Home > Company > Tire Safety > Choosing Tires > Determining Tire Size
Once you have determined it’s time to buy tires, you’ll need to know what size tires are correct for your vehicle. Depending on what you drive, you may be interested in how to find the right tire for your…
This information is usually inside your car’s doorjamb, in your owner’s manual. To ensure your current tire or a replacement tire you may be looking at matches your vehicle’s requirements, it will be good for you to understand how tire sizing works. You may have never paid attention to the string of numbers and letters on every tire, but it’s a gold mine of information.
If you’re unsure of how to read tire measurements from your tire walls, the information and graphics below will tell you how to read tire size, understand and interpret it. If you decide you want to substitute a new size or tire type, consult an authorized tire retailer who can expertly advise you, because many optional tire sizes may have different load capacities and could require wheels of a different rim width or diameter and different inflation pressure.
Not sure you need new tires? Our Tire Replacement Guidance article will help you determine whether it’s time to retire your tires.
Most passenger cars, SUVs and light pickups (1/2 ton and smaller) will come with tires that are either P-Metric or Euro-Metric. For P-Metric tires, you’ll see the letter “P” before the number sequence begins: P225/70R16 97H. P-metric is a designation standardized by the Tire and Rim Association for a “passenger car” tire type. For Euro-Metric there will be no preceding letter before the number sequence begins: 225/70R16 98H. Euro-Metric is a designation standardized by the European Tyre and Rim Technical Organization for a “passenger car” tire type.
Both P-Metric and Euro-Metric size tires are designed to primarily be used on passenger vehicles, which can include cars, minivans, SUVs, and other light duty pickup trucks.
If your vehicle is an SUV, Pickup truck or van, you might see a different type of size designation on your placard that is specific for heavy duty light trucks and vans, especially common on ¾ ton and larger pickup trucks and vans. There are two common size types in this category, LT-Metric and Euro-Metric Commercial (aka C-type). Both size types are metric and so use the same structure as P-Metric and Euro-Metric but have some different characters in the size that differentiate them from their passenger car cousins. LT-Metric tires will have the letters “LT” before the size number sequence: LT245/75R17 119/116R Load Range E. Notice that there are two load index numbers and a Load Range, see the section on Load Index for more info. LT-Metric is a designation standardized by the Tire and Rim Association for a “light truck” type tire.
Euro-Metric Commercial or C-Type tires will look very similar to a passenger Euro-Metric size except that there will be a “C” right after the rim size: 23/65R16C 121/119R. Notice that the C-type tires also have two load index numbers. Euro-Metric Commercial, or C-Type is a designation standardized by the European Tyre and Rim Technical Organization for a light truck type tire. Light truck tires are designed to be used on vehicles capable of carrying heavy cargo and are usually only specified by a vehicle manufacturer on vehicles exceeding a certain load capacity.
Other types of tires that fall into the Metric sizing type are Temporary Spares, they start with “T”. If you see a size that starts with “ST,” that means “special trailer” and is only for use on a trailer.
Regardless of whether you are looking at a P-Metric, Euro-Metric, LT-Metric, Euro-Metric Commercial, T or ST tire the numbers in the size mean the same thing.
The first number to appear in your tire size information is the width, in millimeters, of the correct tires for your vehicle: P225/70R16 91S.
Tire width always refers to the measurement from one sidewall to another. Thus, a tire with the measurement “P225” is for a passenger vehicle and has a nominal width of 225 millimeters.
After the slash mark, the next number you see is for the tire’s aspect ratio, which essentially tells you how tall your tire’s profile is: P225/70R16 91S. Aspect ratios are delivered in percentages. Tire makers calculate the aspect ratio by dividing a tire’s height off the rim by its width. If a tire has an aspect ratio of 70, it means the tire’s height is 70% of its width.
Lower aspect ratio tires, such as a 60 series, generally offer vehicle handling performance advantages over higher aspect ratio tires, such as a 75 series, but a typical trade off can be ride harshness.
After the aspect ratio comes a letter that indicates the type of internal construction maintaining your tire’s stability: P225/70R16 91S.
There are two types of construction that you may see on the sidewall of a tire:
Radial tires are the most common tires on the road in the United States today; thus “R” will usually be shown in the tire size designation. Radial construction means the tire’s internal ply cords are oriented in a radial direction, from one bead over to the other, essentially perpendicular to the direction of rotation. You may also occasionally see RF indicating a run flat tire or ZR indicating a tire that is a speed rating higher than V.
