Should I pick a higher or lower load rating?
Choosing the right load rating
Higher load rating — fine
You can safely fit a tyre with a higher load rating than your manufacturer recommends. This is common on SUVs and vehicles that regularly carry heavy loads. A higher-rated tyre will handle the weight comfortably and may offer slightly improved durability.
Lower load rating — never
You must never fit a tyre with a lower load rating than your vehicle manufacturer specifies. A tyre with insufficient load capacity could:
- Fail under normal driving loads, especially when the car is fully loaded
- Overheat and blow out at speed
- Cause an MOT failure
- Invalidate your car insurance
How we prevent mistakes
When you search on Tyres.co.uk by registration, we only display tyres that meet or exceed your vehicle's minimum load rating. This means you cannot accidentally order a tyre that is not strong enough for your car.
