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Tire load rating and tire speed rating

What is a tire load rating and what is a tire speed rating? Do they have to be respected when replacing tires? Find the answers to your questions in this article.

What are tire ratings?

The sidewall of your tire has various alphanumeric markings that allow you to understand a number of things about it. (Learn how to read tire markings)

Part of this coding is the tire load rating and the tire speed rating, which are indicated by a number and a letter respectively.

There may be tire ratings written in your car owners manual or on the sticker in the driver's door.  This information describes the tires recommended by your vehicle manufacturer.

What do these tire ratings mean? Do you have to comply with them when you replace your tires? We will discuss this in this article.

Tire load rating

What is the tire load rating?

The tire load rating is a numerical code which corresponds to a maximum load (in kg) that can be carried by a single tire.  The load rating and corresponding maximum tire loads are listed in a standard table.

To identify the maximum load your tire can carry, or the load index recommended by your vehicle manufacturer, simply do the following:

1 - Find the tire load rating

On the sidewall of your tire, you will find a string of numbers and letters that look like this:

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You may also find them on the sticker on your driver's door or your vehicle owner’s  manual.

These numbers and letters vary between tires. They indicate the tire dimensions, load and speed ratings.

Let's see what this coding means:

Tire width

Tire height

Internal tire diameter

Tire load rating

Tire speed rating

205mm

55% of the height/section ratio

17”

91

V

Note that tires of the same dimension can have different tire load and speed ratings. This is why it is important to understand the dimension, tire speed and tire load rating before replacing tires.

In this example, the tire load rating is 91.

2 - Tire load rating chart

Once you have noted the tire load rating, you can find the maximum single tire load that it refers to by consulting this table:

Load Index

Maximum Load (kg)

Maximum Load (Lbs)

71

345 kg

761 lbs

72

355 kg

783 lbs

73

365 kg

805 lbs

74

375 kg

827 lbs

75

387 kg

853 lbs

76

400 kg

882 lbs

77

412 kg

908 lbs

78

425 kg

937 lbs

79

437 kg

963 lbs

80

450 kg

992 lbs

81

462 kg

1019 lbs

82

475 kg

1047 lbs

83

487 kg

1074 lbs

84

500 kg

1102 lbs

85

515 kg

1135 lbs

86

530 kg

1168 lbs

87

545 kg

1201 lbs

88

560 kg

1235 lbs

89

580 kg

1279 lbs

90

600 kg

1323 lbs

91

615 kg

1356 lbs

92

630 kg

1389 lbs

93

650 kg

1433 lbs

94

670 kg

1477 lbs

95

690 kg

1521 lbs

96

710 kg

1565 lbs

97

730 kg

1609 lbs

98

750 kg

1653 lbs

99

775 kg

1709 lbs

100

800 kg

1764 lbs

101

825 kg

1819 lbs

102

850 kg

1874 lbs

103

875 kg

1929 lbs

104

900 kg

1984 lbs

Load Index

Load per tire in kg

Load Index

Load per tire in kg

Load Index

Load per tire in kg

70

335

87

545

104

900

71

345

88

560

105

925

72

355

89

580

106

950

73

365

90

600

107

975

74

375

91

615

108

1000

75

387

92

630

109

1030

76

400

93

650

110

1060

77

412

94

670

111

1090

78

425

95

690

112

1120

79

437

96

710

113

1150

80

450

97

730

114

1180

81

462

98

750

115

1215

82

475

99

775

116

1250

83

487

100

800

117

1285

84

500

101

825

118

1320

85

515

102

850

119

1360

86

530

103

875

120

1400

In our example, we see that the tire load rating of 91 corresponds to a maximum tire load of 615 kg with the right pressure.

What does XL mean on tires?

Some tires are also marked XL. This stands for "Extra Load".

It simply means that the tire has been reinforced to be able to carry heavier loads than standard tires of the same dimension. Let’s use the same tire size : 205/55R16 94V XL. In this case the load capacity of this tire with the same dimension as in our previous example is now 650 kg instead of 615kg.

Can I switch to a tire with a higher load rating ?