The next number is the diameter code, in inches, of the rim onto which the tire can be mounted. For example, a tire with the P225/70R16 91S would fit a rim with a 16-inch diameter.
Load index can be a confusing subject because there are so many different caveats, but we will try to explain everything here.
The next figure after the rim size in the sequence is your tire’s load index, which tells us how much weight, in pounds, the tire can support when fully inflated: P225/70R16 91S
We call it the load “index” because the number doesn’t tell us the precise number of pounds the tire can carry, at least not by itself. However, the number does correspond to a specific load capacity listed in an index. Beginning with 1 and ending with 150, numbers in the load index represent carrying capacities of 99 to 7385 lbs.
There are two types of load types for passenger tires though, Standard Load and Extra Load. If a tire is Standard Load there will be no markings indicating it but if it is Extra Load the letters XL will appear after the size and load index.
Standard Load Euro-Metric: 215/55R17 94V
Extra Load Euro-Metric: 215/55R17 98V XL
Passenger car tires like P-Metric and Euro-Metric will only have one load index number where LT-Metric and Euro-Metric Commercial (C-Type) will have two numbers separated by a slash.
The first number is the load index if the tire is used in a single application, the second number is the load index if the tire is used in a dual application. Passenger type tires cannot be used in a dual application. Light truck tires will also have a Load Range that is indicated by a letter, such as Load Range E. Load Range is an older term that is still commonly used in the industry so you may hear your tire dealer reference it but the load index numbers are the best way to ensure you have the proper tire.
One important but often misunderstood facet about load index is that the load index numbers between standards organizations (P-Metric vs Euro-Metric) are not necessarily on the same scale. Meaning that two tires in the two different systems that have the same load index number could have different maximum load capacities. This is why it’s important to not only look at the load index number but also verify the actual load capacity.
The final figure in a tire size sequence is the speed rating, which is indicated by a letter: P225/70R16 91S.
Just as your load index number corresponds to a specific load, your speed rating letter corresponds to a particular speed capability based on a standardized laboratory test.
For example, a tire with speed rating “S” is rated for up to 112 mph, while a tire rated “R” is up to 106 mph. Remember that this isn’t a recommended cruising speed. Of course, you should always follow legal speed limits on roadways.
Replacement tires must have the same or higher speed rating as the vehicle’s Original Equipment to maintain vehicle speed capability. If a vehicle has tires with different speed ratings, it is the speed rating of the “slowest” tire that dictates the vehicle top speed.
There is one last sizing type that you should know about, especially if you are in the market for off road tires for a light truck or SUV. It’s called a Flotation size and the numbers in this sizing format are very different from the Metric formats.
Flotation sized tires are similar to LT-Metric tires in application except for a few important points. Number one, they cannot be used in dual applications and number two, an equivalent size tire may have different load capacity than its LT-Metric counterpart.
The first number in the Flotation tire size is the overall diameter in inches. Pretty straight forward.
The second number is the section width (sidewall to sidewall) measurement in inches. Again, fairly simple.
After the section width comes a letter that indicates the type of internal construction: 33X12.50R17LT 120Q.
This is the same as is found in the metric sizing systems.
There are two types of construction that you may see on the sidewall of a tire:
Radial tires are the most common tires on the road in the United States today; thus “R” will usually be shown in the tire size designation.
Radial construction means the tire’s internal ply cords are oriented in a radial direction, from one bead over to the other, essentially perpendicular to the direction of rotation.
The next number is the diameter code, in inches, of the rim onto which the tire can be mounted. For example, a tire with the 33X12.50R17LT 120Q would fit a rim with a 17-inch diameter.
The letters LT will be after the Rim Diameter indicating that this tire type is intended for Light Truck vehicles similar to the LT-Metric and Euro-Metric Commercial (C-Type) tires.
Load Index and Speed Rating have the same meaning and format as the tires using the metric sizing system. Note that since flotation tires cannot be used in a dual application there will be only one load index number instead of two.
Another group of stamping on certain types of tires is the Uniform Tire Quality Grading or UTQG. This grading and stamping is required for passenger car tires (i.e. P-metric and Euro-metric) in the all season and summer categories. Dedicated winter tires, Light Truck (LT-Metric, Euro-Metric Commercial, Flotation) and Motorcycle tires are excluded from this requirement.
