Tyre load index & speed rating

Understand what tyre load index and speed ratings mean, how they affect safety, and how to choose the right tyres for your Motion Rental scooter.

The speed rating is the maximum speed a tyre is designed to handle safely.
The load index is the maximum weight a tyre can safely carry.
For safety and insurance, always match or exceed the ratings in your scooter manual or on the original tyres.
Example: 100/80-12 56J → 56 = 224 kg per tyre, J = 100 km/h.
Using tyres with a lower rating than required can compromise safety and may breach your rental agreement.

Tyre speed rating (definition)

The tyre speed rating is a letter on the tyre sidewall that shows the maximum speed the tyre can safely handle when it is correctly inflated and carrying its rated load.

Manufacturers test tyres under controlled conditions, then assign a speed symbol like J, L, M, T, or H. This symbol links to a specific maximum speed in km/h.

The speed rating does not mean you should ride at that speed. It is an upper safety limit for the tyre, not a target speed.

Common speed ratings for scooters and light vehicles

Scooters and small motorcycles usually use lower speed ratings than cars, but they still must match what the scooter manufacturer specifies.

Some common speed ratings you may see:

J – up to 100 km/h (very common on smaller scooters)
L – up to 120 km/h
M – up to 130 km/h
P – up to 150 km/h
Q – up to 160 km/h
R – up to 170 km/h
S – up to 180 km/h
T – up to 190 km/h
H – up to 210 km/h

Choosing the right speed rating

Always choose a tyre with a speed rating that meets or exceeds the rating in your scooter manual or on the original tyres.

If the manual or original tyre says J (100 km/h), you can use J, L, M, P, T, H, etc.
Do not fit a tyre with a lower speed rating than specified (for example, using J when the manual requires L).

Riding on tyres with a too-low speed rating increases the risk of overheating, rapid wear, or failure at normal road speeds.

If you fit tyres with a lower speed rating than required, you may be in breach of your rental agreement and at higher risk of a tyre failure.

Full speed rating table

Use this table to look up the meaning of each speed symbol. Values are typical maximum speeds in km/h.

Symbol	Max km/h	Notes
J	100	Common on small scooters
K	110
L	120	Common on scooters / light bikes
M	130
N	140
P	150
Q	160
R	170
S	180	Common car rating
T	190	Common car rating
U	200
H	210	Common higher-performance rating
V	240
W	270
Y	300
VR	>210	Older-style high-speed marking
ZR	>240	Often used on very high-speed tyres

Tyre load index (definition)

The tyre load index is a number on the sidewall that shows the maximum weight the tyre can safely carry at its rated pressure and speed.

You will usually find it right before the speed rating letter, for example 56J, where 56 is the load index and J is the speed rating.

Each load index number maps to a specific maximum load in kilograms.

Common load index values for scooters

Here are some common load index ratings you may see on scooter tyres.

Load index	Max load per tyre (kg)
45	165
47	175
49	185
51	195

Values such as 45–51 are typical for small scooters and light motorcycles, but always check your specific scooter requirements.

Choosing the right load index

Choose a tyre with a load index that meets or exceeds the original tyre or scooter manual.

Check the front and rear tyres separately, as they may have different load indexes.
Remember that the rating is per tyre, so the total vehicle capacity depends on both tyres together.

If you carry a delivery bag, passenger, or heavy cargo, you rely even more on the tyre load rating. Running below the required load index increases the chance of sidewall damage, overheating, and sudden failure.

Selected load index reference table

Use this shortened table for quick reference. All values are per tyre at the rated pressure.

Load index	Max load (kg)
62	265
65	290
68	315
70	335
75	387
80	450
85	515
90	600
95	690
100	800
105	925
110	1060
115	1215
120	1400
125	1650

Full load index table (0–150)

