Your truck’s tire specs give you more information than you realize in the alpha-numeric code on the side. Learn to read and understand what these letters and numbers mean for your tires’ truck load index, speed rating and size. Understanding these values will make you a better consumer when choosing tires for your truck.
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How to Read Tire Specs
If you take a close look at a tire, you will find a large amount of information. Everything from the manufacturer’s name to the tire size and load rating appears on the sidewall. Interpreting these numbers requires you to know what values to look for and their meanings.
On the sidewall, you will find the tire’s type, the width, aspect ratio, construction, wheel rating, load index and speed rating. You can identify the values based on their position relative to each other and how many numbers or letters they have. The Tire and Rim Association standardizes these values for all American tire manufacturers.
Some tires may also have Uniform Tire Quality Grading, UTQG, which refers to information for traction and temperature grades. AA traction grades perform best in wet conditions, and the classes go down in performance — AA, A, B and C. Temperature categories refer to how well the tires dissipate heat at various speeds. Those rated with A perform well at speeds over 115 mph. B-rated tires operate best between 100 mph and 115 mph, while C tires remove heat best at speeds between 85 mph and 100 mph.
The first part to look for is the string of letters and numbers that may start with P, LT or no letter. For example, P235/75R15 or LT215/65R15. Manufacturers put a lot of information into this alpha-numeric code — the tire type, width, aspect ratio, construction and tire diameter.
Next to this extended code, you will also see the load index and speed rating, both of which you must know to find the right tires for your loaded work truck.
To make the most of this information, you need to understand what the tire size information means as well as the load ratings and speed information.
Truck Tire Sizes Explained
The tire size typically starts with a letter indicating the type and ends with a two-digit number, giving the rim size. Between these parts, you will see additional information about the tire size and construction.
1. Tire Type
The first letter represents the type of vehicle you should install the tire on. P indicates a passenger vehicle or light-duty truck. Generally, these tires require lower pressures than other tires. LT designates a light-duty truck, but these often accompany larger 3/4 and one-ton pickups. If there is not a letter at the beginning, the tire is a Euro-Metric tire, usually used on passenger vehicles. In the example P235/75R15, the P means this tire fits onto a passenger vehicle.
2. Sidewall Width
Look at the three numbers after the letter or the first three numbers in front of a slash mark if your tire does not have a letter at the beginning. These numbers give the measurement of the tire’s width from sidewall to sidewall in millimeters. Most tire measurements come from the metric system, regardless of the company making the tires. The example of P235/75R15 has a width of 235 millimeters between sidewalls.
3. Aspect Ratio
After the slash mark, you will see a two-digit number. This value refers to the aspect ratio, which is the percentage of the sidewall’s height to its width. In the example tire, P235/75R15, the 75 is the aspect ratio. This tire’s sidewall height measures 75% of the width of the sidewall.
4. Tire Construction
Following the aspect ratio, you will see one of three letters — R, B or D. This letter tells you about the tire’s construction. An R designates radial tires, which have their internal cords laid at 90-degree angles to the tire’s centerline.
Bias-ply tires have a D in this position to indicate their diagonal design. On these types of tires, the cords cross each other at 30 to 45-degree angles. While once common early in the 20th century, bias-ply tires no longer dominate the market. They have been replaced by longer-lasting, more comfortable radial tires.
Belted tires have a B to designate their format. These tires mix the diagonal design of bias-ply with added belts inside the construction. While rare, these have applications on some off-road trucks, trailers and antique vehicles.
For the example used, P235/75R15, the R means its construction is radial.
5. Wheel Diameter
While the sidewall width uses millimeters, the wheel diameter, the last digits after the construction letter, comes in inches. The larger the number here, the larger the wheel size. If you replace your rims, you will also need to change the tires to fit. Be careful when changing wheel sizes because larger wheels affect the handling of the vehicle.
In the example tire, P235/75R15, the 15 at the end means you must install it on a 15-inch diameter wheel.
6. Load Index and Speed Rating
Following the size information, you will see two numbers and a letter. The numbers give the load rating for the tire, while the letter indicates the speed rating.
Using P215/65R15 85H as an example, the 85 gives the load index, also called the tire ply rating, and the H is for the speed rating, which tells you the maximum speed at which you should use the tires. This speed ranges from 3 mph to 186 mph.
What Is a Truck Tire Load Range, Ply Rating, Tire Load Index and Tire Speed Rating?
Often, you will see a number and letter following the tire size. This set of information denotes the tire load and speed rating. On some tires, you may see three letters instead of one. The first gives the speed rating while the next two indicate the load range.
1. Tire Load Range and Tire Ply Rating
The tire load range is also known as ply rating — a term that dates back to the days of bias-ply tires, which had different numbers of ply layers. More layers indicated a better and stronger tire. Today, ply rating still refers to the strength of the tire, but since fewer, stronger plies are used, the numbers have been replaced by load range letters.
