Where to Find the Load Index on a Tire
Drivers looking for “where to find the load index on a tire” are usually reading a sidewall full of codes for the first time. The answer is simpler than it looks once you know how tire sizing information is arranged. The load index is part of the standard service description stamped on nearly every passenger and light truck tire sold in the US. Understanding its placement helps you connect that number to carrying capacity, inflation pressure, speed rating, and safe replacement choices without guessing.
Essential answer
The load index appears on the tire sidewall as the two- or three-digit number immediately before the speed rating letter in the service description. On a typical passenger tire, you will see a sequence such as 225/55R17 97H. The 97 is the load index and the H is the speed rating. This service description follows the tire size and construction information that begins with section width, aspect ratio, and wheel diameter.
The number is not a direct weight in pounds or kilograms. It corresponds to a standardized carrying capacity chart used by tire manufacturers. A higher load index means the tire is approved for a higher maximum load when inflated to its specified pressure. Replacing a tire with one having the same load index, or a higher index when appropriate, helps preserve the load-carrying ability originally chosen for the vehicle.
Identification and location
To find the marking, look at the tire sidewall near the wheel rim rather than the outer shoulder or tread area. The relevant code is usually printed in raised letters with the tire size. On many tires, the sequence appears after a gap following the rim diameter and construction abbreviation, so the service description can be identified as the cluster containing the load index and speed rating together.
Do not confuse the load index with the maximum load value sometimes printed separately, often in pounds and kilograms. The maximum load is a specific statement for that tire, while the load index is a chart reference. The vehicle placard, usually located on the driver’s door jamb or inside the fuel filler flap, lists the manufacturer’s recommended tire size, load index, speed rating, and cold inflation pressure. Checking the placard prevents using a sidewall number that belongs to a different optional tire package or drivetrain configuration.
