Load range and ply rating chart
Load range letters with their ply rating equivalents and maximum inflation pressures, plus the passenger tire standard load and extra load designations on the same sheet.
About 1 page printed. Every figure on this sheet is free to read on the load range reference, with its sources.
What the sheet looks like
Real rows from the sheet, rendered for everyone, so the layout can be judged before buying.
| Range | Ply rating | Max inflation |
|---|---|---|
| C | 6 | 50 psi |
| D | 8 | 65 psi |
| E | 10 | 80 psi |
| F | 12 | 95 psi |
Load range and ply rating chart
| Load range | Ply rating equivalent | Maximum inflation |
|---|---|---|
| A | 2 | not published |
| B | 4 | 35 psi |
| C | 6 | 50 psi |
| D | 8 | 65 psi |
| E | 10 | 80 psi |
| F | 12 | 95 psi |
| G | 14 | not published |
| H | 16 | not published |
| J | 18 | not published |
| L | 20 | not published |
| M | 22 | not published |
| N | 24 | not published |
| Marking | Name | Reference pressure |
|---|---|---|
| SL | Standard Load | 35 psi |
| XL | Extra Load (also marked Reinforced or RF) | 41 psi |
| LL | Light Load | not published |
| HL | High Load | not published |
This is geometry, not fitment approval. It says what a size measures, never whether it fits a vehicle.
SidewallRef · sidewall reference · figures cross-checked against the sources listed on /markings/load-range/
What stays free
Every size page, the size decoder, the comparison tool, the load index table, the speed symbol table and every marking reference stay free forever, with no account and no limit.
Where these figures come from
Published values here were read from 12 independent sources:
- 49 CFR 575.104 - Uniform tire quality grading standards - Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School, current text read 27 August 2026 (read 2026-08-27)Traction grade adhesion coefficients, traction and temperature grade definitions, treadwear grading procedure
- Uniform Tire Quality Grading - Wikipedia, revision read 27 August 2026 (read 2026-08-27)Traction grade g force table, temperature grade speeds, treadwear grade meaning and limits
- UTQG Ratings Explained - TireGrades, updated 9 March 2026 (read 2026-08-27)Traction grade g force table, temperature grade speeds, treadwear self reporting
- UTQG - How to Read a Sidewall - Yokohama Tire, undated manufacturer reference (read 2026-08-27)Temperature grade speeds, which tire categories are exempt from UTQG marking
- Understanding DOT Codes: Guide to Tire Identification - Wheel-Size.com, undated reference article (read 2026-08-27)DOT code structure, plant code width, omitted letters, date code format and which sidewall carries it
- 5 Tips to Read the DOT Date Code - Tires Easy, undated reference article (read 2026-08-27)DOT date code format before and after 2000, worked examples
- Tire code - Wikipedia, revision read 27 August 2026 (read 2026-08-27)Load range letters and ply ratings, M+S definition, sidewall marking glossary
- Load Range - CJ Tire, undated reference chart (read 2026-08-27)Load range letters A to N with ply rating equivalents
- Tire Load Ranges: Complete Guide (B Through F) - TireGrades, updated 24 June 2026 (read 2026-08-27)Load range letters B to F with ply ratings and maximum inflation pressures
- Tire Load Rating Chart - Your Auto Vision, page dated 21 April 2026 (read 2026-08-27)Load range letters B to G with ply ratings and maximum inflation pressures
- What the 3PMSF Symbol Means for Winter Driving Safety - Les Schwab, undated reference article (read 2026-08-27)3PMSF meaning, the medium packed snow test, what the symbol does not cover
- What Is the 3PMSF Symbol and How Does It Affect Your Tires - DuallyWheels, undated reference article (read 2026-08-27)3PMSF test standard and the 110 percent traction index threshold, M+S comparison
These are independent publishers, not independent measurements. Each one reproduces a table originally set by a standards body, so agreement between them shows a value was transcribed correctly, not that the underlying table is right. Where a figure is safety relevant, check it against the tire manufacturer's own data before relying on it.