The load ranges for passenger tires have a listing beneath the tire code with information about the maximum load range and tire pressures. The load range indicates the heaviest load the tire can handle in pounds. Maximum tire pressure indicates the highest you can inflate the tires, but do not fill your tires to this pressure. It reflects the highest pressure the tire can handle when carrying its maximum load. Use the pressure given in your vehicle’s owner’s manual for the ideal tire pressure that creates the most comfortable and safest ride.
Light truck load ranges have letters B, C, D, E and F, and they have increasing maximum pressures. The lowest pressure is for B tires with 35 psi, and C has a pressure of 50 psi. The pressures increase in increments of 15 from 65 psi, 80 psi and 95 psi for tires with load ranges of D, E and F. For work trucks, the most common load ranges are C, D and E. Commercial trucks, which have much higher carrying requirements, have load ranges from F through L.
In some cases, you may see a number after the load range number, for example, C1 or C2. They still have the same number of plies, but the numbers designate differing max pressures.
If you see a pair of load ratings, the tire manufacturer did not make a mistake. Instead, these LT tires have the load ratings for dual tires. The first number gives the load index for the tires when used on single axles. The second number is how much the tire can handle when used on a dual axle.
For instance, if you see a 104/101 for the load index, this means the tire has an index of 104 when used by itself but only 101 when installed on a dual-tire axle. The second number is usually lower because of unequal load sharing when the tires are paired together. However, when the tire is acting by itself, it can support a higher weight.
- Tire Load Index
The load index on a tire gives a numerical value for the maximum weight the tire can handle when it is inflated to its recommended pressure. Higher numbers correlate to the tire’s ability to bear heavier loads. Indices start at 1, which can carry 102 pounds, and they go up to 150, which can hold up 7,385 pounds. In the example, P215/65R15 85H, the 85 load index means the tire can carry up to 1,135 pounds.
Like truck tire load ratings, the higher the load index, the more robust the tire is. Higher load indices correspond to tires used for hauling cargo or for installation on work trucks. No matter how strong the tire is, though, it’s important to remember to never carry weights that are heavier than your tires or vehicle’s suspension are rated for.
3. Tire Speed Rating
In addition to load ranges and indices, you also need to know about the speed ratings to keep your truck and cargo safe and to avoid damaging your tires. Just as tires have load indices to limit the amount they carry, they also have ratings for their maximum speeds. In the United States, most speed ratings on tires surpass the limits on highways. You should never exceed the posted speeds, regardless of the ability of your tires. Nor should you drive your truck faster than the tires’ speed ratings.
The speed rating has a designation after the load index number and before the load range letter if present. The lowest speed for tires is 75 mph for L rated tires. Only use these for off-road trucks that cannot reach high speeds due to the rough conditions. Keep in mind that speed ratings do not correlate alphabetically. See the speed ratings for various tires listed below and their standard vehicles:
- L: Only apply these tires to off-road trucks that will not exceed 75 mph.
- M: Use with temporary spare tires at no faster than 81 mph.
- N: These tires have a maximum speed of 87 mph.
- P: Tires with a P rating, cannot go faster than 93 mph.
- Q: Q tires are usually winter studded or studless tires and should not exceed 99 mph.
- R: For heavy-duty LT trucks, the rating may be R, which indicates a speed limit of 106 mph.
- S: Family vans and sedans use the rating of S to indicate speed maximums of 112 mph.
- T: Family sedans and vans may also use T-rated tires, which can drive up to 116 mph.
- U: U tires can reach 124 mph.
- H: Sports vehicles with H speed ratings can hit 130 mph.
- V: Sports cars, sedans and coupes often use V-rated tires, which have speed ratings up to 149 mph.
- W: Exotic sports cars use tires that can reach speeds up to 168 mph and have a W designation.
- Y: The fastest speed rating — once Z which indicates faster than 149 mph — now is Y, which allows the tires to reach 186 mph.
Typically, for work trucks, speed is not the most critical factor, which explains why a speed rating of R for heavy-duty trucks has a limit of only 106 mph. Those who drive sports cars or race usually require specialty tires built for speed. If you need to haul cargo, look for the load index or range, which will help you to identify the best tires for your operation.
In the example tire, P215/65R15 85H, the H indicates the speed index of up to 130 mph.
Truck Use and Add-Ons
When you install tires onto your truck, choose tire sizes and load ratings recommended by the manufacturer. However, the size and strength of your tires you need for your vehicle will change if you customize it by adding on service bodies, platforms, tow hooks or other features. Ask us about the recommended chassis and tire loads needed for such additions to your truck. By pairing the right tires with your customized work truck, you will ensure peak productivity from the vehicle.
The tires you install on your truck are only one part of customizing your vehicle to your job. Service bodies and similar add-ons transform your purchased vehicle into a work machine. In fact, if you have a service body on your truck, you may need higher rated tires to hold up the extra weight you carry.
Find the service bodies and other ways to customize your truck to perform best at what you do by checking out our products at Reading Truck. If you have questions about the best options or want to create a customized work truck, contact us today.
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