Quality grading is designed to make the tire purchase decision easier for you. Ideally, the system is intended to provide simple, comparative data so you can make an intelligent buying decision. However, the ratings are based upon test results achieved under special conditions. This means it’s possible to misinterpret the comparative data as it relates to your individual driving habits, conditions, etc. You should still rely on your service or tire professional for assistance.
Quality grading designates the comparative performance levels of a tire based on government-specified tests but commissioned by the individual tire manufacturers.
All tire manufacturers are required to grade regular and all-season passenger tires in three categories:
UTQG
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified government test course for 6,000 miles (9,600 km). For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and a half times as well on the government course as a tire graded 100. However actual tire performance depends on driving habits, road characteristics, service practices, and other factors that can influence the outcome.
Traction Grades AA, A, B and C
The traction grades from highest to lowest are AA (the highest), A, B and C. They represent how well tires stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. C-rated tires will have the lowest traction performance.
WARNING: THE TRACTION GRADE ASSIGNED IS BASED ON A WET BRAKING (STRAIGHT AHEAD) TRACTION TEST AND DOES NOT INCLUDE CORNERING (TURNING) TRACTION.
Temperature Grades A, B and C
The temperature grades A, B, and C represent the tire's resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the tire’s material to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a performance level all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades A and B represent higher levels of performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by law.
WARNING: THE TEMPERATURE GRADE IS ESTABLISHED FOR A TIRE THAT IS PROPERLY INFLATED AND NOT OVERLOADED. EXCESSIVE SPEED, UNDER INFLATION, OR EXCESSIVE LOADING, EITHER SEPARATELY OR IN COMBINATION, CAN CAUSE HEAT BUILDUP AND POSSIBLE TIRE FAILURE.
DOT Quality Grades
All passenger car tires must conform to other federal requirements in addition to these grades.
Learn about our mission, our achievements, and our ongoing commitments
Read Our Origin Story
Tire size can be confusing. Some numbers on the sidewall are listed in millimeters while others are inches. Plus, the right size for your car, truck, or trailer can differ depending on where and how you drive.
You can see your original equipment tire size in your owner’s manual or on the placard generally located on the driver’s side door jam. This is the sizing recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
If you’re interested in switching out your tires for a different look or performance, a good place to start is the numbers and other indicators on your existing tires’ sidewall. Next, have a tire professional help you determine a tire size range that will fit your vehicle and driving needs.
Here’s what those numbers and indicators on the sidewall indicate and how to understand them:
A: TIRE TYPE The first letter in the code tells you what class of tire it is.
P stands for passenger vehicle tire. P-class tires include cars, SUVs, crossovers, minivans and smaller pickup trucks.
LT means light truck tire, designed for vehicles that are capable of carrying heavy loads, towing trailers, or for those looking for an extra heavy duty option. These are often equipped on three-quarter or 1 ton trucks and SUVs.
ST stands for Special Trailer. These tire sizes are meant for trailers, including fifth wheels and other travel trailers, as well as boat and utility trailers.
If there’s no letter before the first number, you have a metric tire most commonly referred to as European size. It’s also measured in millimeters but may have a different load capacity than a P or LT tire.
B: TIRE WIDTH The three-digit number following the letter is the tire’s width (from side to side, looking at the tire head on) in millimeters. This may also be referred to as the section width.
C: ASPECT RATIO The forward slash separates the tire width number from the two-digit aspect ratio. The bigger the aspect ratio, the higher/taller the tire’s sidewall, or “profile” as it’s sometimes called.
The aspect ratio is indicated on the tire sidewall as a percentage. It’s the height of the sidewall measured from wheel rim to top of the tread, expressed as a percentage of tire width.
In this example, the aspect ratio is 65, meaning the sidewall is 65 percent as high as the tire is wide. To get the sidewall height, take the tire width of 215 mm and convert it to inches (8.46). Then multiply this by 65% (.65). This gives you an answer of 5.5, the sidewall height in inches.
D: CONSTRUCTION TYPE This single letter tells you about the internal construction of the tire.
R is for radial tires, the industry standard for most tires today. They have better road grip, lower rolling resistance for better gas mileage, ride comfort and durability than previous generations of tires. In a radial tire, the plies — layers of strong cords made of a blend of polyester, steel and fabric and coated with rubber — are laid perpendicular to the direction of travel.
D is for tires built with diagonal (crisscrossed) plies, called bias-constructed tires. They are also called conventional, x-ply, or cross-ply tires. Some motorcycle and trailer tires still use this internal construction.
