is no single conversion from ply rating to load index. Compare the load index and the maximum load in pounds for the exact size you are considering. On LT tires with a dual marking such as 121/118, the first number is the capacity when the tire runs singly, and the second, lower number applies when it is mounted in pairs on a dual rear axle. Here 121 equals 1,450 kg (3,197 lb) and 118 equals 1,320 kg (2,910 lb).

Apply the limits correctly

There is no universally good load index; the right one is the vehicle's specified value or higher. The replacement tire's per-tire capacity must also cover the axle load. As a quick calculation, divide each axle's GAWR by two and compare the result with the tire's maximum load. If a rear GAWR were 4,000 lb, for example, each rear tire would need to support at least 2,000 lb at the pressure you actually run. A higher load index does not raise the vehicle's own ratings; GVWR, GAWR and towing limits stay where the vehicle manufacturer set them.

Inflation pressure changes the usable value. A tire reaches its indexed load only at the pressure specified for its type, and capacity falls as pressure drops. Extra Load (XL) or Reinforced passenger tires carry a higher index than Standard Load (SL) tires of the same size but need more air to deliver it, so an XL tire run at an SL pressure carries no more than the SL version. When a P-metric tire is fitted to a light truck, SUV or van, industry practice divides its rated load by 1.1, so a P-metric replacement for an LT tire usually needs a noticeably higher index. Switching between P-metric, Euro-metric and LT types requires the tire maker's load and inflation tables to set the correct pressure, because the placard value may no longer apply.

Keep the setup consistent. Fit tires of the same size, load index and type on each axle. On all-wheel and four-wheel drive vehicles, keep all four tires matched in size, construction and tread depth as the vehicle maker specifies, because unequal rolling diameters can strain the drivetrain. The speed rating should also equal or exceed the original fitment unless the vehicle or tire maker permits a lower rating for a specific use, such as winter tires. Remember that loads shift: towing, roof loads and a full bed put most of the extra weight on the rear axle.

A short verification checklist

Before buying tires, servicing a vehicle or loading it heavily, confirm the following: the exact model year, trim and configuration; the GVWR and front and rear GAWR from the door jamb label; the original tire size and service description from the placard or owner's manual; the tire type (P-metric, Euro-metric or LT) and any SL, XL or load range marking; the load index and printed maximum load for the replacement size in pounds or kilograms; the cold inflation pressure needed to carry the planned load; and the speed rating.

Finally, inspect the tires you will rely on. Check tread depth across the full width, look for sidewall cuts, bulges or cracking, and read the age code, because a correct load index does not compensate for a damaged or worn tire. If any figure is missing or two sources disagree, have a tire professional check the tire maker's load tables for your exact size before you load the vehicle.