Load index	Max load (kg)
0	45
1	46.2
2	47.5
3	48.7
4	50
5	51.5
6	53
7	54.5
8	56
9	58
10	60
11	61.5
12	63
13	65
14	67
15	69
16	71
17	73
18	75
19	77.5
20	80
21	82.5
22	85
23	87.5
24	90
25	92.5
26	95
27	97.5
28	100
29	103
30	106
31	109
32	112
33	115
34	118
35	121
36	125
37	128
38	132
39	136
40	140
41	145
42	150
43	155
44	160
45	165
46	170
47	175
48	180
49	185
50	190
51	195
52	200
53	206
54	212
55	218
56	224
57	230
58	236
59	243
60	250
61	257
62	265
63	272
64	280
65	290
66	300
67	307
68	315
69	325
70	335
71	345
72	355
73	365
74	375
75	387
76	400
77	412
78	425
79	437
80	450
81	462
82	475
83	487
84	500
85	515
86	530
87	545
88	560
89	580
90	600
91	615
92	630
93	650
94	670
95	690
96	710
97	730
98	750
99	775
100	800
101	825
102	850
103	875
104	900
105	925
106	950
107	975
108	1000
109	1030
110	1060
111	1090
112	1120
113	1150
114	1180
115	1215
116	1250
117	1285
118	1320
119	1360
120	1400
121	1450
122	1500
123	1550
124	1600
125	1650
126	1700
127	1750
128	1800
129	1850
130	1900
131	1950
132	2000
133	2060
134	2120
135	2180
136	2240
137	2300
138	2360
139	2430
140	2500
141	2575
142	2650
143	2725
144	2800
145	2900
146	3000
147	3075
148	3150
149	3250
150	3350

Reading the markings on your tyre

Tyre sidewall markings combine size, construction, rim diameter, load index, and speed rating in one line.

Example:

100/80-12 56J

100 – tyre width in millimetres.
80 – aspect ratio (height as a percentage of width).
- – construction type (often shown as - or R).
12 – rim diameter in inches.
56 – load index: 56 = 224 kg maximum load per tyre.
J – speed rating: J = 100 km/h maximum speed.

Check both front and rear tyres, as the markings may differ.

For more detail on tyre size markings, see Tyre size.

Why it matters (safety, performance, longevity)

Using tyres with the correct load index and speed rating gives you:

Safety – the tyre can handle the weight of you, your gear, and the scooter at normal road speeds without overheating or failing.
Performance – proper ratings support better handling, braking, and stability, especially when cornering or riding in wet conditions.
Longevity – tyres that operate within their designed limits wear more evenly and last longer, saving you money and reducing downtime.

Riding on under-rated tyres can feel fine at low speeds but become dangerous under emergency braking, during long delivery shifts, or when carrying extra load.

Our recommendation

Match the load index and speed rating on your existing Motion Rental tyres or in the scooter manual.
If you change brands, choose tyres with equal or higher ratings, never lower.
If you are unsure what to choose, contact the Motion Rental team before fitting new tyres.

Correct tyres protect you, your passengers, other road users, and your rental coverage.

Final notes

Tyres are part of your safety equipment and your rental conditions.

If you fit tyres with a lower load index or speed rating than required:

You increase the risk of a tyre failure.
You may be in breach of your rental agreement.
Damage or incidents caused by incorrect tyres may not be covered.

If you have already changed tyres and are not sure about the ratings, check the sidewall markings now and reach out to us if anything looks different from the original tyres.

FAQs

Yes. If you share the scooter model and a clear photo of your current tyre markings, the team can confirm suitable load index and speed ratings and help you choose replacements that meet our requirements.

In many places it is illegal or against road rules to use tyres with a lower speed rating than the original equipment, especially on public roads. Even where it is not explicitly illegal, using a lower rating reduces safety and may affect insurance and your rental agreement.

Look along the tyre sidewall for a sequence like 100/80-12 56J printed in raised letters and numbers. The number before the final letter is the load index (here 56), and the final letter is the speed rating (here J).

Yes, it is generally acceptable to use tyres with a higher load index or speed rating than specified, as long as they are the correct size and type for the scooter. Higher ratings do not give you permission to exceed speed limits; they just provide extra safety margin.

Overloading or using under-rated tyres can cause overheating, sidewall damage, or sudden tyre failure. You may feel vague handling, wobbling, or extra heat at the tyre after riding. In serious cases, the tyre can fail without much warning, especially at speed or under hard braking.

Tyre size

Weekly checks

Flat tyre

Quicklinks

Book now

Important links

WhatsApp support

Was this page helpful?

Last updated Mar 20, 2026

Built with Documentation.AI