How to Read Your Truck's Tire and Loading Label
That yellow sticker on your driver's door jamb is the single most important safety document on your truck. It carries the official, VIN-specific weight ratings that every towing calculation depends on—yet most owners never read past the tire pressure. Here is how to decode every field and use it to tow safely.
What Is the Tire and Loading Label?
The Tire and Loading label (sometimes called the Federal Certification label or FMVSS label) is a sticker required by federal regulation on every new vehicle sold in the United States. It is affixed by the manufacturer and contains the official, vehicle-specificweight ratings for your exact truck—not the generic brochure numbers you see online.
This distinction matters. Two F-150s that look identical can have wildly different payload capacities because of installed options, trim level, cab configuration, and tow package. The door jamb label accounts for all of that. If you use a website configurator or brochure payload instead of the label, you may be off by 500 lbs or more.
The bottom line
The numbers on the door jamb label are the legal, certified ratings for your truck. They override anything a dealer, brochure, or website tells you. When in doubt, trust the sticker.
Where to Find the Label
On virtually all modern pickup trucks and SUVs, the Tire and Loading label is located on the driver's side door jamb—the vertical pillar you see when you open the driver's door. Specifically, look in one of these spots:
- The rear edge of the door opening (B-pillar), about waist height. This is the most common location on Ford and GM trucks.
- The driver's door itself, on the inner face near the latch. Common on some RAM and Toyota models.
- On SUVs, occasionally on the passenger side door jamb if the driver side is used for other equipment.
The label is usually yellow with black text, or white with black text, and is roughly 4 by 6 inches. If your label is missing, faded, or painted over, you can order a replacement from your dealership using your VIN. The replacement is inexpensive (often under $30) and is the only way to get the certified numbers if the original is gone.
Anatomy of the Label: Every Field Explained
The label contains six key pieces of information. Here is what each one means and how to use it for towing:
| Field | What It Means | Towing Use |
|---|---|---|
| GVWR | Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. The maximum your truck can weigh fully loaded. | Compare to steer + drive axle weight from a CAT Scale. |
| GAWR FRT | Gross Axle Weight Rating, front axle. Max weight on the steer axle. | Compare to steer axle weight. A WDH can shift weight here. |
| GAWR RR | Gross Axle Weight Rating, rear axle. Max weight on the drive axle. | Most likely to be overloaded by tongue/pin weight. Check carefully. |
| Payload statement | “The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX lbs.” | Your official payload. Subtract tongue/pin weight + passengers + cargo. |
| Tire size | Original equipment tire size (e.g., P275/65R18). | If you changed tire sizes, use the tire maker's load/inflation table instead. |
| Tire pressure | Recommended cold tire pressure for front and rear, at max load. | Use these pressures when towing unless running upgraded tires. |
Step-by-Step: Reading the Label
Follow these steps every time you set up a new truck-and-trailer combination. The whole process takes about 10 minutes and could save you from a dangerous overload:
Step 1: Locate the Label
Open the driver's door and find the yellow or white sticker on the door jamb. Make sure it is legible. If it is faded, order a replacement from your dealer using your VIN.
Step 2: Read the GVWR
Find the line labeled “GVWR” followed by a number in pounds (e.g., “GVWR: 7,200 LBS”). This is the maximum your truck can weigh fully loaded. Write it down.
Step 3: Read the GAWR for Both Axles
Find “GAWR FRT” (front axle) and “GAWR RR” (rear axle). These are the maximum weights each axle can carry. The rear axle rating is the one to watch when towing, because tongue and pin weight transfer there.
Step 4: Find the Payload Statement
Look for the sentence beginning with “The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed…” followed by a number. That number is your official payload capacity. This is the single most important figure on the label for towing.
Step 5: Note the Tire Size and Pressure
Record the original tire size and the recommended cold tire pressure for front and rear. Use these pressures when towing. If you upgraded to load-range E (10-ply) tires, consult the tire manufacturer's load/inflation table for the correct towing pressure.
Step 6: Compare to Actual Weights
Weigh your fully loaded truck at a CAT Scale to get actual steer and drive axle weights. Compare each axle to the GAWR on the label, and the total to the GVWR. If any value exceeds the label, you are overloaded.
How to Calculate Available Payload from the Label
The payload statement on the label tells you how much weight you can add to the truck. Here is how to figure out how much payload you have left after hitching up:
Warning:Only 100 lbs of payload remains. That leaves almost no margin for a full tank of fuel (gasoline weighs about 6.3 lbs/gallon—a 30-gallon tank adds 189 lbs), a bed cover, or any additional gear. This setup is technically within limits but dangerously close to the edge.
