# Tire load ratings - do they matter? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** mazda6, tires\ **Created:** [June 22, 2014, 8:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-load-ratings-do-they-matter/85578 "2014-06-22T20:17:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![f00dl3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f04885/32.png) [@f00dl3](https://community.cartalk.com/u/f00dl3)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 9:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-load-ratings-do-they-matter/85578/61 "2016-08-09T21:03:24Z")
> **[Double Jeopardy: Right Size, Wrong Load Index Can Mean Liability Risk - Tire...](http://www.tirereview.com/double-jeopardy-right-size-wrong-load-index-can-mean-liability-risk/)** > > When you sell a set of non-OE tires, do you set the air pressure the same as it was in the OE tires?Do your sales staff, manager and technicians understand I can find many articles that show my theory is right. ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 9:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-load-ratings-do-they-matter/85578/62 "2016-08-09T21:13:51Z")
Your link seems to confirm that ratings charts are used to keep the public confused in order ti upsell tires. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 9:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-load-ratings-do-they-matter/85578/63 "2016-08-09T21:29:51Z")
I found nothing in that link that confirms your theory. The same size tire at the same pressure supporting the same weight will have the same footprint, for all practical purposes whether it’s a 90 or 95 load index tire. If the load exceeds the 90 tire’s capabilities, it will blow out. It will not be squashed down. @CapriRacer - help! ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2016, 9:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-load-ratings-do-they-matter/85578/64 "2016-08-09T21:39:06Z")
It appears nothing is going to change the OP’s thinking. ---
**Author:** ![CapriRacer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/capriracer/32/22_2.png) [@CapriRacer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CapriRacer)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 1:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-load-ratings-do-they-matter/85578/65 "2016-08-10T01:08:28Z")
My pleasure, texases. This can be solved by the answer to a simple question: What is the load carrying capacity of an Extra Load tire when operated at Standard Load conditions? Put another way, if I operate a 215/50R17 XL at 32 psi (the OP’s vehicle tire placard condition), is it the same as a 215/50R17 SL at 32 psi - and the answer is yes. That means that the deflection of both an XL and a SL are the same if they are inflated to the same pressure - and since the deflection is the same, the footprints must also be the same. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 1:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-load-ratings-do-they-matter/85578/66 "2016-08-10T13:49:45Z")
> [@f00dl3](#): > > if they are already barely able to handle the vehicle weight, it causes the weight of the car to bear down harder on the “foot” the tire forms on the road Absolutely NOT. Foot print of a tire is determined by vehicle weight and tire pressure. In fact you can determine a vehicles weight by measuring the tires footprint and the tires reassure setting. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-load-ratings-do-they-matter/85578.md?page=3)