Tyre load ratings — match yours with confidence
The two or three digits before the speed letter are the only marking on your tyre that states, in a defined and testable way, how much weight it may carry. Here is what the number converts to, why it only holds at the right pressure, what the NZ rules actually require on an axle — and what XL and ply ratings really mean, which is not what most people are told.
The load index is the number just before the speed letter — the 91 in 195/65R15 91H. It converts through a standard table to a weight per tyre: 91 is 615 kg. Four of those give 2,460 kg of tyre capacity, which has to comfortably exceed the GVM on your compliance plate.
- Capacity is not free: the rated figure applies at the tyre's rated pressure. Run it soft and you lose a slice of the capacity with the air. How much.
- On one axle: the indices may differ by no more than 2 (or the ply ratings must match). More than that is a reason for rejection.
- Ply rating tells you almost nothing. In our own data every 6-ply tyre we measured carries more than the weakest 8-ply. Read the index instead.
- XL is not a load upgrade in practice. It tracks speed rating and wheel size, not weight — and it has gone from one tyre in ten to nearly one in two. What we found.
In this guide
Finding the load index on your tyre
It is the two or three digits immediately after the size and immediately before the speed letter. In 195/65R15 91H the load index is 91 and the speed rating is H. Together those two characters are called the service description.
The number is a code, not a weight. It converts through a standard ISO/ETRTO table, and the steps are deliberately uneven — each index is roughly 3% more than the one below it, so the gaps get bigger as you climb.
| Index | Per tyre | Index | Per tyre | Typically on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75 | 387 kg | 100 | 800 kg | Small cars ↔ medium SUVs |
| 82 | 475 kg | 102 | 850 kg | Compact cars ↔ larger SUVs |
| 85 | 515 kg | 104 | 900 kg | Small hatchbacks ↔ light commercial |
| 88 | 560 kg | 109 | 1,030 kg | Sedans ↔ vans |
| 91 | 615 kg | 112 | 1,120 kg | The default car ↔ the default ute |
| 94 | 670 kg | 115 | 1,215 kg | Larger sedans ↔ working utes |
| 95 | 690 kg | 118 | 1,320 kg | Camry, CX-5 ↔ heavy utes |
| 98 | 750 kg | 121 | 1,450 kg | Large SUVs ↔ LT-rated vans |
Two columns, read as pairs: the left half covers cars and SUVs, the right half utes, vans and light trucks. The full chart from 50 to 160 has every index in between.
Further round the sidewall you will find it written out in full — MAX LOAD 615 KG (1356 LBS) AT 350 kPa (51 PSI) MAX PRESS or similar. That is the same rating stated the long way, and it tells you the pressure the rating assumes. Note it: the capacity and the pressure come as a pair.
Your tyres against your compliance plate
One number decides whether your tyres are adequate: the GVM — gross vehicle mass — on the compliance plate, usually in the driver's door jamb. That is the most the vehicle may weigh fully loaded, including you, the passengers, the fuel and everything in the boot.
- Read the load index off the sidewallThe digits before the speed letter. If the four tyres differ, use the lowest.
- Convert it to kilogramsFrom the table above, or the full chart.
- Multiply by the number of tyresFour for most vehicles, six for a dual-rear-wheel truck.
- Compare with the GVM — with room to spareWe aim for the tyre total to exceed GVM by 10–15%. Weight never sits evenly across four corners, and the rated capacity assumes a pressure you may not be running.
A Corolla on 195/65R15 91H. Index 91 = 615 kg per tyre, so 2,460 kg of tyre against a GVM of about 1,700 kg. That is 45% of headroom — comfortable, which is what you would expect on a standard fitment carrying nothing unusual.
The same sum on a modified ute is where it gets interesting, because the GVM moves when you bolt things to the vehicle. See upgrading.
Four tyres times the index is a useful headline, but weight is not shared evenly. A ute with a loaded tray or a towball puts far more on the rear axle than the front, and a front-wheel-drive car sits nose-heavy at rest. If you are anywhere near the limits, work it out per axle — the vehicle load calculator does it that way.