Some run-flat tires are identified with an F followed by the type of internal construction.
E: WHEEL DIAMETER This two-digit number specifies wheel diameter in inches. It’s the distance between the two bead seat areas (where a tire gets tightly sealed onto the wheel).
F: LOAD INDEX The two-digit or three-digit number that follows the gap specifies tire load index.
The load index symbol indicates how much weight a tire can support, based on the following standard chart. In our example, the load index is 89, which indicates the tire has a load capacity of 1,279 pounds, when inflated to the tire’s maximum air pressure rating.
G: SPEED RATING The last letter is the tire speed rating. This indicates the top speed it’s safe to travel at for a sustained amount of time. A tire with a higher speed rating can handle heat better and provide more control at faster speeds. The maximum operating speed of a vehicle is no more than the lowest speed rating of all tires mounted on the vehicle. (Of course, you should always abide by speed limits for safer driving.) Speed rating is usually, but not always, a single letter (see the chart).
Below you will find several charts that will help you understand tire sizing numbers, including a load index chart and speed rating chart.
A tire size calculator is a quick way to see whether the tire size you’re considering will likely fit your car, SUV, sports car, light truck or crossover.
But remember that is only an estimate. It’s important to stay within the sizing tolerances of your vehicle. Tires that are the wrong size could cause some pull in the steering wheel, rub against the suspension or body of your vehicle, reduce clearance on hills, or result in a stiffer or noisier ride.
If you’re considering mounting a different tire size on your vehicle, check with a tire expert. Find out whether the tires and wheels you have your eye on are the right fit for your vehicle’s suspension, gearing, and bodywork. And ask how any differences in revolutions per mile, tire speed, load index, and speed rating will affect your ride quality and vehicle performance.
See how new tires and rims will look on your car or truck using our Virtual Wheels simulator, available at any Les Schwab.
Find Your Store
Photo: Shutterstock
adv.rbc.ru
See also
Numbers and letters on a car tire provide all the necessary information about it.
True, it is not easy to read them - here, even in the designation of one parameter, several measurement systems can be used simultaneously. In addition, many values are expressed in special indices. We decipher all important labels for the buyer. nine0003
adv.rbc.ru
A tire label is information about its properties printed on the outer rim. This is a huge amount of useful information. Here are the parameters of the tire that can be read from it itself:
The size designation is written in the form XXX/XX R XX. For example 225/65 R17.
The first three digits are the tire width in millimetres. In our case - 225 mm. nine0003
The second digit is the height, but not in millimeters, but as a percentage of the width. In our case, its height is 146.25 mm (225 * 0.65).
The third number after R is the outside diameter of the wheel or the inside diameter of the tire in inches. In our case, this is 17 inches or 43.18 cm. Do not confuse - this is the radius, not the diameter. The letter R itself stands for the radial design of the tire, which confuses many. Sometimes Radial can be written separately on the bus - the meaning is the same. In addition to the radial, there is also a diagonal design (D), but these are not found today. nine0003
Two numbers and a letter immediately follow the size. These are the codes for the load capacity and speed limit of the tire.
Two digits - capacity or load index.
This is a complex system of values, in which the larger the number, the greater the load, but the step size between the values is not constant. Therefore, it is easier to just know the most common of them:
The index value is the load on each wheel separately. To calculate the total load capacity, multiply by 4. This value can also be written elsewhere in a simpler form: Max load - xxx kg. nine0003
Photo: Shutterstock
The letter after the two digits of the load index is the index of the maximum speed for which the tire is designed. It starts with A, but the values relevant for modern machines start with the second half of the Latin alphabet:
This is not the limit, but the maximum "comfortable" value. In exceptional cases, you can even exceed it by 20-30%, but it is better to avoid this.
Another key parameter is the timing of the tire. Usually it is indicated in a rounded rectangle, but may be without a frame. The first two digits are the week, and the second two are the year. nine0003
Also, three more parameters are usually indicated on the tire - wear resistance margin, grip quality class and temperature index.
The wear index is denoted by the word treadwear. Its unit is 480 km. Multiply the number next to that word by that value. If treadwear is 400, it means that under test conditions at the test site, such a tire has worn out after driving 192,000 km. Also, this parameter can be designated separately as the abbreviation TWI. nine0003
Traction is a measure of how well a tire grips on wet road surfaces. It has values from AA - the best level, to CC - the worst. Tires for regular passenger cars usually have class A, and the highest class is for sports and racing.
