11.00R20 Tire Pressure Guide: Correct PSI by Axle Load

There is no single universal 11.00R20 tire pressure. Manufacturer load and inflation tables show different maximum-load endpoints for Load Range F, G and H versions of this size. The correct cold pressure depends on the exact tire, actual axle load, single or dual fitment, and the limits of the rim, wheel and vehicle.

This guide preserves the published pressure steps and does not invent intermediate PSI values. In a commercial tire table, the listed pressure is the minimum cold inflation pressure required to carry the stated load. It is not an instruction to inflate every 11.00R20 tire to the highest pressure shown.

11.00R20 quick reference by load range

Load RangePly rating equivalentSingle load per tireDual load per tirePublished cold pressure
F12PR2,725 kg (6,005 lb)2,575 kg (5,675 lb)620 kPa (90 psi)
G14PR3,000 kg (6,610 lb)2,725 kg (6,005 lb)720 kPa (105 psi)
H16PR3,350 kg (7,390 lb)3,075 kg (6,780 lb)830 kPa (120 psi)
Published maximum-load reference points for normal highway service. Verify the exact product sidewall and databook before use.

These generic endpoints explain why “11.00R20 equals 120 psi” is not a safe rule. A Load Range F casing can reach its rated maximum at 90 psi, while an industry Load Range H reference extends to 120 psi. Product specifications can still differ: the Michelin XZE2 and XZY3 examples below use 150/146K and a nominal 8.0 bar endpoint. Never inflate beyond the maximum marked for the installed tire or the lowest-rated wheel component.

Michelin 11.00R20 XZE2 vs XZY3 specifications

Michelin’s dimensional databook lists two important 11.00R20 Load Range H products with a product-specific service description of 150/146K. Both are tube type (TT), 16PR tires, but they are designed for different operating environments.

Michelin patternApplicationService descriptionTread depthSingle axle ratingDual axle ratingNominal pressure
XZE2All-position regional and limited highway service16PR, LRH, 150/146K, TT14.3 mm6,700 kg total
3,350 kg per tire
12,000 kg total
3,000 kg per tire
8.0 bar (about 116 psi)
XZY3All-position on/off-road and worksite service16PR, LRH, 150/146K, TT17.5 mm6,700 kg total
3,350 kg per tire
12,000 kg total
3,000 kg per tire
8.0 bar (about 116 psi)
Michelin databook values for the named products. Axle ratings have been divided by two or four only to show the corresponding per-tire load.

The two patterns have the same load and nominal-pressure endpoint, so the selection is driven mainly by application rather than extra carrying capacity. XZE2 is the road-oriented regional pattern. Michelin describes XZY3 as an all-position product for on/off-road work, with grip and casing protection for unmaintained and abrasive surfaces.

The Michelin dual index is 146, equal to 3,000 kg per tire. This is lower than the 3,075 kg dual endpoint shown for load index 147 in the generic Load Range H table below. Therefore a Michelin XZE2 or XZY3 marked 150/146K must not be assigned the generic 147 dual capacity. The speed symbol K corresponds to the 110 km/h category, subject to Michelin’s application and operating conditions.

11.00R20 load and inflation table

The following Firestone reference gives load limits per tire at published cold-pressure steps. Single and dual values remain separate because a tire in dual fitment carries a different rated load.

Cold pressureSingle load per tireDual load per tire
70 psi2,240 kg2,170 kg
75 psi2,360 kg2,260 kg
80 psi2,470 kg2,360 kg
85 psi2,580 kg2,450 kg
90 psi2,725 kg2,575 kg
95 psi2,820 kg2,630 kg
100 psi2,910 kg2,680 kg
105 psi3,000 kg2,725 kg
110 psi3,120 kg2,840 kg
115 psi3,240 kg2,960 kg
120 psi3,350 kg3,075 kg
Pressure is the minimum cold pressure for the stated load. Do not interpolate absent values or extend the table beyond the tire’s rating.

How axle load changes the calculation

FitmentLoad divisionExample using the 90 psi row
Single axle with two tiresAxle load ÷ 22 × 2,725 kg = 5,450 kg tire capacity
Dual axle with four tiresAxle load ÷ 44 × 2,575 kg = 10,300 kg tire capacity
Tire totals are not permission to exceed the axle, suspension, rim, wheel or legal rating.

