Load range E tires
Load range E is a light-truck (LT) tire marking. It is the same as the older 10-ply rating. FMVSS No. 138 lists load range E tires with a maximum pressure of 80 psi (550 kPa).
What the sidewall shows
- The letter E after the size, for example LT275/70R18 125/122S E. FMVSS No. 139 S5.5(d) makes this marking necessary on LT tires.
- The maximum inflation pressure (S5.5(c)). This is the most the tire can hold, not the pressure to use.
- The actual number of plies in the tread and the sidewall (S5.5(f)). This number is usually smaller than 10: a ply rating is not a ply count.
- The load index, such as 125/122. The first number is the load for a single tire, the second for a dual pair. See the load index chart.
Which pressure to use
Use the cold pressure on the vehicle placard (FMVSS No. 110 S4.3), not the maximum on the sidewall. NHTSA tells drivers to use the placard or owner's manual figure. Did your vehicle come with a different load range? Then ask the tire maker or the vehicle maker for the correct pressure.
When the tire pressure light comes on
For load range E, FMVSS No. 138 Table 1 sets a minimum activation pressure of 35 psi. The light must come on at 25 percent below the placard pressure or at 35 psi, whichever is higher.
| Placard | 25% below | Table 1 minimum | Light on at |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45 psi | 33.8 psi | 35 psi | 35.0 psi |
| 80 psi | 60.0 psi | 35 psi | 60.0 psi |
Enter your own placard pressure in the tire pressure light calculator.
Other load ranges
Load range C is a 6-ply rating and D is an 8-ply rating. The load range chart shows every letter with the FMVSS No. 138 pressures. For passenger tires, see SL vs XL tires.
Printed from https://tiresizecalc.net/load-range-e-tires/. Figures as published on 2026-11-01. The sources are listed below.
Sources
- Toyo Tires 2024 Commercial Tires - Dimensions and Load Limits. Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. 2024-04-04. Load range E = 10-ply rating; C = 6, D = 8. Retrieved 2026-11-01.
- Interpretation letter: ply rating and load range (to Federazione Italiana Fuoristrada). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Office of Chief Counsel. Undated on the web page. Ply rating is the older system that the load range letter replaced. Retrieved 2026-11-01.
- 49 CFR 571.138 - Standard No. 138; Tire pressure monitoring systems. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Code of Federal Regulations, annual edition (GovInfo). 2022-10-01. Table 1: load range E, maximum pressure 550 kPa, minimum activation pressure 240 kPa. Retrieved 2026-11-01.
- 49 CFR 571.138 - Standard No. 138; Tire pressure monitoring systems. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Code of Federal Regulations, annual edition (GovInfo). 2022-10-01. S4.2(a): warning at 25 percent below placard or the Table 1 minimum, whichever is higher. Retrieved 2026-11-01.
- 49 CFR 571.139 - Standard No. 139; New pneumatic radial tires for light vehicles. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). 49 CFR 571.139. eCFR up to date as of 2026-10-15. S5.5(c), (d) and (f): maximum pressure, LT load range letter and actual ply count on the sidewall. Retrieved 2026-11-01.
- 49 CFR 571.110 - Standard No. 110; Tire selection and rims for motor vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Code of Federal Regulations, annual edition (GovInfo). 2006-10-01. S4.3: the placard shows the recommended cold inflation pressure. Retrieved 2026-11-01.
- Tires (Tire Safety). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Undated web page. Use the pressure on the placard or in the owner's manual. Retrieved 2026-11-01.
- UN Regulation No. 54 - Uniform provisions concerning the approval of pneumatic tyres for commercial vehicles and their trailers (Revision 2). United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). E/ECE/324 E/ECE/TRANS/505 Rev.1/Add.53/Rev.2. 2004-04-16. Para 2.27: load index for single and dual fitment. Retrieved 2026-11-01.
Last reviewed 2026-11-01. The full source list, with dates and file checksums, is in How the numbers are calculated. To report an error, email contactus@tiresizecalc.net.