Tire Load Index & Speed Rating Table
| LI | kg | lb | LI | kg | lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75 | 387 kg | 852 lb | 94 | 670 kg | 1477 lb |
| 76 | 400 kg | 882 lb | 95 | 690 kg | 1521 lb |
| 77 | 412 kg | 908 lb | 96 | 710 kg | 1565 lb |
| 78 | 425 kg | 937 lb | 97 | 730 kg | 1609 lb |
| 79 | 437 kg | 963 lb | 98 | 750 kg | 1653 lb |
| 80 | 450 kg | 992 lb | 99 | 775 kg | 1709 lb |
| 81 | 462 kg | 1019 lb | 100 | 800 kg | 1764 lb |
| 82 | 475 kg | 1047 lb | 101 | 825 kg | 1819 lb |
| 83 | 487 kg | 1074 lb | 102 | 850 kg | 1874 lb |
| 84 | 500 kg | 1102 lb | 103 | 875 kg | 1929 lb |
| 85 | 515 kg | 1135 lb | 104 | 900 kg | 1984 lb |
| 86 | 530 kg | 1168 lb | 105 | 925 kg | 2039 lb |
| 87 | 545 kg | 1201 lb | 106 | 950 kg | 2094 lb |
| 88 | 560 kg | 1235 lb | 107 | 975 kg | 2149 lb |
| 89 | 580 kg | 1279 lb | 108 | 1000 kg | 2205 lb |
| 90 | 600 kg | 1323 lb | 109 | 1030 kg | 2271 lb |
| 91 | 615 kg | 1356 lb | 110 | 1060 kg | 2337 lb |
| 92 | 630 kg | 1389 lb | 111 | 1090 kg | 2403 lb |
| 93 | 650 kg | 1433 lb | 112 | 1120 kg | 2469 lb |
| Code | Max speed | |
|---|---|---|
| L | 120 km/h | 75 mph |
| M | 130 km/h | 81 mph |
| N | 140 km/h | 87 mph |
| P | 150 km/h | 94 mph |
| Q | 160 km/h | 100 mph |
| R | 170 km/h | 106 mph |
| S | 180 km/h | 112 mph |
| T | 190 km/h | 118 mph |
| U | 200 km/h | 124 mph |
| H | 210 km/h | 130 mph |
| V | 240 km/h | 149 mph |
| W | 270 km/h | 168 mph |
| Y | 300 km/h | 186 mph |
| Z | over 240 km/h (over 149 mph) | |
| (W) | over 270 km/h - maker-set limit | |
| (Y) | over 300 km/h - maker-set limit | |
Definitions follow NHTSA, Tires — the service description sits right after the size on every sidewall. Decode the size itself on tire size table, and see how cold shifts pressure on tire pressure & temperature.
Right after the size, every sidewall carries a two-character service description like 91V - the load index and speed rating, the two numbers that say what the tire is built to survive. The tables above give both in full: load index 75 through 112 in kilograms and pounds, and every speed code from L to Y.
The load index is a code, not a weight: index 91 means 615 kg (1,356 lb) of maximum load per tire, index 95 means 690 kg, and each step is a fixed 2.5%-ish increment. The speed rating letter works the same way - V means the tire is certified to carry its rated load at 149 mph (240 km/h), T at 118 mph, Q at 100.
Bottom line: never fit a lower number or letter than the door placard specifies. Higher is permitted - a 95V replaces a 91V legally and with margin - but big jumps change ride quality, and the speed ratings above V exist for track use, not commuting.
How to use
- Find the service description on your sidewall - it sits directly after the size (P225/45R17 91W) and is also printed on the driver's door-jamb placard with the factory pressure.
- Look up the two characters separately in the tables above: the number gives maximum load per tire in kg and lb; the letter gives the certified maximum speed at that load.
- Compare against the placard before replacing tires: match or exceed both the load index and the speed rating, and remember the limit is per tire - four 91-rated tires carry 2,460 kg, which must cover the car, fuel, passengers and cargo together.
Frequently asked questions
What does 91V mean on a tire?
It is the service description: load index 91 = 615 kg (1,356 lb) maximum load per tire, and speed rating V = certified for 149 mph (240 km/h) at that load. Both numbers work together - the V certification only holds while the tire carries its rated load, which is why overloading voids the speed rating long before anything visibly fails.
Can I use a higher load index or speed rating than the stock tires?
Yes - higher is always acceptable and adds margin; lower is not. A 94V in place of a 91V carries 55 kg more per tire. The trade-offs ride on the same sidewall: higher speed ratings usually mean stiffer sidewalls and firmer ride, and some cars specify H or V for handling reasons worth preserving even if you never exceed 100 mph.
What do the parentheses in (W) and (Y) mean?
Parentheses mean 'over': (Y) is rated beyond 300 km/h (186 mph) and (W) beyond 270 km/h (168 mph), with the exact ceiling set by the manufacturer rather than the standard table. These codes appear on genuine supercar fitments; if you see one on a family sedan, someone upgraded far past the placard.
How much can my four tires actually carry?
Multiply: index 91 x 4 = 2,460 kg (5,424 lb) of tire capacity. That must exceed the vehicle's gross weight with everything in it - passengers, cargo, fuel. The door placard lists the factory numbers that already account for this, which is why matching the placard is the safe default and climbing two index steps is the classic fix for persistent overload on campers and work vans.