For a 5,100 kg two-tire axle, the average load is 2,550 kg per tire. In this reference, the 80 psi single row carries only 2,470 kg, while the 85 psi row carries 2,580 kg. Therefore 85 psi is the first published step that covers the average load. A wheel-position scale reading is better: use the heavier side rather than assuming the axle is evenly balanced.

IMAGE PLACEHOLDER 2
Single and dual axle diagram for an 11.00R20 truck tire
Suggested alt text: calculating 11.00R20 tire pressure from axle load

Tube type, rim size and modern equivalents

Hankook identifies 11.00R20 as a tube-type size and lists an 8.00-inch measuring rim in its technical information. A correct installation requires the approved rim, tube and flap, with compatible valve hardware. Rust, damaged flanges, incorrect tube size or trapped folds can create failures that pressure selection alone cannot prevent.

Hankook’s low-profile conversion chart places 295/80R22.5 in the same conversion row as tube-type 11.00R20 and tubeless 12R22.5. That is a dimensional conversion reference, not permission to swap tires or reuse pressure tables. Rim diameter, wheel construction, clearances, load index, rolling circumference and vehicle approval must all be checked. See the published 12R22.5 tire pressure guide for that separate size.

How to select the operating pressure

  1. Read the complete sidewall marking, including load range, ply rating, load index and speed symbol.
  2. Confirm the tire is approved for the installed rim, tube, flap and valve assembly.
  3. Weigh the normally loaded vehicle, preferably at every wheel position.
  4. Use the manufacturer table for the exact casing and the correct single or dual column.
  5. Select a published cold-pressure step that carries at least the heaviest wheel-position load.
  6. Use the same cold pressure across the axle and respect the lowest-rated component.

Our truck tire sidewall markings guide explains load and speed codes. For a neighboring but different tubeless size, consult the published 11R22.5 pressure guide. Fleets should document final cold settings and inspection intervals in a pressure management program.

Technical caveats

  • Measure and adjust pressure when tires are cold.
  • Never bleed a hot tire to restore its cold setting.
  • Do not mix tube-type and tubeless components or use an incorrect tube or flap.
  • Match dual tires for approved size, construction, tread depth and inflation.
  • A higher pressure does not raise the legal axle or wheel rating.
  • Regional, mining, trailer and restricted-speed service can use different rules from normal highway service.
  • Recalculate after any change in load, body, route, tire specification or fitment.

11.00R20 tire pressure FAQ

What PSI should an 11.00R20 tire be?

There is no universal PSI. Published highway-service references span different load ranges, including maximum-load points of 90 psi for Load Range F, 105 psi for G and 120 psi for H. Select pressure from the exact tire table and actual load.

Is 120 PSI correct for every 11.00R20 tire?

No. It is the published maximum-load pressure for the cited Load Range H reference, but lower load ranges have lower maximum endpoints. Always follow the installed tire and wheel limits.

How much can an 11.00R20 Load Range H tire carry?

The cited reference lists 3,350 kg or 7,390 lb per tire in single fitment and 3,075 kg or 6,780 lb per tire in dual fitment at 120 psi.

Is 11.00R20 the same as 11R22.5?

No. They use different rim diameters and constructions. 11.00R20 is commonly a tube-type 20-inch size, while 11R22.5 is a separate tubeless 22.5-inch size with its own approved table.

Should I use the single or dual load column?

Use the single column when one tire is fitted at each axle end and the dual column when two tires are paired at each end. Never calculate a dual rating from the single-tire value.

Nhat Diem Honq

Nhat Diem Honq
Nhat Diem Honqhttps://nhatdiemhong.blog
Nhat Diem Honq Commercial Tire & Fleet Specialist Specialized in tire lifecycle optimization, inflation strategy, load distribution analysis, and fleet operating cost control. Focused on real-world truck tire performance, maintenance efficiency, and data-driven fleet reliability improvement. nhatdiemhong.blog · LinkedIn

Relative articles

Comment

Most Popular