0-60calc

Tire Speed Rating Chart

Every tire speed rating letter from L to (Y) in mph and km/h, plus a decoder that reads any sidewall code: speed rating, load index and the tire's real size.

What do you want to do?
Speed rating on the sidewall
Older A to K ratings are in the full chart below.
Updated September 2026By 0-60calc TeamSources
0-60CALC.COMEstimated result slip
Mode
InputWaiting for input
Max rated speed
---mph

Press Calculate to print your slip

Ratings are lab-tested limits for a properly inflated tire, not a recommended driving speed.

Need km/h or mph? Open the converter

On this page

Tire speed rating chart

Every speed rating letter with its maximum tested speed. The rating is the fastest speed a tire can sustain when it is properly inflated and carrying the load its load index allows. It is a lab-tested limit, not a recommended driving speed.

Tire speed ratings in mph and km/h
RatingMax speedIn km/h
A1Off-road and industrial tires3 mph5 km/h
A2Off-road and industrial tires6 mph10 km/h
A3Off-road and industrial tires9 mph15 km/h
A4Off-road and industrial tires12 mph20 km/h
A5Off-road and industrial tires16 mph25 km/h
A6Off-road and industrial tires19 mph30 km/h
A7Off-road and industrial tires22 mph35 km/h
A8Off-road and industrial tires25 mph40 km/h
BSlow utility vehicles31 mph50 km/h
CSlow utility vehicles37 mph60 km/h
DUtility and agricultural tires40 mph65 km/h
EUtility and agricultural tires43 mph70 km/h
FUtility and agricultural tires50 mph80 km/h
GUtility and agricultural tires56 mph90 km/h
JLight utility and trailer tires62 mph100 km/h
KLight utility and trailer tires68 mph110 km/h
LOff-road and some light-truck tires75 mph120 km/h
MTemporary spares and some light trucks81 mph130 km/h
NLight trucks and temporary spares87 mph140 km/h
PLight trucks93 mph150 km/h
QWinter tires and light trucks99 mph160 km/h
RHeavy-duty light-truck tires106 mph170 km/h
SFamily cars, vans and light trucks112 mph180 km/h
TFamily cars, vans and light trucks118 mph190 km/h
USome passenger tires (less common)124 mph200 km/h
HSedans, crossovers and many modern cars130 mph210 km/h
VSports cars and performance sedans149 mph240 km/h
WHigh-performance cars168 mph270 km/h
YSupercars and high-performance cars186 mph300 km/h
(Y)Hypercars; ZR must appear in the sizeover 186 mphover 300 km/h

H sits between U and V, out of alphabetical order. It was once the top rating, and the industry kept its place when faster ratings were added.

How to read the sidewall

Take the code 225/45R17 94W XL. Each part tells you something, and the speed rating is always the last letter of the service description.

  • 225Section width in millimetres, sidewall to sidewall.
  • 45Aspect ratio: the sidewall is 45% as tall as the tire is wide.
  • RRadial construction. ZR marks a radial rated above 149 mph; D or a dash means bias-ply.
  • 17Rim diameter in inches.
  • 94Load index: 94 means 670 kg (1,477 lb) per tire at the tire's maximum pressure.
  • WSpeed rating: 168 mph (270 km/h).
  • XLExtra load: a reinforced tire that can carry more at a higher pressure.

To turn the first three numbers into a diameter in inches, or to compare two sizes, use the tire size calculator.

A P in front, as in P215/65R16, marks a P-metric passenger tire; LT marks a light-truck tire, which may show two load indexes, such as 121/118, for single and dual rear wheels. Use the decoder above for any code.

Z, ZR and (Y) explained

Z was once the top rating

Z originally meant "above 149 mph". W and Y were later added as subcategories of Z, so modern tires carry a precise letter instead.

ZR in the size

For tires rated above 149 mph (240 km/h), ZR may appear in the size, as in 245/40ZR18 97Y. The letter after the load index still gives the exact rating.

(Y) in brackets

Above 186 mph (300 km/h), ZR must appear in the size and the Y goes in brackets, as in 255/35ZR19 (96Y). The brackets mean the tire goes beyond 186 mph; the maker's data gives the real limit.

ZR with no letter

Some older tires show ZR and no service description. All you know is that the tire is rated above 149 mph.

Can you use a different speed rating?

Higher: yes

A higher rating than your car came with is fine. It may bring a firmer ride and different wear, so read reviews before you switch.

Lower: no

Tire makers advise never fitting a lower rating than the vehicle manufacturer specifies. The car's top speed, handling and braking were set up around that rating.

Mixing ratings

Best avoided. If ratings must differ, tire shops generally put the lower-rated pair on the front to reduce the risk of oversteer.

Winter tires

Winter tires often carry Q, S, T or H ratings because grip in the cold comes first. Some countries allow a lower rating on winter tires, sometimes with a reminder label in view of the driver; check your manual and local rules.

What speed rating do you need?

Start with what your car came with: it's printed on the original tires, in the owner's manual and often on the tire placard inside the driver's door jamb. Then match or exceed it.

