What does a K speed rating mean?

A K rated tire is rated to 110 km/h (68 mph) under the standard's test conditions, when it is correctly inflated, undamaged and carrying no more than its load index allows.

Is K a fast enough rating for me?

That is set by the vehicle, not by the tire. The placard in the driver's door jamb states the speed rating the vehicle was built around, and a replacement should meet or exceed it. Local law may also require it. This site reproduces the published table and approves nothing.

Where does K sit in the table?

J (100 km/h (62 mph)) is directly below it. L (120 km/h (75 mph)) is directly above it. The table is not alphabetical: H sits between U and V because H was once the top rating and the letters above it were added later.

K speed rating

A tire marked K is rated to 110 km/h, which is 68 mph.

A speed symbol is the maximum speed the tire is rated for when it is correctly inflated, undamaged, in sound condition, and carrying no more than the load its load index allows. It is a rating, not a recommendation, and it never overrides the speed limit where you are driving.

Rated: 110 km/h
Rated: 68 mph
Sources: 3

Where K sits

Speed symbols either side of K
Symbol	km/h	mph
J	100	62
K	110	68
L	120	75

See the whole table, in speed order and alphabetically.

Questions about the K rating

What does a K speed rating mean?: A K rated tire is rated to 110 km/h (68 mph) under the standard's test conditions, when it is correctly inflated, undamaged and carrying no more than its load index allows.
Is K a fast enough rating for me?: That is set by the vehicle, not by the tire. The placard in the driver's door jamb states the speed rating the vehicle was built around, and a replacement should meet or exceed it. Local law may also require it. This site reproduces the published table and approves nothing.
Where does K sit in the table?: J (100 km/h (62 mph)) is directly below it. L (120 km/h (75 mph)) is directly above it. The table is not alphabetical: H sits between U and V because H was once the top rating and the letters above it were added later.

Where these figures come from

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

Miles per hour miles per hour = kilometres per hour x 0.621371192237, rounded to the nearest mile per hour

Published values here were read from 3 independent sources:

Tire Speed Rating Chart: Speed Symbols and Maximum Speeds - AmesWeb, undated reference chart (read 2026-08-27)
Speed symbols A1 to Y, kilometres per hour
Speed Ratings - CJ Tire, undated reference chart (read 2026-08-27)
Speed symbols A1 to Y in km/h and mph, plus Z, (W) and (Y)
Tire Speed Rating Chart (A1 to Y) - Your Auto Vision, 2026 revision (read 2026-08-27)
Speed symbols A1 to Y in km/h and mph, plus Z, ZR and (Y)

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.