Where most NZ vehicles sit
| Vehicle class | Typical index | Per tyre | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small cars | 75–85 | 387–515 kg | Yaris, Swift, Jazz |
| Medium cars | 85–95 | 515–690 kg | Corolla, Civic, Mazda3 |
| SUVs | 95–105 | 690–925 kg | RAV4, CX-5, X-Trail |
| Utes | 100–121 | 800–1,450 kg | Ranger, Hilux, Navara |
| Vans | 109–118 | 1,030–1,320 kg | Hiace, Transit, NV350 |
The rating only exists at the pressure it assumes
This is the part that gets missed. A load index is not a property of the tyre on its own — it is what the tyre carries at a stated pressure. Let the air out and the capacity goes with it, because it is the air volume that supports the weight, not the rubber.
The relationship is published in the ETRTO load-and-inflation tables. For a standard-load passenger tyre it looks like this:
| Pressure | Share of rated capacity | What a 91 (615 kg) tyre actually carries |
|---|---|---|
| 26 PSI | 71% | 437 kg |
| 29 PSI | 79% | 486 kg |
| 32 PSI | 87% | 535 kg |
| 35 PSI | 95% | 584 kg |
| 36 PSI | 100% | 615 kg |
The 615 kg figure is the tyre at 36 PSI, its rated pressure. At the 32 PSI many placards specify, the same tyre is carrying 535 kg — so the real capacity across four tyres is about 2,140 kg, not 2,460 kg. Drop to 26 PSI and it is 1,748 kg, which is only 48 kg above that Corolla's GVM.
That is why a lot of failures blamed on overloading are really under-inflation. The tyre was not overloaded for its rating. It was overloaded for its pressure.
Two practical consequences. First, if you are going to be near your limits — towing, moving house, a full car on a long trip — set the pressures before you load, not after you notice the handling. Second, the headroom you think you have is smaller than the sidewall suggests, which is exactly why we aim for 10–15% over GVM rather than scraping in.
What New Zealand actually requires
Quoted rather than paraphrased, because most of what circulates about this is a paraphrase of a paraphrase. NZTA's inspection manual gives a reason for rejection where the tyres on an axle of a light vehicle do not meet at least one of the following: the tyre ply ratings are the same, or the tyre load indices differ by no more than 2.
- 91 and 91 — identical
- 91 and 93 — two points apart
- 100 and 98 — two points apart
- Different brands, same index — fine
- 91 and 95 — four points apart
- 100 and 90 — ten points apart
- A P-metric beside an LT — different size designation
- Any pair where neither test is met
Note what the rule is not. It does not say the indices must be identical, and it does not require you to match the original fitment exactly. What it does require, separately, is that the tyres be adequate for the axle loads the vehicle is rated for — which is the GVM arithmetic above, not a comparison against the placard sticker.
It is a bad idea and we will not do it, but be precise about why: the manual's test is whether the tyre is adequate for the vehicle, not whether it matches what the factory chose. A drop that still comfortably covers the GVM is not automatically a rejection; a drop that takes you near or below it is a real problem and it will show up in the wear long before an inspector sees it. If you are considering a lower index to save money, run the numbers first — that is what the vehicle load calculator is for.
Overloading is also an operating matter rather than only an inspection one. Insurers can ask questions about a vehicle operated outside its rated limits, and commercial operators face weight enforcement on the road. Neither is a reason to panic about a tyre one index point down, and both are a reason to know your GVM. Check your own policy wording rather than taking a web page's word for it — including ours.
Source: NZTA Vehicle Inspection Requirements Manual, in-service WOF and CoF, section 10-1 tyres and wheels. The same section also requires the tyres on an axle to match on size designation, carcass type and tread pattern type — see the WOF tyre guide.
XL, ply ratings and dual indices — which of them mean anything
Three other load-related markings turn up on sidewalls and in sales conversations. One of them is precise, one is nearly meaningless, and one is widely misunderstood.
Dual load index — 121/118S
Precise, and easy. Light-truck tyres carry two indices because the same tyre is rated differently depending on how it is fitted:
| Position | Applies when | Example 121/118 |
|---|---|---|
| First number | One wheel each side — most utes and 4WDs | 121 = 1,450 kg per tyre |
| Second number | Fitted in pairs on a dual-wheel axle | 118 = 1,320 kg per tyre |
If your vehicle has one wheel at each corner, the first number is yours. The lower dual figure exists because paired tyres never share load perfectly and run hotter with less air moving between them.
