Tyre load index

It is a legal requirement that the indicated tyre load capacity is not exceeded. In addition, you avoid the risk of tyre damage. Your vehicle speed and the air pressure in the tyres also influence the relative indicator of load capacity. Driving at high speed and with heavy loads exerts forces that put a high amount of stress on the tyres. If the load becomes too great, the tyres can become damaged. Other factors often come into play here, such as the tyre lifespan. But one thing is certain: By staying within your tyres’ load capacity, you can virtually eliminate damage caused by excess loads.

The information in the load index table for tyres is based on an assumed tyre pressure of 2.5 bar. However, experience shows that the value is not adhered to in many cars. The pressure is only seldom checked, with the result that tyres are simply not adequately filled. Inadequate tyre pressure has a negative effect on driving behaviour.

Check the air pressure of your tyres on a regular basis and increase it above the target value by a few tenths of a bar as necessary. This way, you will increase your tyre load capacity and guarantee safe driving behaviour.

Checking the table is the easiest and surest way to calculate the load capacity index of your tyres. However, it is possible to find out the next highest values without a table if the permissible weight for a rating is already known. Nevertheless, deviations cannot be ruled out. For this reason, we recommend using our table to calculate the exact load capacity of your tyres.

There is not necessarily a deviation between the load index of a summer tyre and that of the winter tyre. However, if the tread depth or diameter differs, the tyre probably has a different load capacity index. In winter, tyres have to meet more weather challenges than in summer. Whether on snow or ice, driving becomes more difficult and braking distances become longer. This means that: Higher loads mean that drivers have less control over their cars. So take the different load capacities seriously and ensure maximum safety.