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The load index on a tire indicates how much weight each tire can safely support. To determine what load rating your vehicle requires:

  • Check your owners manual, or
  • Take the total weight of the fully loaded vehicle (full tank of gas, luggage, all the kids, everything) and divide it by 4.

The chart below lists each Load Index value and load carrying capacity associated with it.

Load Index

Load Carrying Capacity (lbs. per tire)

Load Index

Load Carrying Capacity (lbs. per tire)

71

761

98

1,653

72

783

99

1,709

73

805

100

1,764

74

827

101

1,819

75

853

102

1,874

76

882

103

1,929

77

908

104

1,984

78

937

105

2,039

79

963

106

2,094

80

992

107

2,149

81

1,019

108

2,205

82

1,047

109

2,271

83

1,074

110

2,337

84

1,102

111

2,403

85

1,135

112

2,469

86

1,168

113

2,535

87

1,202

114

2,601

88

1,235

115

2,649

89

1,279

116

2,756

90

1,323

117

2,833

91

1,3561182,910

92

1,3891192,998

93

1,4331203,086

94

1,4771213,297

95

1,5211223,307

96

1,5651233,417

97

1,6091243,527

Notes

Light Truck (LT) and Special Trailer (ST) tires often have 2 Load Indexes on the sidewall, separated by a slash. For example:

LT235/75R15 104/101S

The first number is the load index when the tire is used on a single-wheel rear axle. The second number is the load index when used on a dual-wheel rear axle.

The dual-wheel rear axle load index is actually lower than the single-wheel application. This is done to add "reserve capacity".

In a "dually" application, if one tire should fail, the remaining tire must support the load previously shared by the two tires. If the load index were higher, the single remaining tire would fail. By lowering the load index, it is more likely that the remaining tire will support the weight of the vehicle until you can stop and repair the tire.

Related Products: Tires
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