Ply rating and load range — 6PR, 8PR, C, D, E
Nearly meaningless as a capacity figure. The term survives from an era when it counted actual layers of cotton in the casing. It has not described construction for decades, and in our own data it does not reliably describe capacity either.
| Ply rating | Capacity range we measured | Tyres |
|---|---|---|
| 6PR (load range C) | 800 – 1,150 kg | 15 |
| 8PR (load range D) | 560 – 1,500 kg | 58 |
| 10PR (load range E) | 1,250 – 1,700 kg | 54 |
The lightest 8-ply in our records is rated 560 kg; the lightest 6-ply is 800 kg. The ranges overlap across almost their entire length, and the same is true one step up — the strongest 8PR at 1,500 kg beats every 10PR below index 122. Anyone buying "an 8-ply tyre" expecting a capacity guarantee is buying a word. The load index is the only marking that carries a defined, testable meaning, and it is printed on the same sidewall.
Where the letter is useful: it reliably sets the tyre's maximum pressure — C is 50 PSI, D is 65, E is 80. That part is dependable.
XL, Extra Load and Reinforced
Widely misunderstood. At a given size, an XL tyre is rated to carry more than its standard-load equivalent — that is the definition, and it needs a higher pressure to deliver it. What people take from that is "XL means heavy duty", and across a real fleet that turns out not to hold.
| Across our 1,545 records | Median load index | Per tyre | Median width | Median rim |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marked XL or Reinforced | 96 | 710 kg | 225 mm | R18 |
| Standard load | 95 | 690 kg | 215 mm | R16 |
One index point apart — about 20 kg per tyre — and two rim sizes apart. The marking is not buying capacity. It is compensating for construction: a short, wide, low-profile sidewall on a big rim has less air volume and less flex, so it needs a reinforced casing simply to reach the rating an ordinary 65-profile manages without one. XL is the price of the wheel fitted to the car, not an upgrade to it.
Which is worth knowing when someone offers you XL tyres as a solution to carrying more weight. If you genuinely need capacity, the answer is a higher load index — possibly an LT tyre — not the XL version of the same index.
What 1,540 tyres told us about load ratings
We read the load index and speed rating off every tyre that comes through the workshop, photograph the sidewall, and store both alongside the measured tread. That gives a set in which the promise a tyre made can be set against what actually became of it. Three findings changed how we advise people.
1. The lowest-capacity tyres are the ordinary ones
Capacity and speed trade against each other. A casing can be built to carry weight or to tolerate heat and speed; doing both costs money, so most are built for one.
| Speed rating | Permitted | Median load index | Per tyre | Tyres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q | 160 km/h | 117 | 1,285 kg | 75 |
| R | 170 km/h | 112 | 1,120 kg | 49 |
| S | 180 km/h | 110 | 1,060 kg | 101 |
| T | 190 km/h | 110 | 1,060 kg | 167 |
| H | 210 km/h | 91 | 615 kg | 452 |
| V | 240 km/h | 92 | 630 kg | 298 |
| W | 270 km/h | 95 | 690 kg | 308 |
| Y | 300 km/h | 96 | 710 kg | 80 |
Capacity falls by more than half from Q to H, then climbs again through V, W and Y. The curve has a floor and the floor sits at H — the ordinary passenger tyre, the cheapest useful thing to fit to a family car, and the most common rating on New Zealand roads. The lowest-capacity tyres in the fleet are not the small ones. They are the default ones.
2. Load index predicts how the tyre will be mis-inflated
Sharper than construction, width or terrain — the load index is the best single predictor in the dataset of which pressure fault a tyre will show.
| Load index | Capacity | Under-inflated | Over-inflated | Tyres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Below 90 | under 600 kg | 34% | 7% | 394 |
| 90–99 | 600–775 kg | 28% | 12% | 609 |
| 100–109 | 800–1,030 kg | 17% | 16% | 254 |
| 110–119 | 1,060–1,360 kg | 22% | 31% | 225 |
| 120 and above | 1,400 kg+ | 0% | 72% | 58 |
The gradient runs the full length of the scale and inverts completely. In the lowest band under-inflation outruns over-inflation five to one. Above index 120, not one tyre showed under-inflation wear and 72% showed the opposite. A high load index means a casing designed to be inflated hard because it expects weight — and when the vehicle runs empty, as utes and vans mostly do, that pressure scrubs the centre out of the tread. More on that.
