Not sure what tyre load index 126 means on your tyre’s sidewall? You’re not alone. This guide breaks down what tyre load ratings are, how to read them, and why they’re vital for safe driving. Discover what a 126 rating means in real weight terms, how it affects performance, and how to choose the best tyres for your vehicle.
There are several important pieces of information that you can glean from your tyres and from the set of numbers and letters that you’ll find printed on the tyre sidewall.
One of the most important pieces of information to derive from this sidewall is the tyre load rating – that is, how much weight your tyres are equipped to safely carry on the road.
In this article, we’re talking about tyre load rating, what it is, and how to read it – as well as diving into and sharing exactly what a rating of 126 is.
What is Tyre Load Rating?
Tyre load rating tells you how much weight the tyre is designed to hold, with the overall weight of the vehicle needing to be lower than the sum of all four tyres holding it in place.
It is an important part of safe driving and optimising the lifespan of your tyres, as tyres that carry excessive weight can quickly become worn down and damaged.
How to Find Tyre Load Rating
Tyre load rating can be found nestled into your tyre size calculation, which is printed on the sidewall of the tyre. It is represented by a number, which can be read in accordance with a load rating that – translating that number to a maximum weight that the tyre can hold.
To help you first identify the load rating, here is an example tyre size calculation:
215 \ 55 \ R16 97V
In this example…
- 215 – Tyre Width. This is width of the tyre, as measured in millimetres.
- 55 – Tyre Profile. This is the height of the sidewall as a percentage of the width.
- R – Construction. This tells you that the tyre is made of Radial construction.
- 16 – Tyre Diameter. The inside rim of the tyre in inches.
- 97 – Load Rating. How much load and vehicle weight the tyre is designed to take.
- V – Speed Rating. This is the maximum speed rating for the tyre.
97 is the important number, set right at the end next to the speed rating.
What is a Load Rating of 126?
If your tyre displays the number ‘126’ in place of the ‘97’ example above, then this is the load rating.
But what does it mean?
126 is actually the highest possible load rating that a tyre can carry. It equates to a maximum weight of 1,700 kg that the tyre can hold – meaning a combination of four tyres with this same rating could carry a load of 6,800kg.
