If you run Goodyear truck tires on a European or mixed fleet, the most useful page in the Goodyear truck tire data book is not the glossy range map. It is the technical data table that links tire pressure in bar to load capacity per axle in kilograms. This guide walks through how that table is organized, how to read single versus dual fitment, and what the numbers mean for steer, drive and trailer positions. For a broader US-focused view of the same subject, see our Goodyear truck tire pressure chart and the master truck tire pressure chart by axle load.
All figures below come from the Goodyear truck tire data book for the European range. Always confirm against the current Goodyear documentation and your vehicle manufacturer’s placard before changing pressures on a live fleet.
How the Goodyear load and inflation table is built
Goodyear publishes two linked tables. The first is a size table: for each size and pattern it lists the load index, overall diameter, section width, static loaded radius, rolling circumference, the maximum pressure, the maximum load per axle for single and dual fitment, and the recommended and permitted rim widths. The second is a load capacity table: for each load index it lists the load per axle at every pressure from 5.00 up to 9.00 bar.
Two details trip up first-time readers. First, the loads are given per axle, not per tire. A single-fitment value covers two tires on the axle; a dual-fitment value covers four. Second, the load index is printed as a pair such as 156/150. The first number is the single-fitment index and the second is the dual-fitment index. A dual tire carries less load than the same tire fitted single because the assembly is closer to its neighbor and shares heat.
Maximum load by popular 22.5 sizes
The table below shows the maximum figures published for common 22.5-inch sizes in the standard Goodyear range. Values are per axle in kilograms at the maximum pressure shown.
| Size | Load index | Max pressure (bar) | Single fitment (kg/axle) | Dual fitment (kg/axle) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 295/80R22.5 | 152/148 | 8.50 | 7,100 | 12,600 |
| 295/80R22.5 (HL) | 154/149 | 8.50 | 7,500 | 13,000 |
| 315/80R22.5 | 156/150 | 8.50 | 8,000 | 13,400 |
| 315/80R22.5 (HL) | 158/150 | 9.00 | 8,500 | 13,400 |
| 275/70R22.5 | 148/145 | 9.00 | 6,300 | 11,600 |
| 305/70R22.5 | 153/150 | 9.00 | 7,300 | 13,400 |
| 295/60R22.5 | 150/147 | 9.00 | 6,700 | 12,300 |
| 315/60R22.5 | 152/148 | 9.00 | 7,100 | 12,600 |
| 385/65R22.5 | 160 | 9.00 | 9,000 | single only |
| 385/65R22.5 (HL) | 164 | 9.00 | 10,000 | single only |
| 315/45R22.5 | 147/145 | 9.00 | 6,150 | 11,600 |
Notice how the 385/65R22.5 is listed for single fitment only. Wide-base tires do not have a dual rating because they are not designed to run next to a partner tire. The HL (high load) variants raise the load index by two to four points and, in the 315/80R22.5, also lift the pressure ceiling from 8.50 to 9.00 bar.
Reading the pressure ladder: three worked examples
The load table lets you read what happens to capacity as you reduce pressure. That matters when your axle load is well below the legal maximum, for example on a curtain-sider running half empty. Here are three load indexes lifted from the table, with single-fitment capacity per axle in kilograms.
| Pressure (bar) | LI 148 (275/70R22.5) | LI 152 (295/80R22.5) | LI 160 (385/65R22.5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.00 | 3,940 | 4,640 | 5,620 |
| 6.00 | 4,550 | 5,370 | 6,510 |
| 7.00 | 5,150 | 6,080 | 7,360 |
| 7.50 | 5,440 | 6,420 | 7,780 |
| 8.00 | 5,730 | 6,760 | 8,190 |
| 8.50 | 6,020 | 7,100 | 8,600 |
| 9.00 | 6,300 | n/a (max 8.50) | 9,000 |
Two lessons stand out. Capacity does not fall in a straight line, but each 0.5 bar is worth roughly 340 to 440 kg per axle on these sizes. And capacity at 5.00 bar is about 62 to 66 percent of the maximum. Run a fully loaded axle at 5.00 bar and you are dramatically under capacity, which is the root of most heat-related casing damage. Our guide to truck and bus tire pressure shows how that damage builds over time.
Single versus dual: why the dual number is lower per tire
Take the 315/80R22.5 156/150. Single fitment gives 8,000 kg per axle, which is 4,000 kg per tire. Dual fitment gives 13,400 kg per axle, which is 3,350 kg per tire. The dual per-tire rating is about 16 percent lower. This is not a mistake. In a dual assembly the two tires are only a few centimeters apart, so heat is trapped between sidewalls, and any mismatch in diameter or pressure pushes more load on one partner. Goodyear therefore derates the tire for dual use.
