What Does Sl Load Range Mean On Tires

The chart shows how load indexes translate to weight.

What does sl load range mean on tires.

Tires on a sedan coupe crossover or minivan are usually unmarked because they have a standard 4 ply rating and do not require higher load carrying abilities. C representing a 6 ply rating at 50 psi and so on. As you can see the further down the alphabet you go the strong the tire will be. In the case of a tire with an 88 load index that tire would be able to support 1 235 pounds at maximum air pressure.

An sl rated tire has its maximum load capacity at an inflation pressure of 35 psi. A tire with the load capacity determined to be essential for its tire size designated by the load index is an sl or standard load tire. They can carry the weight and withstand the weight pressure the load index designates on their sidewalls and they have no reinforcement in their internal structure. What does a load range of sl on a truck tire mean.

However you may find these tires marked as standard load sl or extra load xl or reinforced. P metric sized tires tires with sizes starting with a p such as p235 75r15 are given a load range rating of either sl or xl. Special trailer service tires. Extra load xl has a maximum load pressure of 41 psi.

Xl tires can carry a heavier load when inflated to 41 psi. Sl stands for standard load and xl indicates extra load. Generally speaking the higher the tire load index the more weight the tire can safely carry. If you take a look at the markings on your tires you will be able to tell that your set is in the standard load range if they have either no letters or an sl on their sidewalls sequence of letters and numbers.

Check the tire sidewall to find the letter that indicates the load range. Light truck tire load index light truck tires have two load indexes on the sidewall of the tire unlike passenger tires which only have one. For example if a tire has a load index of 92 it can support 1 389 pounds at maximum air pressure. When you multiply that amount for a single tire by four your vehicle s maximum load capacity would be 4 940 pounds.

Standard load sl or no branding also has a maximum load pressure of 35 psi. Light truck tires lt designate ranges in ascending alphabetical order with load range b representing a 4 ply rating at 35 psi. The tire load index lets you know the load carrying capacity of a tire. Most passenger car tire load indexes range from 75 to 100 but some are higher.

The load range ply rating branded on a tire s sidewall identifies how much load the tire is designed to carry at its industry specified pressure passenger tires since most p metric passenger tires are manufactured in the standard load range they will have nothing branded on their sidewalls or may be branded standard load and identified by an sl in their descriptions as in p235 75r 15 sl.