3. XL has quietly become the default, and it is not about load
| Manufactured | Share marked XL |
|---|---|
| 2024 and later | 48% |
| 2021–2023 | 28% |
| 2017–2020 | 21% |
| 2012–2016 | 14% |
| Before 2012 | 10% |
From one tyre in ten to nearly one in two in a little over a decade — while the median load index across all five eras stayed flat at 94–96. Nothing is being asked to carry more. Wheels grew, profiles shrank, and the reinforced casing went from a speciality to the ordinary way of building a tyre for a modern car. It also tracks speed rather than weight: 8% of H-rated tyres are XL against 80% of W-rated ones.
First edition, 29 July 2026 — 1,545 workshop inspections, 1,540 carrying a readable load index and speed rating. This is descriptive analysis of one workshop's records, not a representative sample of the national fleet.
Common NZ vehicles and their load ratings
Typical original fitments, for orientation. Always read your own sidewall and your own compliance plate — trim levels and model years vary, and a previous owner may have changed the size.
| Vehicle | Typical size | Index | Per tyre | Four tyres | Approx GVM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Corolla | 195/65R15 | 91H | 615 kg | 2,460 kg | ~1,700 kg |
| Honda Civic | 215/50R17 | 95W | 690 kg | 2,760 kg | ~1,800 kg |
| Mazda CX-5 | 225/55R19 | 99V | 775 kg | 3,100 kg | ~2,100 kg |
| Toyota RAV4 | 225/65R17 | 102H | 850 kg | 3,400 kg | ~2,200 kg |
| Toyota Hiace | 195R15C | 109/107R | 1,030 kg | 4,120 kg | ~2,800 kg |
| Ford Ranger | 265/65R17 LT | 115T | 1,215 kg | 4,860 kg | ~3,200 kg |
Notice the pattern: the standard fitment leaves 40–50% of headroom over GVM on every one of them. That is deliberate, and it is the margin that disappears first when someone fits a lower index, runs low pressures, or bolts 250 kg of accessories to a ute.
Towing: the towball weight lands on your rear tyres
A trailer does not just pull backwards. It presses down on the towball, and that download is carried entirely by the rear axle — on top of whatever the vehicle is already carrying. Towball weight typically runs 8–15% of the trailer's total weight.
- Tyres 265/65R17 115T → 1,215 kg each
- Rear axle tyre capacity: 2,430 kg
- Rear axle weight: 1,600 kg
- Trailer 1,500 kg, towball at 10%: +150 kg
- Rear axle total: 1,750 kg
680 kg of margin — 28% of the tyres' capacity. Comfortable.
- Tyres 225/65R17 102H → 850 kg each
- Rear axle tyre capacity: 1,700 kg
- Rear axle weight: 1,100 kg
- Trailer 2,000 kg, towball at 12%: +240 kg
- Rear axle total: 1,340 kg
360 kg of margin — 21%. The tyres cope, but see the warning below.
In that second example the tyres are the least of it: a 2,000 kg braked trailer is at or beyond what most RAV4 variants are rated to tow. Tyre capacity is one limit among several — the others are the vehicle's braked towing capacity, its tow-ball download limit, and its gross combination mass. Work through those first; the tyres are the last check, not the first.
- Add 4–7 PSI to the rear when the trailer is on — capacity comes from pressure, as above.
- Set the trailer's own tyres from its weight, not from a car placard. The trailer formula is in the pressure guide.
- Trailer tyres age out before they wear out. Check the DOT date — a caravan doing 2,000 km a year still has ten-year-old rubber.
When to go up a load rating, and how
Most people never need to. The standard fitment leaves plenty of headroom for a standard vehicle. You need more when you have changed what the vehicle weighs or what it does.
| Situation | What is happening | What we would do |
|---|---|---|
| Accessories fitted | Bull bar, canopy, winch, tray, roof rack — 60–200 kg each | Recalculate against the new kerb weight, then upgrade to suit |
| Regular heavy loads | Tyres near capacity most weeks | Up 1–2 index points minimum |
| Frequent towing | Rear axle carrying vehicle plus towball | LT-rated, or +2 index points on the rear pair at least |
| Commercial use | Loaded several times a day | LT tyres, and check them monthly |
| Visible sidewall bulge under load | The casing is working harder than it should | Check pressure first — then upgrade if it persists |
| Fast shoulder wear | Usually pressure, occasionally capacity | Pressure first. Read the wear pattern before spending money. |
Before: 265/65R17 112T, 1,120 kg per tyre, 4,480 kg total against a 3,050 kg GVM — 32% of margin.
