Which Tire Load Rating Do I Need?

Your tires’ load rating matters a lot, especially when you need to haul a lot of gear. Knowing your tire load rating is important for when you’re shopping for new tires. We’ll show you how to find your tire load rating, how it impacts your drive, and clear up common misconceptions about your tire load rating so you can shop and drive with confidence.

Where Can I Find My Tire Load Rating?

Your tire load rating is on the sidewall of your tire. The tire load rating is before the speed rating at the end of the tire code. Your tire load rating can also be found in your vehicle’s driver side doorjamb. We recommend you buy tires that match this number and never go lower than the recommended rating. This can cause wear and tear on the tires, leading to a higher risk of tire failure.

Minimum Tire Load Rating for Sedans

The minimum tire load rating for smaller sedans is 80. Tires with an 80 tire load rating can carry 992 pounds per tire, nearly 4,000 pounds in total. But, you’re going to need some extra load power to carry passengers and the car’s frame, especially for wider sedans, coupes, and sports cars.

Sedan tire load ratings range from 80 to 95, the latter having a carrying capacity of 1,561 per tire, or 6,084 pounds. Typically, these cars are hybrids and EVs, because of their heavy batteries, but exotic sports cars like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Genesis G90, or Lexus LS have heavy-duty engines that need high load capacity tires to perform at their best.

What Tire Load Rating Do I Need for My Truck?

Smaller trucks will need at least a minimum tire load rating of 100, which gives each tire the strength to carry 1,764 pounds per tire. For heavy-duty trucks, your tires will need to be higher, 115 to 125+. Tires rated at 115 can carry 3,086 pounds each and tires rated at 125 can carry up to 4,188 pounds each. If you’re looking at hauling lots of gear in your heavy-duty truck, the bigger the better.

Will Using a Higher Load Rated Tire Change My Ride Quality?

Yes, installing a high-than-recommended load rated tire will impact your ride quality. Using higher load rated tires will make your ride stiffer because of higher rated tires’ stiff sidewalls. This makes the ride less comfortable, because the tire does not absorb road bumps as well, leading to more ride vibrations.

Higher load rated tires can also reduce fuel efficiency, cause more road noise, and cause complications with tire pressure. Drivers can reduce tire pressure in high load rated tires, but if the tire pressure gets too low, it can lead to more heat and stress, which heightens the risk for tire failure. We advise drivers to choose tires that fit their vehicle and fit their load recommendations.

Load Rating vs Load Range

Load rating and load range for tires are often confused. These two ratings overlap from time to time, but they denote different key factors in each tire. Your tire’s load rating determines what maximum weight each tire can carry. Load range, also known as ply rating, has to do with the tires’ strength. These tires are rated based on how strong they are and their maximum PSI.

The spectrum of load range runs from B to H. B range has a 4-ply rating and a max PSI of 35, which is standard for many sedans. H is for the beefiest, often commercial-grade, trucks for lifting, hauling, and towing heavy equipment, maxing their PSI at 120. Knowing this range can help drivers know what they need for their towing capacity and their off-road performance goals. You can shop for tires based on their tire load rating and load range on our website, down below.

Tire Shopping Made Easy at Only Tires

Tire load rating is one of the many important factors that tires have, and that tire shoppers should know about. Are you looking for a new set of tires? We have what you’re looking for. Search our inventory to find the right tires for your vehicle. Let us know what your vehicle is and we will find the exact tire sizes that fit your vehicle, so you don’t have to second guess. If you have questions about any of our tires, contact our service team to help you find what you need. Check out our blog for more tire news, FAQs, and recommendations so you can shop with confidence.