Car Tyres Load Index

ym_21

If a tyre has a load index lower than recommended by the car, then the tyres wear out quicker.

Does that mean if I choose a tyre with the highest load index, they will last longer?

gilbert_and_sullivan

Never heard that one, but having a lower load index than recommended could see you up a creek without a paddle in the event of an accident, insurance assessor takes one look at the boots and gets back in his car, cheerio.

Iceweasel

ym_21 wrote: »

If a tyre has a load index lower than recommended by the car, then the tyres wear out quicker.

Does that mean if I choose a tyre with the highest load index, they will last longer?

That's rather a simplistic view.

But yes a lower load index tyre may well run hotter, and/or suffer more sidewall flexing and fail quicker as well as perhaps wear more, possibly on the edges of the tread.

A slightly higher rated tyre will do no harm and unlike a lower index one is permissible - especially if you do carry loads near the maximum for the vehicle or tow a trailer/caravan.

But you said the highest load index??

When you check for a particular size of tyre you will find perhaps only 2 or 3 options for the load index.

force_ten

the load index is to do with the weight of the car and you should not run a lower load index than the one recommended by your car manufacturer

so a 90 load index will carry 600kg per corner, go up to a 95 load index and the tyre will carry 690kg a corner

if you went with a lower load rating and your insurance found out then you may have issues as you are running tyres that cant take the weight of your car fully loaded and that will make the tyre dangerous

cant see any point doing what you are suggesting, just stick to the recommended load index

forgotmyname

A lower load index may cause the tyre sidewall to fail. The tyre is not designed to carry that much weight.

A bit more serious than wear a bit faster.

AdrianC

ym_21 wrote: »

Does that mean if I choose a tyre with the highest load index, they will last longer?

Probably not. But the ride will almost certainly suffer.

Tyres, even expensive ones, are _dirt_ cheap when you figure the cost per mile.

topdaddy_2

Load index and wear are not related.

bigjl

Load Index is as already mentioned more to do with the load carrying ability of the tyre.

Wrong load index is a nice little get out for Insurance companies.

It is common for people to run wrong load tyres on people carriers like the Galaxy/Sharan and Alhambra as they were amongst the first vehicles to spec XL tyres.