After a canopy, bull bar and winch (about 250 kg): effective GVM 3,300 kg. Target 10% over that = 3,630 kg total, or 908 kg per tyre minimum.
Options: 265/65R17 115T (1,215 kg) keeps the original diameter; 265/70R17 115T LT if you want the taller LT casing; 265/65R17 120/117S LT (1,400 kg) if you are working it hard. All three clear the target comfortably.
Passenger versus light truck
P-metric (passenger)
- Softer ride, quieter, better economy
- Lighter casing, lower rolling resistance
- Maximum pressures typically 36–51 PSI
- Right for cars, SUVs and utes that mostly run empty
LT (light truck)
- Firmer ride — reinforced sidewalls, and you feel them
- Higher capacity and a tougher casing
- Maximum pressures typically 50–80 PSI
- Right for real loads, towing and commercial work
- Keep the diameter within 5% of standard, or you are into LVV certification. Check the diameter first.
- Do complete axles — the ±2 rule applies, and mismatched pairs handle differently under load.
- Do not drop the speed rating below what the vehicle needs while chasing capacity. As our data shows, the two trade against each other, so a big capacity jump often costs you speed rating. What NZ actually requires there.
Common questions about load ratings
The ones we get asked in the workshop, and the ones the markings themselves cause.
What load rating/index do I need? (Load index chart)
The load index indicates maximum weight each tyre can carry at correct pressure. Always match or exceed your vehicle's requirement.
| Index | kg/tyre | Index | kg/tyre | Index | kg/tyre |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75 | 387 | 91 | 615 | 106 | 950 |
| 79 | 437 | 94 | 670 | 110 | 1,060 |
| 82 | 475 | 95 | 690 | 116 | 1,250 |
| 85 | 515 | 97 | 730 | 120 | 1,400 |
| 88 | 560 | 99 | 775 | 121 | 1,450 |
| 89 | 580 | 102 | 850 | 126 | 1,700 |
| 90 | 600 | 104 | 900 | 129 | 1,850 |
Quick check: Load index × 4 tyres = vehicle's maximum supported weight. This must meet or exceed your vehicle's Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM).
WOF requirements: Tyres must meet or exceed the manufacturer's specified load index. Different load ratings on the same axle will fail WOF.
How do I find my vehicle's required load rating?
Do I need the same load rating on all four tyres?
Can I mix different load ratings on the same axle?
Load indexes don't need to be identical on the same axle, but they must be close. The accepted tolerance is within 2 index points.
Examples:
- Front right: load index 91 → Front left can be 89 to 93 = ✓ WOF OK
- 205/55R16 91V + 205/55R16 92V = ✓ Fine (1 point difference)
- 205/55R16 91V + 205/55R16 95V = ❌ Likely fail (4 points apart)
Why close matching still matters:
- Even 2 points represents a difference in sidewall stiffness
- Large gaps create uneven handling — one side flexes more than the other
- Under hard braking or cornering, response becomes less predictable
- Traction control can be confused by different grip characteristics
How much safety margin should I have above my GVM?
Can I fit tyres with a lower load rating than the originals?
We would not, and here is the precise reason rather than the usual one. The NZ inspection manual does not test your tyres against the factory fitment — it requires that the tyres on an axle match on the ±2 rule (or on ply rating), and separately that they are adequate for the loads the vehicle is rated for.
So a small drop that still comfortably covers your GVM is not automatically a rejection. A drop that takes you near or below it is a real problem, and it shows up in the wear long before an inspector sees it. The standard fitment usually leaves 40–50% of headroom; that margin is there to absorb uneven loading and less-than-perfect pressures, and it is what you are spending when you go down.
Run the numbers before deciding — the vehicle load calculator does the arithmetic against your GVM.
Can I fit a lower load rating than what's on my door placard?
This is more nuanced than most people realise. Your door placard specifies one or more tyre sizes, each with its own load index. The load rating you need depends on which size you're fitting.
Example — Nissan X-Trail (2008):
- Placard option 1: 215/65R16 98H
- Placard option 2: 215/60R17 96H
If you're fitting the R16 size, you need load index 98+. If you're fitting the R17 size, you only need 96+. The required load index changes because different sized tyres carry weight differently.
