Tire Tips: Load Range E Weight Capacity

What is the load range E weight capacity? Is there any relationship between it and tire load index capacity? Let’s figure it out in this guide. 

When looking at the sidewall of a tire, you can see different numbers, which contain important details about your tire. For example, the alphanumeric code includes an entire description of the tire, helping you determine if the tire is right for your vehicle or not. 

There are different definitions when it comes to this, including tire load index capacity and load range. For instance, you might see E (Ply Rating) on a light truck and SUV tire. But what is the load range E weight capacity? This guide will help you understand the actual meaning of the load range E and other numbers on the tire, 

Tire Load Index Capacity 

Generally speaking, the tire load rating indicates how much weight the tire can carry. The major factors deciding the load-carrying capacity of all the tires mixed are the product of the number of tires and load capacity of a single tire. For example, the rating of 100 denotes that it has a load capacity of 1764 pounds. To get the maximum load-carrying capacity of your vehicle, simply multiply that by four tires, and here is 1764 x 4 = 7056 pounds.

Below is the detailed chart of load carrying capacity index ratings for your reference. 

Load-Carrying Capacity Index Ratings
Load Index	Load (lbs)	Load Index	Load (lbs)	Load Index	Load (lbs)
0	99	50	419	100	1764
1	102	51	430	101	1819
2	105	52	441	102	1874
3	107	53	454	103	1929
4	110	54	467	104	1984
5	114	55	481	105	2039
6	117	56	494	106	2094
7	120	57	507	107	2149
8	123	58	520	108	2205
9	128	59	536	109	2271
10	132	60	551	110	2337
11	136	61	567	111	2403
12	139	62	584	112	2469
13	143	63	600	113	2535
14	148	64	617	114	2601
15	152	65	639	115	2679
16	157	66	639	116	2756
17	161	67	677	117	2833
18	165	68	694	118	2910
19	171	69	716	119	2998
20	176	70	739	120	3086
21	182	71	761	121	3197
22	187	72	783	122	3307
23	193	73	805	123	3417
24	198	74	827	124	3527
25	204	75	852	125	3638
26	209	76	882	126	3748
27	215	77	908	127	3858
28	220	78	937	128	3968
29	227	79	963	129	4079
30	234	80	992	130	4189
31	240	81	1019	131	4289
32	247	82	1047	132	4409
33	254	83	1074	133	4541
34	260	84	1102	134	4674
35	267	85	1135	135	4806
36	276	86	1168	136	4938
37	282	87	1201	137	5071
38	291	88	1235	138	5203
39	300	89	1279	139	5357
40	309	90	1323	140	5512
41	320	91	1356	141	5677
42	331	92	1389	142	5842
43	342	93	1433	143	6008
44	353	94	1477	144	6173
45	364	95	1521	145	6393
46	375	96	1565	146	6614
47	386	97	1609	147	6779
48	397	98	1653	148	6844
49	408	99	1709	149	7165
				150	7385

To determine the right tire load index capacity, you need to consider the weight of your vehicle, including passengers and any cargo you might be carrying. Follow the guidelines provided by your tire manufacturer and make sure to never exceed the maximum weight capacity of your tires. Check out this guide for more information on cylinder weight and gas charts to ensure you have everything you need to keep your vehicle running smoothly and safely while carrying heavy items.

What is the Load Range? 

If you have ever heard of PLY Rating, then load range is simply the older measurement of it. This term relates to the construction of the tire, which is made of rubber and cord layers known as plies. In the past, the tire had a bigger laid carrying capacity when there were more tires. As such, a lot of manufacturers would calculate a tire’s plies and use this figure to represent carrying capacity.

Having said that, the modern construct of tires is made with fewer plies without giving up the carrying capacity. Hence, the load range now simply indicates the tire strength and the allowable PSI. For example, a B load range denotes that a tire corresponds to a 4-ply construction tire. But in fact, this tire is not made with 4 plies. Instead, it is built with one or two plies of comparable strength. 

You can look at the chart below to know more about the load range. 

LT-Metric, LT-Flotation, and LT-Numeric Light Truck Tires
Load Range	Ply Rating	Abbreviated	Maximum Load Pressure
B	4	B	35 psi (240 kPa)*
C	6	C	50 psi (350 kPa)*
D	8	D	65 psi (450 kPa)*
E	10	E	80 psi (550 kPa)*
F	12	F	95 psi (650 kPa)*
*Selected large LT sizes are designed with reduced maximum load pressures

What Does the E Stand for on Tire Ratings?

In more detail, as shown in the chart above, the load range is distinguished by a letter of the alphabet, typically from B to F. These letters denote the load pressure and ply rating. When you see the letter E on the tire, it means that your tire has a ply rating of 10, and the maximum load pressure is 80 psi (550 kPa).

You will find this letter E in the middle of almost all tire service descriptions. Both sides of this letter will have spaces on them. Since it represents the load range of the tire, it is important for you to check your vehicle’s instructions to decide the proper load range. Besides, E indicates one of the highest load ranges available on the market. Therefore, if you are going to carry heavy loads with your truck, you might want to get this highly rated tire.

Conclusion 

For today’s fleet managers, it is really crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of everything related to your vehicle’s tires, typically truck tires. Generally speaking, the load rating of a tire directly affects the carrying capacity of a vehicle. In addition, the load ratings impact both truck tires and passenger tires. 

Another key thing to keep in mind is the load range, which is recognized by a letter of the alphabet. These letters are usually common from B to F that denote maximum load pressure and ply rating. The load range E weight capacity is 80 psi (550 kPa).