As mentioned above, the tire load rating corresponds to a maximum load (in kg) that can be carried by a single tire.

However “who can do more can do less” and it is of course possible to fit your car with tires that have a higher load rating than the manufacturer’s specification. 

Tire speed rating

What is the tire speed rating?

The tire speed rating indicates the maximum speed at which a tire can carry its maximum load.

On the sidewall of your tire (or the sticker in the driver's door, or the owner’s manual), the speed rating is defined by a letter right next to the load rating

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Here, the tire speed rating is V.

Tire speed rating chart

To find out what speed this index corresponds to, simply refer to the tire speed rating chart below:

Speed Index

Maximum speed (km/h)

Maximum speed (mph)

Tire types / Vehicle type

L

120 km/h

75 mph

Off-Road & Light Truck tires

M

130 km/h

81 mph

Temporary spare tire

N

140 km/h

87 mph

Temporary spare tires

Q

160 km/h

99 mph

Winter 4x4

R

170 km/h

106 mph

Heavy Duty Light Truck

S

180 km/h

112 mph

Family Sedans & Vans

T

190 km/h

118 mph

Family Sedans & Vans

U

200 km/h

124 mph

Sedans & Coupes

H

210 km/h

130 mph

Sport Sedans & Coupes

V

240 km/h

149 mph

Sport Cars

W

270 km/h

168 mph

Exotic Sport Cars

Y

300 km/h

186 mph

Exotic Sport Cars

Speed Index

Maximum Speed (Km/h)

Maximum Speed (Mph)

L

120 km/h

75 mph

M

130 km/h

81 mph

N

140 km/h

87 mph

Q

160 km/h

99 mph

R

170 km/h

106 mph

S

180 km/h

112 mph

T

190 km/h

118 mph

U

200 km/h

124 mph

H

210 km/h

130 mph

V

240 km/h

149 mph

W

270 km/h

168 mph

Y

300 km/h

186 mph

ZR (Y)

> 300 km/h

> 186 mph

ZR

> 240 km/h

> 149 mph

For example, if the tire has a speed rating of V, then the maximum speed it can sustain is 149 mph (240 km/h).

Can I switch to a tire with a higher speed index?

When your tires are worn out, it is perfectly possible to replace them with tires with a higher speed index than the one indicated on the old ones. However, you should never mount tires with a lower speed index unless fitting tires with winter capacities such as winter tires or All Season Tires, as discussed below.

There are specific cases for W, Y and (Y) speed ratings, which are specific to high-speed vehicles (> 270km/h). If you are concerned, please ask your dealer for advice.

Simplified sport ranges

As we said earlier, "who can do more can do less". With this in mind, we've simplified our Sport ranges, such as the MICHELIN Pilot Sport4, MICHELIN Pilot Sport4S and MICHELIN Pilot Sport 5, to make it easier for consumers to find their way around. 

Most of the sizes in these ranges now have HIGHER possible load ratings than the original ones in order to meet all requirements.

Here's a concrete example: 

If your original tire size is 225/45 R17 91 V, you can opt for size 225/45 R17 94 Y. 

The 94 load index means that the tire is capable of carrying a higher load (up to 670 kg) than your original tire (up to 615 kg). A tire of the same size with a higher load index is therefore perfectly compatible.

The speed rating is also compatible if it is higher.

Choosing a lower speed index for winter tires

If you use tires with winter capacities (marked 3PMSF : either winter tires or All Season Tires), the speed rating may be lower than that of your summer tires or the original tire fitted to your vehicle.

Why is this possible? Tires with winter capacities are designed differently for driving in difficult climatic conditions (snowy, icy roads, etc.) and may not have the same speed rating. 

However, generally you drive at a lower speed in winter than you would on dry roads with summer tires. In the UK the speed rating of tires with winter capacities will still be in excess of the national speed limit. In any case, the driver must limit the speed of the car so not to exceed the maximum speed of the tire.

tyre load rating speed rating 1

Changing the tire size


What about the size? Is it possible to change it?
You can find the answer to this question in our article on changing the size of a tire.

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