This information should provide consumers with sufficient guidance for maintaining tires properly. Otherwise, consumers have no way realistically to know whether they have overloaded their vehicle. We can't say how many read and understand the information that is currently available. Judging from the widespread confusion during the Firestone tire recall of last year, the best answer is, not many. In this vein, we believe that consumers need much more clarity in the information supplied to correctly differentiate a tire's correct operating inflation pressure from its maximum inflation pressure.
Current statements regarding underinflation and overloading are inconsistent and often hard to read.
Education plays an important role in this regard. Even if the information on maximum tire load, speed capacity, and reference to the operating inflation pressure is all clearly in place on the tire, the interaction between them will still require explanation. Moreover, and most importantly, the consumer's main concern should be cold operating tire pressures and payload for the vehicle they are driving. The loading information is defined by the vehicle manufacturer and for each model and depends in part on vehicle options. Realistically, it cannot be part of the tire standards.