About Reading a Tire

6 years ago

Using a P195/60R15 87S tire size as our example, the 87S at the end of the size represents the tire's service description. A service description identifies the tire's load index and speed rating. Service descriptions are required on all speed rated (except for Z-speed rated) tires manufactured since 1991.

The first two digits (87S) represent the tire's load index and are followed by a single letter (87S) identifying the tire's speed rating.

"Using a P195/60R15 87S tire size as our example, the 87S at the end of the size represents the tire's service description. A service description identifies the tire's load index and speed rating."

Load Index

P195/60R15 87S - The load index (87) is the tire size's assigned numerical value used to compare relative load carrying capabilities. In the case of our example the 87 identifies the tires ability to carry approximately 1,201 pounds.

The higher the tire's load index number, the greater its load carrying capacity.

89 = 1,279 pounds

88 = 1,235 pounds

87 = 1,201 pounds

86 = 1,168 pounds

85 = 1,135 pounds

A tire with a higher load index than that of the Original Equipment tire indicates an increase in load capacity. A tire with a load index equal to that of the Original Equipment tire indicates an equivalent load capacity. A tire with a lower load index than the Original Equipment tire indicates the tire does not equal the load capacity of the original.

Typically, the load indexes of the tires used on passenger cars and light trucks range from 70 to 110.

Load Index

Pounds

Kilograms

 

Load Index

Pounds

Kilograms

71

761

345

91

1356

615

72

783

355

92

1389

630

73

805

365

93

1433

650

74

827

375

94

1477

670

75

853

387

95

1521

690

76

882

400

96

1565

710

77

908

412

97

1609

730

78

937

425

98

1653

750

79

963

437

99

1709

775

80

992

450

100

1764

800

81

1019

462

101

1819

825

82

1047

475

102

1874

850

83

1074

487

103

1929

875

84

1102

500

104

1984

900

85

1135

515

105

2039

925

86

1168

530

106

2094

950

87

1201

545

107

2149

975

88

1235

560

108

2205

1000

89

1279

580

109

2271

1030

90

1323

600

110

2337

1060

 

 

When looking at light truck (LT) or newer Special Trailer Service (ST) tires, there are two load indexes branded on the sidewall, separated by a forward slash. Using an LT235/75R15 104/101S Load Range C tire as an example, the load index is 104/101. 104 corresponds to 1,984 pounds, and 101 corresponds to 1,819 pounds. So what is the true load carrying capacity of the tire? The answer changes depending on the situation in which the tire is being used.

Since LT tires are commonly used on trucks with dual rear wheels, they are branded with two load indexes. The first number indicates the load carrying capacity if the tire is installed on a truck with a single-wheel rear axle, and the second number applies when the tire is used in a dual rear application.

Though it may seem counterintuitive that a tire is rated to carry less weight when working in tandem with another tire in the dual pair, the purpose is to build in additional reserve capacity should one of the two tires fail, leaving the sole remaining tire to carry the load normally handled by two tires.

Speed Rating

In Germany some highways do not have speed limits and high speed driving is permitted. Speed ratings were established to match the speed capability of tires with the top speed capability of the vehicles to which they are applied. Speed ratings are established in kilometers per hour and subsequently converted to miles per hour (which explains why speed ratings appear established at "unusual" mile per hour increments). Despite the tire manufacturer's ability to manufacture tires capable of high speeds, none of them recommend the use of their products in excess of legal speed limits. The maximum operating speed of a vehicle must be limited to the lowest speed rated tire on the vehicle.

Speed ratings are based on laboratory tests where the tire is pressed against a large diameter metal drum to reflect its appropriate load, and run at ever increasing speeds (in 6.2 mph steps in 10 minute increments) until the tire's required speed has been met.

It is important to note that speed ratings only apply to tires that have not been damaged, altered, under-inflated or overloaded. Additionally, most tire manufacturers maintain that a tire that has been cut or punctured no longer retains the tire manufacturer's original speed rating, even after being repaired because the tire manufacturer can't control the quality of the repair.

Over the years, tire speed rating symbols have been marked on tires in any of three ways shown in the following examples:

225/50SR16

225/50SR16 89S

or 225/50R16 89S

 

Each of these was an acceptable method of identifying speed ratings.

Early tires had their speed rating symbol shown "within" the tire size, such as 225/50SR16. Tires using this type of branding were not to have been produced after 1991.

225/50SR16

112 mph, 180 km/h

225/50HR16

130, 210 km/h

225/50VR16

in excess of 130 mph, 210 km/h

 

Beginning in 1991, the speed symbol denoting a fixed maximum speed capability of new tires must be shown only in the speed rating portion of the tire's service description, such as 225/50R16 89S. The most common tire speed rating symbols, maximum speeds and typical applications are shown below:

L

75 mph

120 km/h

Off-Road & Light Truck Tires

M

81 mph

130 km/h

Temporary Spare Tires

N

87 mph

140km/h

 

P

93 mph

150 km/h

 

Q

99 mph

160 km/h

Studless & Studdable Winter Tires

R

106 mph

170 km/h

H.D. Light Truck Tires

S

112 mph

180 km/h

Family Sedans & Vans

T

118 mph

190 km/h

Family Sedans & Vans

U

124 mph

200 km/h

 

H

130 mph

210 km/h

Sport Sedans & Coupes

V

149 mph

240 km/h

Sport Sedans, Coupes & Sports Cars

 

When Z-speed rated tires were first introduced, they were thought to reflect the highest tire speed rating that would ever be required, in excess of 240 km/h or 149 mph. While Z-speed rated tires are capable of speeds in excess of 149 mph, how far above 149 mph was not identified. That ultimately caused the automotive industry to add W- and Y-speed ratings to identify the tires that meet the needs of new vehicles that have extremely high top-speed capabilities.

W

168 mph

270 km/h

Exotic Sports Cars

Y

186 mph

300 km/h

Exotic Sports Cars

 

While a Z-speed rating still often appears in the tire size designation of these tires, such as 225/50ZR16 91W, the Z in the size signifies a maximum speed capability in excess of 149 mph, 240 km/h; the W in the service description indicates the tire's 168 mph, 270 km/h maximum speed.

225/50ZR16

in excess of 149 mph, 240 km/h

205/45ZR17 88W

168 mph, 270 km/h

285/35ZR19 99Y

186 mph, 300 km/h

 

Most recently, when the Y-speed rating indicated in a service description is enclosed in parentheses, such as 285/35ZR19 (99Y), the top speed of the tire has been tested in excess of 186 mph, 300 km/h indicated by the service description as shown below:

285/35ZR19 99Y

186 mph, 300 km/h

285/35ZR19 (99Y)

in excess of 186 mph, 300 km/h

 

As vehicles have increased their top speeds into Autobahn-only ranges, the tire speed ratings have evolved to better identify the tire's capability, allowing drivers to match the speed of their tires with the top speed of their vehicle.

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