Temperature is the tire's ability to withstand heat when driving at a certain speed.
There are three values here:
Tires of modern passenger cars most often have this index value - A.
Photo: Shutterstock
The letter E with a number indicates that the tire complies with the rules of the European Tire Standards Association (ETRTO) and has a corresponding certificate . The number indicates the country that issued it - but this does not matter, since the ETRTO requirements are the same. In this case, the tire can be produced anywhere.
The weather conditions in which it is permissible to use this tire are also usually indicated:
Winter tires must have a first, second or third designation. nine0003
On some tires you can find the designation of the type of car for which they are intended:
In addition, the tire may be marked with:
Tubeless may also be written on a tubeless tire; Save article:
In this article:
Are you looking for a set of summer or winter tires for your car but don't understand all those numbers and letters? This problem is easily solved.
In this article, we will show you how to easily and quickly understand what the numbers on the tires mean, what parameters are hidden behind them, and which tires are suitable for your car. nine0003
Only then the car will confidently stay on the road when it is shod with rubber with optimal technical characteristics corresponding to the weather, type of coverage and season.
The marking of car tires consists of several meanings. For example, on any wheel, the manufacturer, brand of rubber, and tire size are indicated. The first three numbers on the wheel indicate the size of the rim (in inches, 1 inch equals 2.54 cm), how wide the tire is, and the height of the profile. This marking can be seen if you look at the wheel from the outside. nine0003
Photo: Shutterstock
Let's analyze what the numbers on the tires mean on a specific example of a wheel marked 195 60 R16. The first digit of 195 mm is the tread width.
What does the second number on a tire label mean? It shows the relationship between tread height and tire width. The wheel will cling to the coating perfectly if the value of this index is high. Most often, drivers call this parameter the height of the profile.
The last number is the inner diameter of the tire (in inches). Many car owners make the following mistake: they buy tires without taking into account the fact that external parameters change. nine0003
So, the height of two wheels marked 185 65 R15 and 210 65 R15 will be different, but the landing diameter is the same. Due to small differences in the profile height and tire width in this example, it will not be possible to mount tires on a car. This should not be forgotten when buying a set of wheels. You can use the tire calculator to find the right tire size for you.
In addition, one more parameter is applied to any wheel, this is the permissible speed. It is located after the numbers on the tires indicating the tire size.
This index indicates what maximum speed the tire is designed for. nine0003
Helpful materials on finance and shopping
Download compilation
What do the numbers on the tires after the speed index mean? Usually there is an indication of the permissible load on one tire. For example, it may look like this: "88T". This figure means that when driving at the maximum possible speed of 190 kilometers per hour, the load on one wheel should be no more than 560 kilograms.
Photo: Shutterstock
To make it clearer what the numbers on the tires mean, consider the European marking of the Cordiant Sport 3 225/65 R17 106H tire model.
On American tires, you can find two different types of markings that differ from each other. nine0003
Consider the first marking: P 195/60 R 14 or LT 235/75 R15. As you can see, it practically does not differ from the European one. However, the size is preceded by the letter P on passenger tires or LT on tires for light trucks.
There is also a second marking, it looks different: 31x10.5 R15. In this case, the usual European marking would look like this: 265/75 R15. What do the numbers on tires with this marking mean (in inches): nine0003
It is worth noting that if you do not pay attention to the units of measurement (inches, which are unusual for us), then the American marking will be clearer and more logical in comparison with the European one. Indeed, in the second case, the height of the rubber profile depends on the width of the wheel. nine0003
In the American labeling, everything is simpler. For clarity, consider what the first digit in tire size means. It shows the size, that is, the outer diameter. The second number indicates the width, the third - the inner diameter.
You can follow the current promotions on the Halva Installment Card, which will help you profitably purchase the goods you need, here.
How to find out the width of the tire in the usual units of measurement, that is, in mm? To do this, multiply the width in inches 10.5 by 25.4, because one inch equals 2.54 cm. The result is a value of 267 mm. Since there is no given size, we take into account the width of the tire 265, which is obtained after rounding.
nine0003
The next step is to find out the height of the sidewall, which is measured as a percentage. To do this, perform the following steps: subtract the bore diameter from the outer diameter. Then we divide the resulting value by 2. The figure that we get, then needs to be divided by the width of the profile.
