Load Index and Speed ratings:
The load index generally found on the side of the tyre is a numerical code relating to the maximum load the tyre can safely carry. The table below gives you most of the Load Index (LI) values you're likely to ever need.
To explain simply, if you know your car weighs 2000kg then assume an even weight on each wheel, 2000kg divided by 4 wheels = 500kg per wheel. This is a load rating of 84. Ideally you should add 20% or more for safety's sake, to alloy you a full load of passengers and luggage. Generally speaking most car tyres will have a much higher load rating than you'd ever need. It's safer to have a tyre that will only fail at speeds and load levels you physically can't achieve.
Load
index
Load in kg
Load index
Load in kg
Load index
Load in kg
62
265
84
500
106
950
63
272
85
515
107
975
64
280
86
530
108
1000
65
290
87
545
109
1030
66
300
88
560
110
1060
67
307
89
580
111
1090
68
315
90
600
112
1120
69
325
91
615
113
1150
70
335
92
630
114
1180
71
345
93
650
115
1215
72
355
94
670
116
1250
73
365
95
690
117
1285
74
375
96
710
118
1320
75
387
97
730
119
1360
76
400
98
750
120
1400
77
412
99
775
121
1450
78
425
100
800
122
1500
79
437
101
825
123
1550
80
450
102
850
124
1600
81
462
103
875
125
1650
82
475
104
900
126
1700
83
487
105
925
All tyres are rated with a speed letter. This indicates the maximum speed that the tyre can sustain for constant ten minute period without coming to pieces and destroying itself. Remember the heat build up at the tyres maximum speed is immense, so along with the law this should be another reason not to speed!
