diff --git a/charts/monitoring-config/rules/datagovuk_traffic.yaml b/charts/monitoring-config/rules/datagovuk_traffic.yaml
index ad81a0c1b10..b5c25efcdbf 100644
--- a/charts/monitoring-config/rules/datagovuk_traffic.yaml
+++ b/charts/monitoring-config/rules/datagovuk_traffic.yaml
@@ -2,23 +2,23 @@ groups:
   - name: DataGovUkTrafficAlerts
     rules:
       - alert: DataGovUkHighTrafficRate
-        # Fires when the origin request rate to data.gov.uk exceeds 80% of the peak
-        # capacity established by the NDL load test (100 VUs, 55.8 req/s, 0% errors).
-        # 80% of 55.8 req/s = 44.6 req/s. Threshold sustained for 5 minutes.
+        # Fires when the origin request rate to data.gov.uk exceeds 80% of the rightsized
+        # capacity target (25 req/s, validated by NDL load test at 45 VUs).
+        # 80% of 25 req/s = 20 req/s. Threshold sustained for 5 minutes.
         expr: |
-          sum(rate(fastly_rt_origin_fetches_total{service_name=~".*data.gov.uk"}[5m])) > 44.6
+          sum(rate(fastly_rt_origin_fetches_total{service_name=~".*data.gov.uk"}[5m])) > 20.0
         for: 5m
         labels:
           severity: warning
           destination: slack-datagovuk-technical
         annotations:
-          summary: data.gov.uk origin request rate exceeds 80% of load-tested capacity
+          summary: data.gov.uk origin request rate exceeds 80% of rightsized capacity
           description: >-
             The request rate to the data.gov.uk origin has exceeded 80% of the
-            peak capacity established by load testing (55.8 req/s at 100 virtual users).
+            rightsized capacity target (25 req/s, validated by load testing at 45 virtual users).
 
             Current rate: {{ $value | humanize }} req/s
-            Threshold (80% of 55.8 req/s): 44.6 req/s
+            Threshold (80% of 25 req/s): 20.0 req/s
 
-            Consider scaling the find and CKAN pods before traffic reaches 100% capacity.
+            Consider scaling the find and CKAN pods before traffic reaches 100% capacity (25 req/s).
           runbook_url: https://docs.publishing.service.gov.uk/manual/alerts/data-gov-uk-high-traffic-alert.html
diff --git a/charts/monitoring-config/rules/datagovuk_traffic_tests.yaml b/charts/monitoring-config/rules/datagovuk_traffic_tests.yaml
index 02a62e9fd14..af5ace8cd90 100644
--- a/charts/monitoring-config/rules/datagovuk_traffic_tests.yaml
+++ b/charts/monitoring-config/rules/datagovuk_traffic_tests.yaml
@@ -5,13 +5,13 @@ evaluation_interval: 1m
 
 tests:
   ##
-  # Test 1: No alert when origin request rate is below the 80% threshold (20 req/s)
+  # Test 1: No alert when origin request rate is below the 80% threshold (10 req/s)
   ##
-  - name: No alert when traffic is below 80% of load-tested capacity
+  - name: No alert when traffic is below 80% of rightsized capacity
     interval: 1m
     input_series:
       - series: 'fastly_rt_origin_fetches_total{service_name="staging data.gov.uk"}'
-        values: '0+1200x30'  # 1200 counter increment per minute = 20 req/s — below 44.6 threshold
+        values: '0+600x30'  # 600 counter increment per minute = 10 req/s — below 20.0 threshold
 
     alert_rule_test:
       - alertname: DataGovUkHighTrafficRate
@@ -19,17 +19,17 @@ tests:
         exp_alerts: []
 
   ##
-  # Test 2: Alert fires when origin request rate is sustained above 80% threshold (50 req/s)
+  # Test 2: Alert fires when origin request rate is sustained above 80% threshold (22 req/s)
   #
-  # With rate([5m]) and a constant 3000/min (50 req/s) increment:
+  # With rate([5m]) and a constant 1320/min (22 req/s) increment:
   #   - Condition first becomes TRUE at t=5m (full 5-minute window populated)
   #   - With for: 5m the alert FIRES at t=10m
   ##
-  - name: Alert fires when traffic exceeds 80% of load-tested capacity for 5+ minutes
+  - name: Alert fires when traffic exceeds 80% of rightsized capacity for 5+ minutes
     interval: 1m
     input_series:
       - series: 'fastly_rt_origin_fetches_total{service_name="staging data.gov.uk"}'
-        values: '0+3000x30'  # 3000 counter increment per minute = 50 req/s — exceeds 44.6 threshold
+        values: '0+1320x30'  # 1320 counter increment per minute = 22 req/s — exceeds 20.0 threshold
 
     alert_rule_test:
       - alertname: DataGovUkHighTrafficRate
@@ -43,13 +43,13 @@ tests:
               severity: warning
               destination: slack-datagovuk-technical
             exp_annotations:
-              summary: data.gov.uk origin request rate exceeds 80% of load-tested capacity
+              summary: data.gov.uk origin request rate exceeds 80% of rightsized capacity
               description: >-
                 The request rate to the data.gov.uk origin has exceeded 80% of the
-                peak capacity established by load testing (55.8 req/s at 100 virtual users).
+                rightsized capacity target (25 req/s, validated by load testing at 45 virtual users).
 
-                Current rate: 50 req/s
-                Threshold (80% of 55.8 req/s): 44.6 req/s
+                Current rate: 22 req/s
+                Threshold (80% of 25 req/s): 20.0 req/s
 
-                Consider scaling the find and CKAN pods before traffic reaches 100% capacity.
+                Consider scaling the find and CKAN pods before traffic reaches 100% capacity (25 req/s).
               runbook_url: https://docs.publishing.service.gov.uk/manual/alerts/data-gov-uk-high-traffic-alert.html