This paper presents the results of laboratory tests conducted on reinforced soil model walls. The effect of model height on distribution of tensile stress in an instrumented reinforcement strip was investigated. It was found that, with increasing height of wall, a continuous redistribution of tensile stress had occurred with the point of maximum tension moving towards the actual failure surface of the model. On that basis, a correlation between the position of maximum tension in reinforcement and the overall safety factor of model walls was investigated. General and specific equations of maximum tension line in terms of wall height and safety factor were suggested.