Load range tells you the maximum weight a tire can safely carry at a given air pressure
Load range is a letter — A, B, C, D, E, or F — printed on the sidewall of your tire. It describes how much weight that tire can hold when inflated to its maximum pressure. The higher the letter, the heavier the load the tire can support. This matters because using a tire rated for less weight than your vehicle actually carries can cause the tire to overheat, wear unevenly, and fail while you're driving.
You don't choose load range based on preference. Your vehicle's manufacturer specifies which load range your tires must have, and you'll find that requirement in your owner's manual or on a sticker inside the driver's door jamb. Using a tire with a lower load range than specified is unsafe. Using one with a higher load range is fine — it just costs more and isn't necessary.
Key Takeaways
- Load range is a single letter (A through F) that appears on your tire's sidewall and indicates the maximum weight that tire can carry.
- Your vehicle's manufacturer specifies the required load range in your owner's manual or on the door jamb sticker, and you must meet or exceed that requirement.
- Load range increases with the letter: A is the lightest, F is the heaviest, and each step up represents a significant jump in weight capacity.
- Load range is tied to tire construction — higher load ranges have more internal layers and stronger materials to handle heavier loads.
- Confusing load range with load index (a number used on passenger car tires) is common; they measure the same thing but use different systems.
How to find load range on your tire
Look at the sidewall of your tire — the outer edge where the rubber meets the rim. You'll see a long string of numbers and letters. The load range is a single capital letter that appears near the end of this string, usually after the tire size and before or after the speed rating.
For example, a tire sidewall might read: LT245/75R16 E. The "E" at the end is the load range. If you can't find it on the tire itself, check your owner's manual or the door jamb sticker, which lists the tire size and load range your vehicle requires. The sticker is usually on the inside of the driver's door or on the fuel door.
What each load range letter means
Load range letters correspond to how many internal layers (called "plies") the tire contains and how strong those layers are. More plies and stronger materials mean the tire can handle more weight. Here's what each letter represents:
| Load Range | Typical Use | Relative Strength |
|---|---|---|
| A | Lightweight trailers, specialty vehicles | Lightest |
| B | Light-duty trailers, some vans | Light |
| C | Standard pickup trucks, vans, light commercial use | Medium |
| D | Heavy-duty pickup trucks, commercial vehicles | Heavy |
| E | Heavy-duty trucks, RVs, extreme loads | Very Heavy |
| F | Specialized heavy equipment, industrial use | Heaviest |
Most passenger vehicles use load range C or D tires. Pickup trucks often use D or E. The specific requirement depends on your vehicle's weight, suspension, and intended use. A standard sedan will never need an E or F; a full-size pickup truck almost always will.
Load range vs. load index: why the confusion
Passenger cars and light trucks use a different system called load index, which is a number rather than a letter. Load index and load range describe the same thing — how much weight a tire can carry — but they use different scales. Load index is common on sedan and compact truck tires; load range is standard on light truck (LT) tires and trailer tires.
If your tire sidewall shows a number like "95" instead of a letter, you're looking at load index, not load range. Your owner's manual will clarify which system your vehicle uses. Don't mix them up: a tire with the right load index for a sedan is not the same as a tire with the right load range for a truck, even if the weight capacity happens to be similar.
Why load range matters for safety and tire life
Using a tire with insufficient load range for your vehicle causes several problems. The tire flexes more than it's designed to, which generates excess heat. That heat breaks down the rubber and the internal structure, leading to bulges, cracks, or sudden failure. Underrated tires also wear faster and unevenly because they can't maintain proper shape under your vehicle's weight.
Overloading a tire — carrying more weight than the tire's load range allows — is especially dangerous at highway speeds. The tire may fail suddenly with little warning. If you regularly carry heavy loads (tools, cargo, passengers), make sure your tires are rated for the total weight your vehicle will actually carry, not just its empty weight.
How to check if your tires meet your vehicle's requirements
Start by finding your vehicle's requirement. Open your owner's manual and search for "tire specifications" or "tire size and load range." You can also check the sticker on the inside of your driver's door or fuel door — it lists the recommended tire size and load range. Write down the load range letter.
Next, look at the sidewall of your current tires and find the load range letter. Compare it to your vehicle's requirement. If your tire's letter is the same or higher (for example, your vehicle requires C and your tire is D), you're fine. If your tire's letter is lower (your vehicle requires D but your tire is C), you need to replace them before driving.
When you buy replacement tires, tell the tire shop your vehicle's load range requirement. They will make sure the tires they sell you meet that specification. Don't assume all tires of the same size have the same load range — they don't. Two tires labeled 245/75R16 might have different load ranges, so always verify.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a tire with a higher load range than my vehicle requires?
Yes. A higher load range means the tire is stronger and can handle more weight, so it's safe to use. You'll pay more for the extra strength you don't need, but there's no safety risk. Many people do this intentionally if they plan to add cargo or towing capacity later.
What happens if I use a tire with a lower load range than required?
The tire will overheat under your vehicle's weight, wear faster, and risk sudden failure. This is unsafe and can cause loss of control, especially at highway speeds. Replace the tires when ready with ones that meet your vehicle's load range requirement.
Is load range the same as ply rating?
Load range and ply rating are related but not identical. Ply rating is the actual number of fabric layers in the tire; load range is a letter that represents the tire's strength and weight capacity. A tire might have 8 plies but be rated load range E. The load range letter is what matters for your vehicle — the ply count is just one way manufacturers achieve that rating.
Do I need to know the load range for all four tires, or just the ones I'm replacing?
All four tires on your vehicle should meet the same load range requirement. If you're replacing only two tires, the new ones must match the load range of the tires staying on your vehicle. If your current tires don't meet your vehicle's requirement, replace all four at once.
Where do I find my vehicle's load range requirement if I don't have the manual?
Check the sticker on the inside of your driver's door or on the fuel door — it lists the tire size and load range. You can also search your vehicle's year, make, and model online with "tire specifications," or call a tire shop with that information and they can tell you what you need.