Choosing replacement car tires is not only about width, profile, and rim size. The load index matters just as much, because it tells you how much weight each tyre is rated to carry when inflated correctly and used within its speed rating. This guide explains car tyre load index in plain terms, includes an easy tyre load index chart, and shows how to match the right load rating for tyres to your vehicle without guesswork. It is designed as a practical reference you can revisit whenever you replace tyres, change wheel sizes, add regular cargo, or prepare for a longer trip.
Overview
If you have ever asked, “what load index tyre do I need?”, the short answer is simple: your replacement tyre should meet or exceed the load index specified for your vehicle and fitment. It should never be lower than the requirement for that axle or approved tyre size.
The load index is a number found on the tyre sidewall near the end of the size code. In a marking such as 205/55 R16 91V, the 91 is the load index and the V is the speed rating. According to standardised tyre load charts, a load index of 91 corresponds to a maximum load of 615 kg per tyre when the tyre is inflated to the correct pressure and used up to its rated speed.
That last part matters. The figure is not a casual estimate. It is tied to a standard chart and depends on the tyre being used correctly. A tyre with too little load capacity can overheat, wear badly, or be overstressed when the vehicle is fully loaded with passengers and luggage.
For most passenger cars, the load index commonly falls in the 75 to 100 range, though larger SUVs, vans, and heavier vehicles can be higher. The safest buying rule for everyday drivers is this:
- Match the tyre size recommended for your vehicle.
- Match or exceed the original load index.
- Do not downgrade to a lower load rating simply because the tyre is cheaper or more available.
Quick tyre load index chart
| Load Index | Load (kg) | Load Index | Load (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 75 | 387 | 88 | 560 |
| 76 | 400 | 89 | 580 |
| 77 | 412 | 90 | 600 |
| 78 | 425 | 91 | 615 |
| 79 | 437 | 92 | 630 |
| 80 | 450 | 93 | 650 |
| 81 | 462 | 94 | 670 |
| 82 | 475 | 95 | 690 |
| 83 | 487 | 96 | 710 |
| 84 | 500 | 97 | 730 |
| 85 | 515 | 98 | 750 |
| 86 | 530 | 99 | 775 |
| 87 | 545 | 100 | 800 |
Extended chart for heavier vehicles and special fitments
| Load Index | Load (kg) | Load Index | Load (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | 825 | 113 | 1150 |
| 102 | 850 | 114 | 1180 |
| 103 | 875 | 115 | 1215 |
| 104 | 900 | 116 | 1250 |
| 105 | 925 | 117 | 1285 |
| 106 | 950 | 118 | 1320 |
| 107 | 975 | 119 | 1360 |
| 108 | 1000 | 120 | 1400 |
| 109 | 1030 | 121 | 1450 |
| 110 | 1060 | 122 | 1500 |
| 111 | 1090 | 123 | 1550 |
| 112 | 1120 | 124 | 1600 |
| 125 | 1650 | 138 | 2360 |
| 126 | 1700 | 139 | 2430 |
| 127 | 1750 | 140 | 2500 |
| 128 | 1800 | 141 | 2575 |
| 129 | 1850 | 142 | 2650 |
| 130 | 1900 | 143 | 2725 |
| 131 | 1950 | 144 | 2800 |
| 132 | 2000 | 145 | 2900 |
| 133 | 2060 | 146 | 3000 |
| 134 | 2120 | 147 | 3075 |
| 135 | 2190 | 148 | 3150 |
| 136 | 2240 | 149 | 3250 |
| 137 | 2300 | 150 | 3350 |
How do you apply the chart in the real world? Start with the placard on the driver’s door jamb, fuel flap, owner’s manual, or original-equipment tyre specification. If your car was supplied with 91V tyres, a 91 load index is the baseline. You may move to a higher load index if the tyre is approved for the vehicle and all other fitment details remain correct, but moving lower is the mistake to avoid.
This is one part of tyre size explained that buyers often miss. Width, aspect ratio, and diameter tell you whether the tyre physically fits the wheel. Load index tells you whether it fits the vehicle’s weight and duty.
Maintenance cycle
The easiest way to stay current is to treat load rating checks as part of your normal tyre maintenance cycle, not as a one-time purchase detail. That means reviewing the load index at several predictable moments rather than waiting until you are standing at a tyre counter comparing whatever is in stock.
1. Check at every tyre replacement
Any time you replace one tyre, a pair, or a full set, confirm the sidewall marking against your vehicle recommendation. This matters even if the size looks familiar. Two tyres can share the same basic size and still have different load indexes.
2. Recheck when changing seasonal tyres
If you swap between summer, winter, or all-season car tires, compare the load index on both sets. Drivers often focus on tread pattern and temperature performance but overlook whether the seasonal replacement matches the required load rating for tyres.
3. Review before long holiday travel
A vehicle that feels lightly used in daily commuting can become heavily loaded during family trips. Extra passengers, luggage, roof cargo, or towing accessories can all change how close you are to the tyre’s rated capacity. This is a good time to check tyre pressures as well, since the published load capacity depends on correct inflation.
4. Revisit after any wheel or tyre fitment change
If you are moving to a different rim diameter, a plus-size setup, or a different sidewall profile, load index must be checked again. A wheel fitment guide helps with physical compatibility, but it does not replace checking the tyre’s load number.
5. Include it in annual tyre inspections
Even if you are not buying new tires online or through a local fitter this season, a once-a-year review keeps the information fresh. Read the current sidewall, confirm the inflation label in the car, and make a note of the minimum acceptable load index for your next purchase.
