On the sidewall of all tyres you can find the Load Index and
Speed Symbol for that tyre (following the key sidewall markings)
for example 105 S.
Load Index
The load rating (represented by the numerical value) is related
to the maximum weight that tyre can carry. So in this case 105
would refer to a load capacity of 925kg, with most passenger
vehicle load indexes range from 62 to 126.
|
Load index
|
Load in Kg per tyre
|
Load index
|
Load in Kg per tyre
|
Load index
|
Load in Kg per tyre
|
Load index
|
Load in Kg per tyre
|
Load index
|
Load in Kg per tyre
|
|
62
|
265
|
75
|
387
|
88
|
560
|
101
|
825
|
114
|
1180
|
|
63
|
272
|
76
|
400
|
89
|
580
|
102
|
850
|
115
|
1215
|
|
64
|
280
|
77
|
412
|
90
|
600
|
103
|
875
|
116
|
1250
|
|
65
|
290
|
78
|
425
|
91
|
615
|
104
|
900
|
117
|
1285
|
|
66
|
300
|
79
|
437
|
92
|
630
|
105
|
925
|
118
|
1320
|
|
67
|
307
|
80
|
450
|
93
|
650
|
106
|
950
|
119
|
1360
|
|
68
|
315
|
81
|
462
|
94
|
670
|
107
|
975
|
120
|
1400
|
|
69
|
325
|
82
|
475
|
95
|
690
|
108
|
1000
|
121
|
1450
|
|
70
|
335
|
83
|
487
|
96
|
710
|
109
|
1030
|
122
|
1500
|
|
71
|
345
|
84
|
500
|
97
|
730
|
110
|
1060
|
123
|
1550
|
|
72
|
355
|
85
|
515
|
98
|
750
|
111
|
1090
|
124
|
1600
|
|
73
|
365
|
86
|
530
|
99
|
775
|
112
|
1120
|
125
|
1650
|
|
74
|
375
|
87
|
545
|
100
|
800
|
113
|
1150
|
126
|
1700
|
In all instances the tyres load index must meet or exceed the
value displayed on the vehicles placard.
Speed Symbol
The speed category symbol, for example 'S', indicates the
maximum speed at which the tyre can carry a load corresponding to
its load index. So in this case, 'S' would refer to a maximum speed
of 180km/hour
See the chart below for a full list of speed symbols and their
applicable values.
| Speed Symbol |
J
|
K
|
L
|
M
|
N
|
P
|
Q
|
R
|
S
|
T
|
U
|
H
|
V
|
W
|
Y
|
VR
|
ZR
|
|
Speed in kmh
|
100
|
110
|
120
|
130
|
140
|
150
|
160
|
170
|
180
|
190
|
200
|
210
|
240
|
270
|
300
|
>210
|
>240
|
*A tyre with ZR symbols have a speed capability of over
204km/h. Your T-Mart can always consult with the tyre manufacturers
to ascertain the tyres actual speed capabilities.
The legal speed symbol requirements vary by state, please check
with your local T-Mart.
Click here to
find out where these measurements are located on the tyre.
Ply Rating
Ply ratings identify the load carrying capacities of a
tyre in terms of plies. Ply rating originally referred to the
number of cotton layers used to strengthen a tyre's casing. Today,
when tyres are labelled 10-ply for example, they are no longer
actually constructed of 10 individual layers of cotton, but they do
offer the equivalent strength. Over time, steel ply and radial
construction replaced cotton, leading to a new distinction: Load
Range. Load Range identifies the maximum amount of weight that can
be placed on a tyre horizontally, which varies depending on tyre
size and inflations limits.