The Hankook 2022 TBR catalog ends with a set of load and inflation tables that most buyers skip. That is a mistake, because the tables and the notes around them contain some of the most practical guidance in the book: how to read the A, D and S load columns, how much extra pressure a loaded steer axle can take, and how to match duals. This guide explains the Hankook tables so you can apply them to your own fleet. If you only want the quick PSI reference, our existing Hankook truck tire pressure chart is the place to start; this article goes deeper into how the table works. The master reference is our truck tire pressure chart by axle load.
How the Hankook table is laid out
Hankook’s tables list load limits in pounds at a range of cold inflation pressures from 80 to 130 psi, in 5 psi steps. The catalog stresses that the pressure shown is the minimum pressure for that load. Each size is split into three rows:
- S = load limit for a single tire.
- D = load limit across dual tires (a pair, 2 tires).
- A = load limit across an axle (4 tires, i.e. two dual pairs).
That row structure is easy to misread. If your tractor drive axle carries 4 tires, the correct row is A. If you are checking one pair, use D. If a wide-base tire is mounted alone, use S. The table values follow Tire and Rim Association (TRA) standards, except where TRA has no specification, in which case ETRTO governs.
Wide-base tires: single-tire load limits
The cleanest part of the table is the tubeless wide-base section, where each tire runs alone. These are the published single-tire limits in pounds at selected cold pressures:
| Cold pressure (psi) | 385/65R22.5 | 445/50R22.5 | 445/65R22.5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 | 6,940 | 7,310 | 9,090 |
| 90 | 7,650 | 8,030 | 9,870 |
| 100 | 8,230 | 8,740 | 10,600 |
| 105 | 8,510 | 9,090 | 11,000 |
| 110 | 8,820 | 9,370 | 11,400 |
| 115 | 9,050 | 9,780 | 11,700 |
| 120 | 9,370 | 10,200 | 12,300 |
Two things stand out. First, a 20 psi drop from 100 to 80 psi removes 1,290 lb of capacity on the 385/65R22.5, about 16 percent. Second, the tires with the larger section carry more at the same pressure: at 100 psi the 445/65R22.5 is rated 10,600 lb, which is 29 percent above the 385/65R22.5. Choose the size for the load, not just the pressure. For more on how super singles behave, see our later guide in this series on super single tire pressure.
Regional sizes: 17.5 and 19.5 examples
For smaller sizes the table also shows ply rating. A few clean examples of single-tire limits:
| Size | Rating | Row | Lowest pressure col. (lb) | Highest pressure col. (lb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 215/75R17.5 | 14PR | S | 3,085 | 3,690 |
| 215/75R17.5 | 16PR | S | 3,360 | 4,805 |
| 235/75R17.5 | 14PR | S | 3,415 | 4,410 |
| 235/75R17.5 | 16PR | S | 4,145 | 5,925 |
The 16PR versions have a much wider range because they can be inflated to higher pressures. On the 235/75R17.5, going from 14PR to 16PR lifts the top single-tire limit from 4,410 to 5,925 lb, a 34 percent gain. That is why mixed fleets must never assume two tires of the same size are interchangeable.
Hankook’s own rules for inflation
The catalog’s inflation section is blunt: sufficient inflation is needed to carry the load, and grossly under- or over-inflated tires can cause sudden failure. The practical points are:
- Check pressure at least weekly and before long trips.
- Check cold, which Hankook defines as a tire that has not been driven for at least three hours.
- Never reduce pressure on a hot tire, because it will be dangerously low once cooled.
- Keep pressures equal on both sides of the vehicle.
- A tire can lose about 10 psi in a month through normal permeation and minor leaks, so a monthly check is the bare minimum.
- Compensate for heavy loads by raising pressure, but never exceed the tire’s maximum inflation or the wheel’s maximum capacity.
The steer axle exception: adding 15 to 20 psi
Hankook gives a worked example that surprises many fleets. For an 11R22.5 14PR tire on a front axle carrying 2,245 kg (about 4,950 lb) per axle load, the normal recommended pressure is 80 psi. However, users frequently add 15 to 20 psi, running 95 to 100 psi, to assist steering, load carrying and traction, while staying within the tire’s maximum capacity of 2,920 kg at 105 psi. In a second example, where the front axle carries 2,740 kg, 105 psi is recommended and a slight over-inflation of not more than 10 percent can compensate for max load conditions, possibly with a reduction in speed.
