What does the load index on a tire mean?

It is a code, not a weight. The number after the size - the 102 in 225/65R17 102H - maps to a maximum load for one tire in a published table. Load index 102 is 850 kg, or 1874 lb.

How do I work out what my vehicle needs?

Take the gross axle weight rating off the certification label in the door jamb, halve it for the load on one tire, and find the first index in the table at or above that figure. The original tire's index already meets that with a margin, so matching or exceeding the original index is the straightforward route.

Is a higher load index always better?

It is never worse for capacity, but it is not free. A higher index in the same size usually means a stiffer construction and a firmer ride, and it does not raise the vehicle's own axle or gross weight rating, which is the limit that actually governs.

Why does the table use kilograms?

Because that is what it is defined in. Pound columns are conversions, and published tables round them differently - one of the sources here prints 550 lb for index 60 where the exact conversion is 551. This site stores the kilogram reading and derives the pound figure with one consistent rule, stated under the table.

Does a load index mean four times that for a car?

Four tires carry four times one tire's rating, but that is rarely the binding limit. The vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating and its axle ratings are usually lower, and they are the numbers that govern.

Tire load index chart

Load index 0 to 150, in kilograms and pounds, for one tire. Free to read, always, with the sources behind every row.

A load index is the capacity of one tire at the inflation pressure the standard specifies for that rating, on a correctly sized rim, on a sound and undamaged tire. It is not a capacity at any pressure you choose, and it is not a licence to load a vehicle past its own axle and gross weight ratings.

Rows: 151
Sources: 5
Disagreements: 1

The table

Kilograms are the published value. Pounds are derived: pounds = kilograms x 2.20462262185, rounded to the nearest pound. The sources column says how many independent published tables that row was read from, because the depth is not the same across the range.

Load index 0 to 150 in kilograms and pounds
Load index	Kilograms	Pounds	Set of four (kg)	Sources
0	45	99	180	2
1	46.2	102	184.8	2
2	47.5	105	190	2
3	48.7	107	194.8	2
4	50	110	200	2
5	51.5	114	206	2
6	53	117	212	2
7	54.5	120	218	2
8	56	123	224	2
9	58	128	232	2
10	60	132	240	2
11	61.5	136	246	2
12	63	139	252	2
13	65	143	260	2
14	67	148	268	2
15	69	152	276	2
16	71	157	284	2
17	73	161	292	2
18	75	165	300	2
19	77.5	171	310	2
20	80	176	320	2
21	82.5	182	330	2
22	85	187	340	2
23	87.5	193	350	2
24	90	198	360	2
25	92.5	204	370	2
26	95	209	380	2
27	97.5 *	215	390	2
28	100	220	400	2
29	103	227	412	2
30	106	234	424	2
31	109	240	436	2
32	112	247	448	2
33	115	254	460	2
34	118	260	472	2
35	121	267	484	2
36	125	276	500	2
37	128	282	512	2
38	132	291	528	2
39	136	300	544	2
40	140	309	560	2
41	145	320	580	2
42	150	331	600	2
43	155	342	620	2
44	160	353	640	2
45	165	364	660	2
46	170	375	680	2
47	175	386	700	2
48	180	397	720	2
49	185	408	740	2
50	190	419	760	2
51	195	430	780	2
52	200	441	800	2
53	206	454	824	2
54	212	467	848	2
55	218	481	872	2
56	224	494	896	2
57	230	507	920	2
58	236	520	944	2
59	243	536	972	2
60	250	551	1000	3
61	257	567	1028	3
62	265	584	1060	3
63	272	600	1088	3
64	280	617	1120	3
65	290	639	1160	3
66	300	661	1200	3
67	307	677	1228	3
68	315	694	1260	3
69	325	717	1300	3
70	335	739	1340	3
71	345	761	1380	4
72	355	783	1420	4
73	365	805	1460	4
74	375	827	1500	4
75	387	853	1548	4
76	400	882	1600	4
77	412	908	1648	4
78	425	937	1700	4
79	437	963	1748	4
80	450	992	1800	5
81	462	1019	1848	5
82	475	1047	1900	5
83	487	1074	1948	5
84	500	1102	2000	5
85	515	1135	2060	5
86	530	1168	2120	5
87	545	1202	2180	5
88	560	1235	2240	5
89	580	1279	2320	5
90	600	1323	2400	5
91	615	1356	2460	4
92	630	1389	2520	4
93	650	1433	2600	4
94	670	1477	2680	4
95	690	1521	2760	4
96	710	1565	2840	4
97	730	1609	2920	4
98	750	1653	3000	4
99	775	1709	3100	4
100	800	1764	3200	4
101	825	1819	3300	4
102	850	1874	3400	4
103	875	1929	3500	4
104	900	1984	3600	4
105	925	2039	3700	4
106	950	2094	3800	4
107	975	2150	3900	4
108	1000	2205	4000	4
109	1030	2271	4120	4
110	1060	2337	4240	4
111	1090	2403	4360	4
112	1120	2469	4480	4
113	1150	2535	4600	4
114	1180	2601	4720	4
115	1215	2679	4860	4
116	1250	2756	5000	4
117	1285	2833	5140	4
118	1320	2910	5280	4
119	1360	2998	5440	4
120	1400	3086	5600	4
121	1450	3197	5800	4
122	1500	3307	6000	3
123	1550	3417	6200	3
124	1600	3527	6400	3
125	1650	3638	6600	2
126	1700	3748	6800	2
127	1750	3858	7000	2
128	1800	3968	7200	2
129	1850	4079	7400	2
130	1900	4189	7600	2
131	1950	4299	7800	2
132	2000	4409	8000	2
133	2060	4542	8240	2
134	2120	4674	8480	2
135	2180	4806	8720	2
136	2240	4938	8960	2
137	2300	5071	9200	2
138	2360	5203	9440	2
139	2430	5357	9720	2
140	2500	5512	10000	2
141	2575	5677	10300	2
142	2650	5842	10600	2
143	2725	6008	10900	2
144	2800	6173	11200	2
145	2900	6393	11600	2
146	3000	6614	12000	2
147	3075	6779	12300	2
148	3150	6945	12600	2
149	3250	7165	13000	2
150	3350	7385	13400	2