Remember: fuel weight counts against payload. So does the weight of the hitch itself (a weight distribution hitch can weigh 80–120 lbs). If your remaining payload is under 300 lbs after subtracting tongue weight and passengers, treat it as a warning sign.
Common Mistakes When Reading the Label
Using brochure payload instead of the label
Brochures and website configurators often show best-case payload for a base-model truck with no options. The door jamb label reflects your actual truck. The difference can be 500 lbs or more.
Forgetting that tongue weight counts as payload
Tongue or pin weight sits on the truck and consumes payload. Many owners check payload against passengers and cargo but forget to subtract the 800–3,000 lbs of tongue or pin weight.
Ignoring the rear GAWR
You can be under GVWR but over the rear GAWR, because tongue weight concentrates on the drive axle. Always check axle weights at a CAT Scale, not just total weight.
Confusing tire sidewall pressure with label pressure
The number on the tire sidewall is the maximum, not the recommendation. Use the door jamb pressure for your original tires, or the tire maker's load/inflation table for upgraded tires.
The Label vs. the Trailering Guide
A common source of confusion: the Tire and Loading label does notshow your tow rating or GCWR. Those come from a separate document—the manufacturer's Trailering (or Towing) Guide. Here is how the two sources divide the work:
| Rating | Door Jamb Label | Trailering Guide |
|---|---|---|
| GVWR | Yes | No |
| GAWR (front/rear) | Yes | No |
| Payload | Yes | No |
| Tow Rating | No | Yes |
| GCWR | No | Yes |
| Hitch Rating | No | Yes |
Our Towing Capacity Calculator combines both sources. It pulls tow rating, GCWR, and hitch rating from our vehicle database (sourced from manufacturer trailering guides) and lets you input the GVWR and payload from your door jamb label to run all six safety checks at once.
Got Your Label Numbers?
Plug your door jamb GVWR, payload, and axle ratings into our calculator and run all six safety checks in under two minutes.
Open Towing Capacity CalculatorFrequently Asked Questions
Where is the Tire and Loading label on my truck?
The Tire and Loading label is a yellow or white sticker located on the driver's side door jamb (the B-pillar), visible when you open the driver's door. On some trucks it is on the rear edge of the driver's door itself. If the original label is missing or damaged, you can order a replacement from your dealer using your VIN, or find the same ratings in your owner's manual and the manufacturer's towing guide.
What is the difference between GVWR and payload capacity?
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) is the maximum your truck is allowed to weigh fully loaded, including the truck itself, passengers, cargo, and tongue or pin weight. Payload capacity is how much weight you can ADD to the truck: it equals GVWR minus the truck's curb weight. The door jamb label states payload as 'The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX lbs.' For towing, tongue or pin weight counts against payload.
Is the payload number on the door jamb accurate for towing?
Yes, the payload figure on the door jamb label is the official, truck-specific number certified by the manufacturer for that exact VIN. It accounts for your truck's installed options and trim, unlike generic brochures or website configurators which show best-case or base-model numbers. Always use the door jamb payload, not the brochure payload, when calculating towing safety.
What is GAWR and why does it matter for towing?
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) is the maximum weight a single axle can carry, listed separately for the front (steer) and rear (drive) axles on the door jamb label. When you hitch a trailer, tongue or pin weight is transferred mainly to the rear axle, which can overload it even when total GVWR is within limits. This is why you should weigh each axle at a CAT Scale rather than relying on total weight alone.
Does the door jamb label show my towing capacity?
No. The Tire and Loading label shows GVWR, GAWR (front and rear), tire size, recommended tire pressure, and payload, but it does NOT show tow rating or GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating). Tow rating and GCWR come from the manufacturer's trailering guide and depend on engine, axle ratio, cab style, and tow package. Our towing calculator combines both sources for a complete safety check.
Why are the tire pressures on the door jamb different from the tire sidewall?
The door jamb shows the recommended COLD tire pressure for your truck's original tires at maximum load. The number on the tire sidewall is the maximum pressure the tire can safely hold, not the recommended running pressure. Always follow the door jamb pressure for daily driving and towing. If you upgraded to load-range E (10-ply) tires, check the tire manufacturer's load/inflation table for the correct towing pressure.