DefinitionA number associated with the reference mass a tire can carry when used in conformity with the requirements governing its use specified by the manufacturer (UN R30, para. 2.28).
Load index to kilograms (passenger car tires)
| LI | kg | LI | kg | LI | kg | LI | kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 250 | 76 | 400 | 92 | 630 | 108 | 1000 |
| 61 | 257 | 77 | 412 | 93 | 650 | 109 | 1030 |
| 62 | 265 | 78 | 425 | 94 | 670 | 110 | 1060 |
| 63 | 272 | 79 | 437 | 95 | 690 | 111 | 1090 |
| 64 | 280 | 80 | 450 | 96 | 710 | 112 | 1120 |
| 65 | 290 | 81 | 462 | 97 | 730 | 113 | 1150 |
| 66 | 300 | 82 | 475 | 98 | 750 | 114 | 1180 |
| 67 | 307 | 83 | 487 | 99 | 775 | 115 | 1215 |
| 68 | 315 | 84 | 500 | 100 | 800 | 116 | 1250 |
| 69 | 325 | 85 | 515 | 101 | 825 | 117 | 1285 |
| 70 | 335 | 86 | 530 | 102 | 850 | 118 | 1320 |
| 71 | 345 | 87 | 545 | 103 | 875 | 119 | 1360 |
| 72 | 355 | 88 | 560 | 104 | 900 | 120 | 1400 |
| 73 | 365 | 89 | 580 | 105 | 925 | ||
| 74 | 375 | 90 | 600 | 106 | 950 | ||
| 75 | 387 | 91 | 615 | 107 | 975 |
Values 60 to 120 are quoted from Annex IV of UN R30. Commercial vehicle tires continue above 120 under UN R54 and may carry two indices: one for single fitment and one for twin fitment.
How the requirement for a vehicle is set
Under UN R142, a tire fitted singly must have a maximum load rating of at least half of the technically permissible maximum axle mass of the most heavily loaded axle. The vehicle manufacturer states the resulting minimum in the approved tyre/wheel combinations and in the owner’s handbook.
Tire makers state the practical rule the same way: never fit a tire with a lower load index than the vehicle manufacturer specifies. A higher index is permissible.
Load index and speed
The kilogram value applies up to 210 km/h. Above that, UN R30 reduces the permitted load: for V-rated tires the allowed load falls in steps from 100 percent at 210 km/h to 91 percent at 240 km/h. W and Y tires have their own reduction tables in the same regulation. This is why the load and speed markings are read together, and why UN R142 explicitly requires the load rating at speed to be considered for V, W and Y tires.
Extra Load
A tire marked REINFORCED or EXTRA LOAD has a carcass more resistant than the standard tire of the same size and therefore carries a higher load index. Vehicles that specify an XL tire need the index printed in their documents, not merely the same size string.
Read next: the speed rating guide and how tire fitment works.
Sources
- UN Regulation No 30 — Uniform provisions concerning the approval of pneumatic tyres for motor vehicles and their trailers (Official Journal L 201, 30 July 2008)
- UN Regulation No 54 — Pneumatic tyres for commercial vehicles and their trailers (Official Journal 2008)
- UN Regulation No 142 — Uniform provisions concerning the approval of motor vehicles with regard to the installation of their tyres (01 series, Official Journal 2021)
- UN Regulation No 117 — Tyres with regard to rolling sound emissions, adhesion on wet surfaces and rolling resistance (Official Journal L 218, 12 August 2016)
- Continental — Load index
- Pirelli — Tyre load index
All sources accessed 8 September 2026. UN Regulations are quoted from their Official Journal publications on EUR-Lex; later supplements may exist. This guide is general information, not advice for a specific vehicle: the vehicle documents and the applicable national rules take precedence.