How to Buy Tires Based on Load Ratings
Purchasing tires for trucks can be a challenge, as well as expensive. One of the considerations that you need to put into your purchase of truck tires is load rating. This is how much weight a tire can support safely. It is important to know the load rating of a tire prior to the purchase and to buy according to that specification.
The process of choosing the right tire:
- Make a determination as to how much weight you specifically need for your tires to support. Your needs will be different based on how you use your truck. This will be determined in part on how large your truck is and how much carrying of heavy loads you plan to do. Then, you need to find out what the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of your truck is. This is usually in your vehicle's owner's manual and it refers to the maximum weight your vehicle can carry.
- After you have determined your vehicle's weight rating, each tire should be equipped to handle one-quarter of the gross weight of the vehicle. The tires are graded according to load rating, and given a number accordingly. A tire with a 99 rating can hold 1709 pounds.
- The load rating of the tire is actually printed on the side of the tire, directly after the tire size code (which looks something like this: 245/30R19). The next number, ranging from 71 to 150, will be the load rating number. This number is a code that indicates how much weight the tire can carry.
- You should follow the code when purchasing your tire. You can purchase a tire that has a higher weight capacity, but you should not purchase one that has a lower weight capacity than you need.