* marks a cell the published sources did not agree on. The disagreement is written out below, and on that index's own page.

The two adjustments that change the number

Fitted to a light truck. A P-metric or Euro-metric tire fitted to a light truck, van, SUV or trailer carries less than its load index states. Divide the rated load by 1.1. An LT tire of the same nominal size is not derated, which is why an LT size and a P size that look alike are not interchangeable at rated load.

Fitted in duals. A tire rated for dual (twinned) fitment prints two load indices, for example 121/118S. The first applies when one tire is mounted per hub, the second when two are. Look the second index up in this table rather than working out a percentage - the printed pair is the rating, and any percentage is a description of it.

Common questions

What does the load index on a tire mean?: It is a code, not a weight. The number after the size - the 102 in 225/65R17 102H - maps to a maximum load for one tire in a published table. Load index 102 is 850 kg, or 1874 lb.
How do I work out what my vehicle needs?: Take the gross axle weight rating off the certification label in the door jamb, halve it for the load on one tire, and find the first index in the table at or above that figure. The original tire's index already meets that with a margin, so matching or exceeding the original index is the straightforward route.
Is a higher load index always better?: It is never worse for capacity, but it is not free. A higher index in the same size usually means a stiffer construction and a firmer ride, and it does not raise the vehicle's own axle or gross weight rating, which is the limit that actually governs.
Why does the table use kilograms?: Because that is what it is defined in. Pound columns are conversions, and published tables round them differently - one of the sources here prints 550 lb for index 60 where the exact conversion is 551. This site stores the kilogram reading and derives the pound figure with one consistent rule, stated under the table.
Does a load index mean four times that for a car?: Four tires carry four times one tire's rating, but that is rarely the binding limit. The vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating and its axle ratings are usually lower, and they are the numbers that govern.

Where these figures come from

Computed on this page, not looked up. Each figure and the arithmetic behind it:

Pounds pounds = kilograms x 2.20462262185, rounded to the nearest pound

Published values here were read from 5 independent sources:

Tyre Load Index Chart (LI 0-150) - AmesWeb, states ETRTO and SAE tables as the basis (read 2026-08-27)
Load index 0 to 150, kilograms
Tire Load Rating Chart - Your Auto Vision, page dated 21 April 2026 (read 2026-08-27)
Load index 0 to 150, kilograms and pounds; load range letters
Load Index - CJ Tire, cites ETRTO Standards Manual 2010 page G7, standard load table at 42 psi (290 kPa) (read 2026-08-27)
Load index 60 to 124, kilograms and pounds
Load Index & Weight Ratings - rimlist, undated reference article (read 2026-08-27)
Load index 80 to 121, kilograms and pounds; load range letters; SL, XL and HL reference pressures
How to Read Speed Rating, Load Index and Service Descriptions - HP Wizard, reproduces Tire Rack tire tech information (read 2026-08-27)
Load index 71 to 90, kilograms and pounds; speed symbols L to Y; ZR and bracketed symbols

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.

Load index 27: 97.5 kg (LI-AMESWEB) against 97 kg (LI-AUTOVISION). Indices 20 to 28 rise in an exact 2.5 kg step in both tables, which 97.5 continues and 97 breaks. The 97.5 reading is stored and the alternative is printed alongside it.