California Code of Regulations
Title 13 - Motor Vehicles
Division 2 - Department of the California Highway Patrol
Chapter 4 - Special Equipment
Article 14 - Tires and Rims
Section 1085 - Tire and Rim Size and Capacity

Universal Citation: 13 CA Code of Regs 1085

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

(a) Passenger Cars. Tires manufactured after January 1, 1968, and used on passenger cars manufactured after 1948 shall be of the sizes listed in one of the publications referenced in FMVSS No. 109 or in a publication of the tire manufacturer which is provided to the public.

(b) Matching of Passenger Car Tires and Rims. Tires for all passenger cars manufactured after 1948, of sizes listed in one of the publications referenced in FMVSS No. 109 or in a publication of the tire manufacturer which is provided to the public, shall be installed and used only on the appropriate rims specified for the particular tire size by the tire manufacturer or by organizations listed in FMVSS No. 109.

(c) Matching of Tires and Rims on Other Vehicles. Tires installed on vehicles other than passenger cars shall be mounted only on rims specified for the particular tire size by the tire manufacturer or by organizations listed in FMVSS No. 119.

(d) Tire Load Limits. Loads on tires shall comply with the following requirements:

(1) Passenger car tires used on passenger cars or station wagons shall not be loaded above the maximum load rating marked on the tire, or, if unmarked, the maximum load rating specified in one of the publications referenced in FMVSS No. 109 or in a publication furnished to the public by the tire manufacturer. Passenger car tires used on other vehicles shall not be loaded beyond the foregoing maximum divided by 1.1.

(2) Tires for trucks, buses, trailers, motorcycles, or any vehicles other than passenger cars shall not be loaded above the maximum load rating marked on the tire, or if unmarked, the maximum load rating specified by the organizations listed in FMVSS No. 119 or the tire manufacturer's recommendations for the tire size, ply rating, and service speed.

(3) Tires covered by FMVSS No. 119 may carry increased loads at speeds of 54 mph (87 km/h) or less in accordance with tables published by the organizations listed in that standard, provided that either:
(A) The speed of the vehicle is mechanically restricted to no more than the rated speed for the load carried by the tire, or

(B) The vehicle, or combination of vehicles carries, on the rear of the last vehicle, a sign showing the maximum speed for the tire load (Figure 1 Speed Restriction Sign). The sign shall be located so that a following driver can read it with ease.

(C) The background of the Speed Restriction Sign shall be yellow, extending at least 1 inch (26 mm) beyond the words. The letter on the sign shall be at least 4 inches (100 mm) high, with a stroke 1/2 inch (13 mm) wide. All words may be on one line.

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(4) Tire loading restrictions for manufactured homes. Tires used for the transportation of manufactured homes (i.e., tires marked or labeled 7-14.5MH or 8-14.5MH) may be loaded up to 18 percent over the load rating marked on the sidewall of the tire or, in the absence of such a marking, 18 percent over the load rating specified in any of the publications of any of the organizations listed in FMVSS No. 119, pursuant to 49 CFR 393.75(g). Manufactured homes which are labeled on or after November 16, 1998, shall comply with 24 CFR 3282.7(r), April 1, 1998. Manufactured homes transported on tires overloaded by 9 percent or more must not be operated at speeds exceeding 50 mph (80 km/h).

(5) Vehicles that do not have a mechanically restricted speed or the reduced speed sign, or do have the sign but do not comply with the reduced speed shown on the sign, shall not carry increased tire loads.

(e) LT Tires. Tires identified with the letters "LT" in the size markings (such as 7.00-15LT or LT 235/75R15) shall be used only on vehicles other than passenger cars and motorcycles.

(f) MH Tires. Tires identified with the letters "MH" after the size (such as 8-14.5MH) are designed for mobilehomes and shall not be used on other vehicles unless marked with the letters "DOT" in accordance with FMVSS 119.

(g) ML Tires. Tires identified with the letters "ML" after the size (such as 10.00-22ML) are designed for intermittent on/off road service such as mining and logging operations and shall not be used on vehicles traveling more than 55 miles (89 km) in any 1 1/2-hr period or at a speed of more than 55 mph (89 km/h). Certain sizes of ML tires marked with a 50-mph speed limit shall not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h) or 50 miles (80 km) in any 1 1/2-hour period.

(h) MS Tires. Tires permanently marked on one sidewall with the words "MUD AND SNOW" or any contraction using the letters "M" and "S" and designated by the tire manufacturer as being designed to provide additional traction in mud and snow in accordance with the definition of the Rubber Manufacturers Association may be used in lieu of tire chains where chain control signs permit snow tires.

(i) NHS Tires. Tires identified with the letters "NHS" after the size (such as 7.00-15NHS) are not designed for highway service and shall be used only on vehicles such as short haul mining, earthmoving and logging service at speeds not exceeding 40 mph (64 km/h) and shovels, front end loaders, dozers, and fork lifts at speeds not exceeding 10 mph (16 km/h). Tires identified as "NHS" may be used on cotton trailers (defined as implements of husbandry in Vehicle Code Section 36005) when such trailers are operated at not more than the speed limit labeled on the tire sidewall or, if not labeled, not more than 40 mph (64 km/h).

(j) SL Tires. Tires identified with the letters "SL" after the size (such as 9.00-16SL) are designed for limited service and shall be used only on agricultural and industrial equipment operated at not more than 20 mph (32 km/h).

(k) ST and Other Trailer Tires. Tires identified with the letters "ST" (such as 7.00-13ST) or with the words"TRAILER" or "TRAILER SERVICE" after the size shall not be used on motor vehicles.

(l) T Tires. Tires identified with the letter "T" after the size (such as 3.75-19T) shall be used only on motorcycles or sidecars.

(m) Tires for Buses. Tires marked as follows are designed for buses and shall be used only as stated: "INTER-CITY" and "THRUWAY" may be used in any service at normal highway speeds. "INTRA-CITY" may be used only in slow speed start-stop service with maximum speed not exceeding 35 mph (56 km/h). "CITY-SUBURBAN" may be used only at speeds not exceeding 55 mph (89 km/h) for not more than one hour of continuous operation.

1. Amendment of subsection (e) filed 8-9-78; designated effective 9-15-78 (Register 78, No. 32). For former history, see Registers 76, No. 10; 76, No. 21; 76, No. 52; 77, No. 37; and 77, No. 52.
2. Renumbering and amendment of section 1086 to section 1085 filed 1-18-82; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 82, No. 4).
3. Amendment of subsections (e)(1) and (2) filed 10-19-83; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 83, No.43).
4. Amendment filed 8-31-84; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 84, No. 35).
5. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (d)(4) filed 4-12-91 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 91, No. 18).
6. Amendment filed 6-30-99; operative 7-30-99 (Register 99, No. 27).

Note: Authority cited and Reference: Sections 27500, 31401, 34501, 34501.5, and 34508, Vehicle Code.

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