Tire Load Index Chart: Weight Capacity in Pounds & Kilograms
Use this tire load index chart to look up the standardized maximum load capacity for a tire in pounds and kilograms. Enter a load index such as 94, a service description such as 94W, or a full tire marking such as 225/45R17 94W.
Tire Load Index Lookup & Reference Table
Enter a load index (e.g. 94), service description (e.g. 94W), full tire code (e.g. 225/45R17 94W), or dual index (e.g. 120/116S).
Speed Symbol W corresponds to 270 km/h (168 mph) under standardized test conditions.
How to Use the Tire Load Index Chart
Looking up your tire load capacity takes seconds with our interactive lookup tool and complete standardized reference table:
- Locate the Service Description: Look at your tire sidewall code directly after the wheel rim diameter. For example, in 225/45R17 94W, the service description is 94W.
- Enter Your Index or Code: Type the number (e.g. 94), the service description (94W), or the full tire size into the search bar above.
- Read Per-Tire Capacity: The lookup card instantly displays maximum load capacity in pounds and kilograms per individual tire, while automatically highlighting that exact row in the table below.
- Dual Load-Index Support: For light-truck and commercial dual fitments (such as LT245/75R16 120/116S), enter both numbers to see single-tire application (120) and dual-tire application (116) ratings simultaneously.
What Tire Load Index Means
The load index is a standardized numerical code corresponding to a specified load-carrying capacity under the applicable tire-standard and inflation conditions, established by international regulatory bodies including UN/ECE Regulation No. 30, the Tire and Rim Association, and ETRTO.
Standardized Lookup: Unlike dimensional calculations (such as tire diameter or aspect ratio), Load Index is not a direct mathematical equation derived from tire dimensions. It is an internationally harmonized discrete lookup value. For example, a Load Index of 94 corresponds to exactly 670 kg (1,477 lb) per tire under standardized reference conditions.
This chart focuses on Load Index 60–130, covering a broad range of common passenger-car, performance, crossover, SUV, and many light-truck applications. Commercial and specialty tires can use load indices outside this range.
Worked Example: Decoding 225/45R17 94W
I'll use 225/45R17 94W as a clear reference example (also explored in our How to Read Tire Size guide) because it shows how the load index and speed symbol appear side by side:
Represents a maximum load capacity of 670 kg (1,477 lb) per tire under the applicable standardized reference inflation conditions.
Speed Symbol W corresponds to 270 km/h (168 mph) under applicable standardized test conditions.
Together, 94W forms the load-index and speed-symbol portion of the tire service description. When I compare replacement tires, I don't look at size alone. Two tires with the same nominal size, such as 225/45R17, can carry different load indices, so always verify the full service description before purchasing.
What Do Two Load Index Numbers Mean? (e.g. LT245/75R16 120/116S)
When a tire displays dual load indices separated by a slash (such as 120/116S), the two numbers reflect different mounting configurations:
- Single-Tire Application (120): Indicates 3,086 lb (1,400 kg) maximum capacity per tire when mounted individually (one tire per wheel position).
- Dual-Tire Application (116): Indicates 2,756 lb (1,250 kg) maximum capacity per tire when the tire is used in a dual-tire configuration, with two tires mounted side by side at one wheel position.
- Speed Symbol (S): Corresponds to 180 km/h (112 mph) under standardized test conditions.
Anatomy of a Tire Service Description
Figure 1 illustrates how the numerical Load Index (94) and alphabetical Speed Symbol (W) are positioned on a modern tire sidewall:
Tire Sidewall Marking & Service Description Isolation

Replacement Tire Load-Capacity Guidance
When I compare replacement tires, load capacity is one of the specifications I check along with size, pressure, clearance, and speed rating:
For normal replacement, use tires that meet or exceed the vehicle manufacturer's required load-carrying capacity. Do not select a lower load index without vehicle manufacturer guidance or qualified tire-professional verification using the applicable load and inflation data.
A higher load index is generally acceptable when the replacement tire otherwise satisfies the vehicle manufacturer's size, pressure, clearance, speed-rating, and fitment requirements, though higher-capacity tires may feature stiffer internal construction, increased unsprung mass, and different ride characteristics.
Load Index vs. Load Range
While both terms relate to tire strength and carrying capability, I treat Load Index and Load Range as two distinct engineering checks rather than interchangeable ratings:
Tire Load Index
A specific numerical rating representing standardized load capacity in pounds and kilograms per tire (e.g. 94 = 1,477 lb / 670 kg).
Tire Load Range
Load Range and related service designations describe tire construction and load/inflation capability within the applicable tire category (such as SL, XL, LT C, LT D, or LT E). They are distinct from the numerical Load Index.
Standard Load (SL) vs. Extra Load (XL)
Standard Load (SL) and Extra Load (XL) are not themselves load-index values. Two tires marked with the same nominal size can carry different load indices if their service specification and construction differ. An XL version of a tire size may therefore have a higher load index than an SL version of the same size.
Load Index vs. Speed Rating
On your tire sidewall, the service description pairs a load index with a speed symbol (e.g. 94W or 100H).
The load index indicates standardized load-carrying capacity, while the speed symbol identifies the tire's standardized speed capability under specified test conditions.
Vehicle Placard, GVWR, GAWR, and Tire Capacity
One common mistake is multiplying an individual tire's load capacity by four and treating that number as allowable vehicle payload. That isn't how GVWR or axle limits work.
In reality, allowable vehicle load is constrained by vehicle-level chassis, axle, and braking limits:
- Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR): The maximum permissible weight on each specific axle. When checking tire load capacity against vehicle requirements, axle loading matters. The tires fitted to an axle must provide sufficient load capacity for that axle's required load while the vehicle remains within its GAWR and GVWR limits.
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): The maximum rated total vehicle weight specified by the vehicle manufacturer.
- Inflation Pressure & Placard Guidance: The load represented by a tire's load index is tied to the applicable tire standard, size, construction, and inflation conditions. Check the vehicle's Tire and Loading Information placard and owner's manual for the required original-equipment tire specification, size, and inflation information. If the exact service description or load index is not shown on the placard, verify it from the owner's manual or OE tire specification. The maximum cold inflation pressure shown on the tire sidewall is a structural limit and is not automatically the vehicle's recommended operating pressure.
Need to compare tire sizes or check fitment?
Explore our specialized calculation tools to simulate diameter deltas, wheel offsets, and metric-to-inch conversions.
Content is based on cited tire-industry standards, manufacturer documentation, and technical references where relevant.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tire Load Index
References
- United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) — Regulation No. 30: Uniform Provisions Concerning the Approval of Pneumatic Tyres for Motor Vehicles and Their Trailers (Annex 4: Load-Capacity Indices)
- United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) — Regulation No. 54: Uniform Provisions Concerning the Approval of Pneumatic Tyres for Commercial Vehicles and Their Trailers (Annex 4: Table of Load-Capacity Indices)
- The Tire and Rim Association (TRA) — Year Book of Standards: Section 1 Passenger Car Tires & Section 2 Light Truck Tires
- European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation (ETRTO) — Standards Manual: Engineering Dimensions & Design Criteria
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 139: New Pneumatic Radial Tires for Light Vehicles