A practical routine is to save a photo of the current tyre sidewall and the vehicle placard on your phone. That gives you an instant reference when shopping for car tires or comparing aftermarket car parts and fitment options online.
Signals that require updates
This subject is worth revisiting because the right answer can change when your vehicle use changes. The load index itself is standardised, but your tyre choice may need to be updated when your habits, fitment, or vehicle configuration shift.
Your driving load has increased
If you now carry tools, sports gear, work equipment, mobility aids, or a full family more often than before, the original tyre choice may still be correct, but it deserves a fresh look. This is especially true for estates, crossovers, SUVs, and vehicles used for mixed personal and business driving.
You upgraded wheels or changed tyre size
Many buyers assume a plus-size setup automatically means better performance. Sometimes it does, but only when the complete package is correct. When shopping performance auto parts or wheel-and-tyre packages, confirm that the replacement tyre preserves enough load capacity.
You changed from OEM to aftermarket tyres
The broader OEM vs aftermarket parts discussion applies here too. An aftermarket tyre can be an excellent choice, but it still needs the right fitment numbers. Brand reputation alone is not enough. Sidewall markings decide the suitability.
Your car now tows or carries accessories
Bike racks, roof boxes, and towing gear can change how you use the vehicle. The tyre may still meet spec, but this is a clear signal to check the load index, tyre pressure recommendations, and any vehicle-specific loading guidance.
You are seeing search results that blur load index with load range
Search intent shifts over time, and buyers are often shown mixed advice aimed at passenger cars, vans, or light trucks. Load index is the numerical capacity code on the tyre. Load range is a different classification more often discussed with commercial or light-truck applications. If product listings start mixing those terms, slow down and verify exactly what the tyre is rated for.
Your current tyres have an unfamiliar marking
Extra load, reinforced construction, or other sidewall markings can appear on some fitments. These may be appropriate for certain vehicles, but the safest evergreen approach is still to start with the vehicle manufacturer’s approved tyre specification and not infer compatibility from one marking alone.
Common issues
Most load index mistakes are not dramatic technical failures. They are ordinary shopping errors made in a hurry. Here are the ones buyers make most often.
Choosing by size alone
A tyre can be the correct diameter and still be the wrong load rating. This is probably the most common issue in online buying. Shoppers type in the size, see several matching products, and assume all are interchangeable. They are not.
Downgrading load index to save money
When comparing cheap car parts online or clearance tyre listings, lower-rated tyres can appear attractive. But if the load index drops below what the vehicle requires, the bargain is false economy.
Ignoring pressure requirements
The load capacity shown in a tyre load index chart assumes correct inflation. Underinflation reduces the tyre’s ability to carry load safely and often leads to heat build-up and shoulder wear. A correctly rated tyre with poor pressure maintenance is still a problem.
Confusing axle load with total vehicle weight
The load index is per tyre, not for the whole car. A four-tyre total may look comfortably above the vehicle weight on paper, but real vehicles do not distribute weight perfectly equally all the time. Front and rear axle loads differ, and loading shifts with passengers, luggage, braking, and cornering.
Assuming SUVs always need a very high number
Some buyers overcorrect and think every SUV requires the highest index available. In reality, the correct load index depends on the specific make, model, year, tyre size, and approved fitment. The best tires for SUV use are not defined by a single high number alone.
Mixing unmatched tyres on the same axle
If you must replace fewer than four tyres, keep the fitment details consistent on each axle. Differences in construction, wear, and rating can complicate handling and load behaviour. Follow the vehicle maker’s guidance and your fitter’s advice.
Using outdated notes after changing vehicle trim or usage
Drivers often keep an old tyre size in a phone note and reorder from it years later. That works until the vehicle changes wheels, the owner adds regular cargo, or a previous replacement had a nonstandard fitment. Recheck the placard and current sidewall before ordering.
For owners of newer vehicles with connected systems, software updates can also change how the vehicle reports tyre-related information or driver alerts. Our guide to over-the-air fixes and modern car safety updates is useful background if your vehicle relies heavily on electronic monitoring.
When to revisit
Use this section as a simple action plan. If none of the situations below apply, a yearly check is usually enough. If one or more do apply, revisit the load index before you buy.
- At your next tyre purchase: Confirm the exact size, load index, and speed rating on the vehicle placard or owner’s manual.
- Before seasonal swaps: Make sure winter or all-season replacements match the approved rating, not just the diameter.
- Before a loaded road trip: Check pressures cold, review luggage weight, and avoid assumptions based on day-to-day commuting.
- After changing wheels: Treat any fitment change as a full specification check, not only a style upgrade.
- After a vehicle-use change: New work gear, family travel, towing, or roof storage should trigger a fresh review.
- On a scheduled review cycle: Save this guide and recheck once a year, even if your current tyres still have tread left.
A quick five-step checklist
- Read the recommended tyre spec from the car, not from memory.
- Find the load index on your current tyre sidewall.
- Use the chart to translate the number into kilograms per tyre.
- Buy replacement tyres that meet or exceed the required load index.
- Inflate them to the correct vehicle pressure and recheck regularly.
If you are comparing car tires, tires online, or full wheel-and-tyre packages, keep this rule in mind: fitment is a set of numbers, not a rough match. The right load rating for tyres is part of that fitment. Get it right, and you protect safety, handling, and tyre life in one decision.
Because stock changes, model updates, and search results can all shift over time, this is a topic worth returning to on a regular schedule. Save the chart, keep a photo of your placard, and verify the load index every time you replace tyres. It is one of the simplest ways to buy more confidently and avoid a very common fitment mistake.
