Tires-Load Index & Speed Rating
Posted On12.05.2020Tire Specs
The Science Behind Your Drive
Learn more about important specifications like speed rating and load index.
Speed Rating
Tire speed rating tells you the maximum service speed for a tire. A speed rating isn’t, however, a recommendation to exceed speed limits, and doesn’t indicate how well a tire handles or corners.
Generally, it is recommended that a speed-rated tire be replaced with a tire having an equivalent or greater speed rating. For example, if the recommended speed rating is a V, it’s suggested that you replace it with a V, W, Y, or Z.
It is not recommended to fit tires with different speed ratings. If tires with different speed ratings are installed on a vehicle, they should be installed with like pairs on the same axle. The speed capability of the vehicle will become limited to that of the lowest speed rated tires. Obey all speed limits.
Tire Speed Rating Chart
| Service description speed symbol | Q | R | S | T | U | H | V | W* | Y* | (Y)**
| |
| Maximum speed (MPH) | 99 | 106 | 112 | 118 | 124 | 130 | 149 | Above 149 | 168 | 186 | Above 186 |
| Size speed symbol | ZR | ZR |
|
* W- and Y-speed ratings are subcategories of the Z-speed rating.
** Per the TR&A 2007 yearbook, for tires having a maximum speed capability above 240 km/h (149 mph), a ZR may appear in the size designation. For tires having a maximum speed capacity above 300 km/h (186 mph), a ZR must appear in the size designation and a service description, including the Y speed symbol, must be included in brackets.
Load Index
Tire load index is an assigned number that corresponds to the maximum weight that a tire can support when properly inflated. The higher the tire’s load index number, the greater its load carrying capacity. Choosing a tire with a lower load index than the original equipment specifications means that the tire will not carry the load capacity of the original.
Most passenger-car tire load indexes range from 75 to 100, but some are higher. The chart shows how load indexes translate to weight.
Tire Load Index Chart
| Load Index | Load (lbs) |
|---|---|
| 89 | 1279 |
| 90 | 1323 |
| 91 | 1356 |
| 92 | 1389 |
| 93 | 1433 |
| 94 | 1477 |
| 95 | 1521 |
| 96 | 1565 |
| 97 | 1609 |
| 98 | 1653 |
| 99 | 1709 |
| 100 | 1764 |
| 101 | 1819 |
| 102 | 1874 |
| Load Index | Load (lbs) |
|---|---|
| 117 | 2833 |
| 118 | 2910 |
| 119 | 2998 |
| 120 | 3086 |
| Load Index | Load (lbs) |
|---|---|
| 103 | 1929 |
| 104 | 1984 |
| 105 | 2039 |
| 106 | 2094 |
| 107 | 2149 |
| 108 | 2205 |
| 109 | 2271 |
| 110 | 2337 |
| 111 | 2403 |
| 112 | 2469 |
| 113 | 2535 |
| 114 | 2601 |
| 115 | 2679 |
| 116 | 2756 |
| Load Index | Load (lbs) |
|---|---|
| 75 | 852 |
| 76 | 882 |
| 77 | 908 |
| 78 | 937 |
| 79 | 963 |
| 80 | 992 |
| 81 | 1019 |
| 82 | 1047 |
| 83 | 1074 |
| 84 | 1102 |
| 85 | 1135 |
| 86 | 1168 |
| 87 | 1201 |
| 88 | 1235 |
SideWall
Not all sidewalls are built the same. Check out the different types of sidewall styles that we offer below.
Black
A black sidewall with black lettering.
Whitewall
White bands on the sidewall vary in width.
Outlined Letters
Letters on the sidewall are outlined in white.
Source : Good Year