Typical speed ratings by vehicle
VehicleTypical ratingsWhy
Family cars, vans, minivansS, T, HComfort, wear and value
Crossovers and SUVsT, H, VHeavier, often faster than they look
Light trucksN to T, HLoad capacity comes first
Sports and performance carsV, W, YHigh speeds and sharper handling
Supercars and hypercarsY, (Y)Top speeds near or above 186 mph
Temporary sparesM, NShort, slow journeys only

Load index chart

The number before the speed letter is the load index: the maximum weight one tire can carry at its maximum pressure. Multiply by four for the whole car, and never fit a lower load index than the original tires.

Tire load index chart, 70 to 125
Load indexPer tire (kg)Per tire (lb)
70335 kg739 lb
71345 kg761 lb
72355 kg783 lb
73365 kg805 lb
74375 kg827 lb
75387 kg853 lb
76400 kg882 lb
77412 kg908 lb
78425 kg937 lb
79437 kg963 lb
80450 kg992 lb
81462 kg1,019 lb
82475 kg1,047 lb
83487 kg1,074 lb
84500 kg1,102 lb
85515 kg1,135 lb
86530 kg1,168 lb
87545 kg1,202 lb
88560 kg1,235 lb
89580 kg1,279 lb
90600 kg1,323 lb
91615 kg1,356 lb
92630 kg1,389 lb
93650 kg1,433 lb
94670 kg1,477 lb
95690 kg1,521 lb
96710 kg1,565 lb
97730 kg1,609 lb
98750 kg1,653 lb
99775 kg1,709 lb
100800 kg1,764 lb
101825 kg1,819 lb
102850 kg1,874 lb
103875 kg1,929 lb
104900 kg1,984 lb
105925 kg2,039 lb
106950 kg2,094 lb
107975 kg2,150 lb
1081,000 kg2,205 lb
1091,030 kg2,271 lb
1101,060 kg2,337 lb
1111,090 kg2,403 lb
1121,120 kg2,469 lb
1131,150 kg2,535 lb
1141,180 kg2,601 lb
1151,215 kg2,679 lb
1161,250 kg2,756 lb
1171,285 kg2,833 lb
1181,320 kg2,910 lb
1191,360 kg2,998 lb
1201,400 kg3,086 lb
1211,450 kg3,197 lb
1221,500 kg3,307 lb
1231,550 kg3,417 lb
1241,600 kg3,527 lb
1251,650 kg3,638 lb

How to use it

  1. Find the code

    Read the sidewall, the owner's manual or the placard in the driver's door jamb.

  2. Pick a mode

    Tap a letter for its speed, or paste the whole code into the decoder.

  3. Read the slip

    Speed in mph and km/h, load per tire and for four tires, and the tire's real size.

  4. Match or exceed

    When you buy, keep the speed rating and load index at least as high as the originals.

More calculators

Speed ratings in context: convert units, or see how fast your car gets there.

  • 0-60 Calculator

    0-60 mph and 0-100 km/h from power and weight, for cars, motorcycles and EVs.

    Open

  • Quarter Mile Calculator

    1/4 and 1/8 mile ET and trap speed, or horsepower from a time slip.

    Open

  • Power-to-Weight Ratio

    lb/hp, kg/hp and hp per tonne, with a class comparison for cars and bikes.

    Open

  • Horsepower Calculator

    Horsepower from torque and rpm, a time slip or a 0-60 time, in hp, kW and PS.

    Open

  • WHP to HP Calculator

    Turn a dyno's wheel horsepower into crank horsepower and see the drivetrain loss.

    Open

  • G-Force Calculator

    Average acceleration in g from any 0-60 or 0-100 km/h time.

    Open

  • KM/H to MPH Converter

    Convert kilometers per hour to miles per hour, with a full chart.

    Open

  • MPH to KM/H Converter

    Convert miles per hour to kilometers per hour, with a full chart.

    Open

  • Speed Calculator

    Speed, distance or time from the other two, average speed and speed from rpm.

    Open

  • Tire Size Calculator

    Compare two tire sizes: diameter, sidewall, revs per mile and speedometer error.

    Open

Questions drivers ask

What does the H speed rating mean?

An H-rated tire is tested to 130 mph (210 km/h) when properly inflated and carrying its rated load. It is one of the most common ratings on modern sedans, crossovers and SUVs.

Is a V-rated tire better than an H-rated tire?

A V-rated tire is tested to a higher speed: 149 mph against 130 mph. V-rated tires are often built with stiffer construction, which can sharpen steering but firm up the ride. The letter itself only certifies speed capability, so the right choice is at least the rating your car came with.

Can I use tires with a lower speed rating?

Tire makers advise against fitting a lower rating than the vehicle manufacturer specifies. Winter tires are the common exception, and the rules for them vary by country, so check your owner's manual and local regulations.

What is the highest tire speed rating?

Y, at 186 mph (300 km/h). Tires tested beyond that carry the Y in brackets, written as (Y), and must show ZR in the size.

What does ZR mean on a tire?

ZR in a size such as 245/40ZR18 marks a radial tire rated above 149 mph (240 km/h). Above 186 mph (300 km/h), ZR is required and the service description must show the Y symbol in brackets. Check the letter after the load index for the exact rating.

Where do I find my tire's speed rating?

It's the letter at the end of the tire code on the sidewall, right after the load index. In 225/45R17 94W, 94 is the load index and W is the speed rating: 168 mph (270 km/h).

Sources

Speed-rating letters, maximum speeds and load indexes follow the charts the tire makers publish, listed above.

Updated September 2026. Built and checked by the 0-60calc Team. Found a mistake? Tell us and we will check it against the source.