What about changing to a size not on the placard?
If you're switching to a size within the ±5% diameter rule that isn't listed on your placard, the general principle is: your tyres must support the vehicle's gross axle weight. In practice, staying at or above the load index of your placard's closest equivalent size is the safest approach.
Will higher-rated tyres give me a harsher ride?
What happens if I exceed my tyre's load rating?
What are XL/Extra Load tyres?
XL (Extra Load) or Reinforced tyres are passenger-sized tyres with stronger internal construction that can carry more weight than standard tyres of the same size.
Example: A standard 235/45R18 94H carries 670kg per tyre. The XL version 235/45R18 98H XL carries 750kg — 12% more capacity with no change in fitment.
They achieve this through additional body plies and reinforced bead areas. The tyre looks identical from outside but is structurally stronger. XL tyres are marked with "XL", "Extra Load", or "RF" (Reinforced) on the sidewall. For help reading these markings, see our Tyre Sizes tyre size calculator or Load Rating Guide. Check if XL is available in your size →
Can I use XL (Extra Load) tyres instead of standard load?
Yes, and you very likely already are. An XL tyre is rated to carry more than the standard-load version of the same size — but it only delivers that at a higher pressure, and in practice XL is now simply how modern sizes are built.
Across our own 1,545 records, XL tyres carry 710 kg at the median against 690 kg for standard load — one index point apart — while sitting on rims two sizes larger. The marking is compensating for a short, wide, low-profile sidewall having less air volume to work with, not adding capacity for you. It has gone from 10% of tyres before 2012 to 48% of those made in 2024 or later, with median capacity flat throughout.
So: fitting XL is fine and often unavoidable. Just do not buy it as a load upgrade — if you need capacity, go up the load index. The full explanation.
Can I mix XL (Extra Load) and Standard Load tyres on the same axle?
XL and SL (Standard Load) are construction categories, not load ratings themselves. What matters for WOF is the actual load index number:
- A 205/55R16 91V (SL) and a 205/55R16 94V XL have different load indexes (91 vs 94) = ❌ Fail WOF
- However, if you found an SL 94 and an XL 94 in the same size (rare), the load indexes match = technically OK
Why mixing is still not ideal:
- XL tyres have stiffer sidewalls and require higher pressure to achieve their rated load
- Different ride characteristics and flex behaviour on the same axle
- Different optimal pressure settings left-to-right
What is ply rating / load range? Does 10-ply mean 10 actual layers?
No — it has not meant literal layers for decades, and as a capacity figure it is close to meaningless. It survives from an era when it counted plies of cotton in the casing.
In our own records the ranges overlap almost completely: 6-ply spans 800–1,150 kg, 8-ply spans 560–1,500 kg, 10-ply 1,250–1,700 kg. Every 6-ply tyre we measured carries more than the weakest 8-ply. Buying "an 8-ply" expecting a capacity guarantee is buying a word.
Where the letter is dependable is maximum pressure: load range C is 50 PSI, D is 65, E is 80. For capacity, read the load index. More.
What's the difference between single and dual load ratings (e.g., 121/118)?
What does dual load index mean? (e.g., 121/118S — single vs dual fitment)
A dual load index like 121/118S appears on LT (Light Truck) tyres and indicates different load capacities depending on how the tyre is used:
- First number (121) = load capacity in single fitment (one tyre per side, standard setup) = 1,450kg per tyre
- Second number (118) = load capacity in dual fitment (two tyres per side on rear axle, like on some trucks and larger commercial vehicles) = 1,320kg per tyre
Why is the dual number lower? When two tyres are mounted side by side, they generate more heat (less airflow between them), so the load capacity is reduced for safety.
Which number applies to me?
- Ute, SUV, standard 4WD: Use the first (higher) number — you have single fitment
- Truck with dual rear wheels ("dually"): Use the second (lower) number
If your tyre shows only one number (e.g., 95H), it's a passenger/standard tyre designed for single fitment only.
Can I mix P-metric and LT-metric tyres?
Do Anchee tyres come in XL (Extra Load) or reinforced versions?
What XL means: Extra Load tyres have reinforced sidewalls that allow higher inflation pressures (up to 42 PSI vs standard 36 PSI), increasing the weight the tyre can safely carry.