The practical rule: never read a single-fitment value for a dual axle. When you convert a trailer from wide-base to dual (or the reverse), recalculate the axle capacity with the correct column.
Steer, drive and trailer: how the pattern affects the table
Goodyear’s range is organized by position: KMAX S, FUELMAX S and OMNITRAC S for steer; KMAX D, FUELMAX D and OMNITRAC D for drive; KMAX T, FUELMAX T and OMNITRAC T for trailer. In the size table these sit under the same size but can carry different load indexes. For example, on 235/75R17.5 the KMAX S and KMAX D are 132/130 at 7.75 bar, while the KMAX T is 143/141 at 8.75 bar. The trailer tire carries 5,450 kg single against 4,000 kg for the steer or drive version.
That difference is why you must not swap patterns between axles without checking the index. A trailer tire on a steer position may exceed what the steer axle needs, but a steer tire on a trailer axle can be heavily overloaded. See also how load shapes wear in our guide to steer tire wear patterns.
Smaller sizes: 17.5 and 19.5 regional tires
The same table covers regional distribution sizes, where pressure ceilings are lower. A few examples from the data book:
| Size | Pattern | Load index | Max pressure (bar) | Single (kg/axle) | Dual (kg/axle) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 215/75R17.5 | KMAX D | 126/124 | 7.00 | 3,400 | 6,400 |
| 215/75R17.5 | KMAX T | 135/133 | 8.50 | 4,360 | 8,240 |
| 235/75R17.5 | KMAX S / KMAX D | 132/130 | 7.75 | 4,000 | 7,600 |
| 245/70R17.5 | KMAX T | 143/141 | 8.75 | 5,450 | 10,300 |
| 265/70R19.5 | KMAX S / D | 140/138 | 7.75 | 5,000 | 9,440 |
| 285/70R19.5 | standard | 146/144 | 9.00 | 6,000 | 11,200 |
These lighter sizes are a good example of why pressure is a design variable, not a universal number. A 215/75R17.5 steer at 7.00 bar will not behave like a 285/70R19.5 at 9.00 bar, even on similar vehicles. For size-specific guides see our posts on 11R22.5 pressure by axle load and the 315/80R22.5 tire pressure guide.
A five-step method to use the table on your fleet
- Weigh the axle. Use a weighbridge or on-board scale, loaded and empty, and record the heaviest realistic value.
- Pick the right column. Single for wide-base axles, dual for twin-tire axles.
- Find the load index row. Match the tire’s printed index, not just the size.
- Read the pressure that covers the load. Choose the lowest listed pressure whose capacity is at least your axle load, then add a small safety margin.
- Set the same cold pressure across the axle. Check tires cold, record the value and review monthly.
Remember that Goodyear’s guidance, like the rest of the industry, assumes cold inflation pressure. Adding air to a hot tire and calling it done leaves you under pressure once the tire cools. Our explainer on cold inflation will follow later in this series.
Common mistakes when using manufacturer tables
- Reading the single-fitment value for a dual axle and overstating capacity by about 15 percent.
- Ignoring the HL suffix and assuming two sizes have the same rating.
- Running trailers at steer pressures, or the reverse, because “all the tires are the same size”.
- Treating the maximum pressure on the sidewall as the target pressure. It is a ceiling, not a recommendation.
- Forgetting the rim. The data book lists recommended and permitted rim widths; a rim that is too narrow concentrates stress in the bead and shoulder.
How this ties into total cost
Pressure is the cheapest lever in tire management. Correct pressure protects the casing for retreading, as covered in our guide to hot retreading for truck fleets, and keeps rolling resistance down, which feeds directly into the total cost of ownership calculation. Even a 10 percent shortfall in pressure increases rolling resistance and heat, and the extra fuel and casing losses typically outweigh the cost of any inflation program. Related: low rolling resistance truck tires.
FAQ
Is the Goodyear load table in bar and kilograms the same as US PSI tables?
The physics is the same, but the standards differ. European tables follow ETRTO and use bar and kilograms; US tables follow the Tire and Rim Association and use PSI and pounds. Convert 1 bar to 14.5 PSI, but do not mix tables for sizing decisions.
Can I run my tires below the pressure shown for my load?
No. The table shows the minimum pressure needed to carry a given load. Lower pressure means the tire is working beyond its rating.
What does HL mean on a Goodyear tire?
HL stands for high load. These versions carry a higher load index than the standard tire of the same size and, in some sizes, a higher maximum pressure.
Key takeaways
Goodyear’s data book gives you everything needed to set pressure by axle load: a size table for ratings and a load ladder for every pressure step. Read per axle, choose the correct single or dual column, and never confuse the maximum pressure with the target. For the full cluster of pressure guides, start from our truck tire pressure chart pillar and the pressure management hub.