The lesson is not “add 20 psi to every steer tire”. It is that a steer tire has more headroom between its loaded requirement and its maximum, and a controlled increase can improve handling and wear. The headroom is fixed by the table, not by habit. See steer tire wear patterns for what over- and under-inflation look like on a worn casing.
Matching duals the Hankook way
The catalog recommends matching dual tires by circumference with a tape measure after mounting and inflating them to recommended pressure, because circumferences differ between new tires, different patterns and retreaded casings. Where duals are already mounted, use a square rule across the tread; across four tires, a long straight rule. It also warns that nothing should touch the tire or valve, and that a clearance margin of 20 to 25 mm should be kept around the mounted wheel.
Under- and over-inflation, as Hankook describes them
- Under-inflation: shoulder wear, excess heat that reduces durability, higher rolling resistance and worse fuel economy. Hankook calls it the tire’s worst enemy.
- Over-inflation: the center of the tread carries the load, causing faster deterioration and uneven wear.
Both conditions raise cost per kilometer. Our total cost of ownership guide shows how a few percent of lost tread life outweighs the price of an inflation program. For rolling resistance, read low rolling resistance truck tires.
How to use the table in four steps
- Identify the tire row by size and ply rating.
- Choose A, D or S according to how many tires share the load.
- Find the first column whose load is at or above the real axle or tire load.
- Use that pressure cold, and add only a controlled margin on steer positions.
Worked examples: choosing the pressure from the table
Example 1: a trailer with 385/65R22.5 wide-base tires. Weighing shows 8,000 lb on each tire at the heaviest realistic load. Reading the S row, 95 psi gives 8,050 lb, which just covers it with only a 50 lb margin. A prudent fleet would round up to 100 psi (8,230 lb), which adds about 2 percent headroom. The extra 5 psi costs almost nothing in ride or wear but protects the casing against a heavy curb strike or a poorly loaded pallet.
Example 2: a 445/50R22.5 on a lightly used axle. If the maximum tire load is 7,500 lb, the table shows 85 psi gives 7,680 lb. Running 110 psi simply because that is “the usual” would put far more air in the tire than the load requires. The result is a harsher ride, a more crowned footprint and faster center wear, as Hankook warns for over-inflation.
Example 3: comparing two sizes for the same 9,500 lb load. The 385/65R22.5 reaches 9,370 lb only at 120 psi, which is its listed maximum in the catalog, so it would be overloaded. The 445/65R22.5 reaches 9,870 lb at only 90 psi. If the application genuinely needs 9,500 lb per wheel position, the larger size is the safer, lower-pressure choice.
Mistakes we see when fleets use manufacturer tables
- Using the A row for a single axle with two tires. A means four tires.
- Reading the first column as the target, forgetting that the stated pressure is a minimum for the load.
- Applying the steer-axle example to every position. The extra 15 to 20 psi was shown for steer tires with headroom, not for fully loaded drive or trailer axles.
- Skipping the cold check. A tire read after a 100 km run can show 10 to 15 percent more pressure than the cold value.
- Mixing ply ratings on the same axle. A 14PR and a 16PR tire of the same size have different pressure ceilings and different loads at the same pressure.
FAQ
Is Hankook’s table in psi and pounds?
Yes. The 2022 catalog table uses psi and lb, following TRA. Convert to kilograms by dividing pounds by 2.205 if you need metric.
What does the letter in brackets after a load mean?
Letters such as (E), (F), (G) and (H) mark the load range or ply rating that the pressure corresponds to for that size.
Can a tube-type tire use the same row?
Only if the size and ply rating match. Tube-type and tubeless variants are listed separately in the catalog.
Key takeaways
Hankook’s load and inflation tables are straightforward once you know S, D and A. Use the pressure that matches the real load, check cold weekly, keep duals within a tape measure of each other, and treat any steer-axle pressure increase as a tool inside the table’s maximum, not a habit. For the full cluster, continue to our pressure management hub.