Anchee models commonly available in XL:
- AC818 — Many 18"–22" sizes are XL rated for heavier performance cars and SUVs
- AC828 — SUV sizes often come in XL for vehicles like Kia Sportage, Toyota RAV4, CX-5
- EP Founder CE101 — All EV sizes are reinforced for battery weight
NZ context: If your vehicle's door placard specifies XL tyres, you must fit XL or equivalent. Standard load tyres on an XL-specified vehicle will fail WOF and may be dangerous under load.
Check the product page for specific size availability, or contact us and we'll confirm XL availability for your size.
Does tyre pressure affect load capacity?
What is a wheel load rating and how do I check it?
A wheel load rating is the maximum weight a single wheel is designed to safely support. It's usually stamped on the back of the wheel in kilograms (e.g., "690kg" or "Max Load 1520lbs").
How to calculate the minimum you need:
- Find your vehicle's Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) — usually on the door placard
- Take the heavier axle (front or rear) and divide by 2
- That's the minimum load rating per wheel
- Add margin for passengers, cargo, and towing
Example: Your ute has a rear GAWR of 1,800kg → minimum 900kg per wheel. If you tow or carry heavy loads regularly, aim for 1,000kg+ per wheel.
🔧 Load Rating Calculator — check if your wheels meet your vehicle's requirements
Where do I find the full FAQ for each topic?
Each subject has its own guide, and each guide carries the full set of questions for it:
- Tyre pressure — including what pressure does to the capacity on this page
- Reading a tyre size — every marking on the sidewall
- Speed ratings — the other half of the service description
- WOF — every tyre check an inspector makes
If your question is not in any of them, ask us — we answer them ourselves and add the good ones to these guides.
Need a higher-rated tyre?
300+ sizes listed online and 15,000+ tyres in stock at Te Puke — including LT-rated fitments for utes, vans and anything that actually works for a living. Tell us the load and we will match it.
(07) 573 9090 · Te Puke, Bay of Plenty · Free North Island delivery
Load tools
This page explains it. These four do the arithmetic — all free, no login.
Related guides
- Load index to kilogram conversions and the load-and-inflation percentages: the ISO/ETRTO standard tables — ETRTO, the European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation. The percentage-of-capacity figures follow the reading of those tables published by Peter "Jadatis", the Dutch tyre pressure researcher.
- New Zealand requirements: NZTA Vehicle Inspection Requirements Manual, in-service WOF and CoF, section 10-1 tyres and wheels. Certification of modified vehicles: LVVTA.
- First-party: the ply-rating ranges, the XL findings, the speed-versus-capacity table and the mis-inflation gradient are all from our own workshop programme — 1,545 inspections, 1,540 carrying a readable load index and speed rating, first edition 29 July 2026. Full analysis in the load rating report.
Page © 2026 Tyre Dispatch NZ · Te Puke, New Zealand. Correct as at 21 August 2026. The ISO tables do not change; our own percentages will move as the programme grows.
Taylor Houghton
Manager, Tyre Dispatch · Warehouse Manager, Traction Tyres
Taylor Houghton has spent his working life in the tyre trade, beginning in his father's tyre business at the age of five and handling import containers through his school years. He developed Tyre Dispatch, the retail arm of Traction Tyres, and now manages it alongside the Traction Tyres warehouse in Te Puke, with responsibility for buying and brand selection. He holds no ownership interest in either business.
Both brands the company distributes exclusively in New Zealand, Anchee and Predator, were his selections, each assessed on factory accreditation, compound composition and independent test data rather than name recognition. More than 100,000 Anchee tyres have since been sold here, and both brands hold five star review averages.
The guides, calculators and tools on this site are his own work, as is the workshop dataset behind them, which covers 1,700+ documented tyre inspections and 45,000+ photographs and represents more than a thousand hours, the majority outside business hours. He is the petitioner to Parliament for mandatory tyre performance labelling and minimum wet-grip standards in New Zealand, and appeared in the launch video for Tyrewise, the national tyre stewardship scheme.
Photography, measurements and advice on this site are first-hand; where a figure comes from elsewhere, it is attributed.
Looking for tyre training data? The imagery and structured inspection dataset are available to licence. Contact email@tyredispatch.co.nz.
General guidance based on published standards and our own workshop data — reliable but hand-compiled and not guaranteed error-free. Spot something wrong? Email email@tyredispatch.co.nz and we'll fix it.