See also
"How to choose winter tires and not lose"
Read more
Thus, in our example, we have the following: ((31 - 15) : 2) : 10.5 = 0.76. The resulting value must be rounded up to 75. As a result, we will have the following markings on tires: 265/75 R15. nine0003
If the profile height is not indicated on the tire, do not forget that for passenger tires this figure is 80 - 82%, for trucks 88%.
To convert from metric to inch system, we need to perform calculations:
75. Then multiply the resulting value by two. As a result, you will get 397.5. It should be converted to inches (divided by 25.4), and then added to the wheel diameter: 15.6 + 15, you get 30.6. To make it more convenient, you need to round the number up. At the end of the simple math, you will find the diameter of the tire in inches. nine0012 So, we figured out what the numbers on tires with the American marking mean 31 * 10.5 R15
Photo: Shutterstock
XL or Extra Load - this inscription on the wheels means that they are reinforced, that is, the load index is more than 3 units, compared to standard tires with the same size. Simply put, when you see a load index of 9 on rubber1, as well as the inscription XL, which means that this tire is designed for a load of not 615 kg, but 670.
For clarity, it is recommended to study the load index plate.
M+S , M&S ("mud and snow") means that the tires are designed for winter (or all-weather). This marking can also be seen on summer wheels for SUVs. But in this case, rubber is not suitable for use in winter, since winter tires have a different composition, as well as a specific tread pattern. "M&S" means you have an off-road wheel in front of you. nine0003
All Season or AS, ("for all weather") - all-weather tires.
The snowflake badge indicates that the tires are designed for winter use. Don't see this marking on the side of the tire? So, you can ride on such tires only in the summer.
Popular articles
How to choose a subwoofer for your car
19.12.2022 nine0003
31
From top to bottom, obliquely: how to degrease a car body before painting
12/15/2022
49
Chic, shine, beauty: how to remove scratches on a car with your own hands
9.
12.2022 nine0003
108
Without damage: how to reduce the fuel consumption of your car
11/29/2022
148
How much do they pay for advertising on a car
11/25/2022
322 nine0003
Aquatred, Aquacontact, Rain, Water, Aqua or the symbol "umbrella" - means that you have rain tires in front of you.
Outside and Inside the inscription indicates that these are asymmetrical tires. When installing them on the car, you should be extremely careful, because they have an outer and inner side. During installation, pay attention to the fact that the inscription "Outside" is located outside, "Inside" - from the inside.
RSC, RunFlat - on such rubber, even if a puncture occurs, you can continue driving at speeds up to 80 kilometers per hour. These tires allow you to drive a distance of 50 - 150 km after the pressure has completely dropped. Depending on the manufacturer, the marking may vary slightly, for example Bridgestone RFT, Continental SSR, Goodyear RunOnFlat, Nokian Run Flat, Michelin ZP.
Rotation or the arrow icon on the side of the tire means that you have a directional tire in front of you. When mounting it, you should take into account the direction of rotation of the wheel, which is indicated by the arrow. nine0003
Tubeless - tubeless wheel. If there is no such marking, the tire can only be used with a tube. The inscription Tube Type means that rubber can only be used with a camera.
Max Pressure is the highest allowable pressure in the wheel, Max Load is the maximum load capacity (kg) that the tire is designed for.
Reinforced, RF (for example, 195/70 R15RF) means that the tire is reinforced, it has 6 layers. When the letter C is at the end of the marking (for example, 195/70 R15C), which means that this rubber is cargo and it has 8 layers.
Radial – The inscription indicates that the tire has a radial construction. If there is the word "Steel", then the tire is reinforced with a metal cord.
Letter E, circled - rubber meets European ECE standards. The inscription DOT means that the tire meets the American quality standard.
Temperature (A, B or C) - shows how rubber is resistant to high temperatures when driving at maximum speed. When the letter A is indicated, then the heat resistance is the best.
Traction (A, B, C) - indicates how well the tire will brake on wet roads.
Treadwear – The inscription indicates the relative mileage of the tire.
TWI (Tread Wear Indiration) - means tread wear indicator.
Most often, next to this inscription is the sign "arrow". Characters distributed in 6 – 8 sections all over the wheel. They indicate the smallest tread depth at which the tire is allowed to operate. The wear indicator protrudes 1.6 mm. This is the minimum allowable tread height for passenger tires. The wear indicator is located in a recess in the tread, most often in the grooves to drain water.
Read also
"How to choose a battery for a car: criteria and mistakes"
Read more
nine0002 DOT - manufacturer's address code, coded tire size, certificate, and the week and year the tire was manufactured. We have analyzed what the numbers mean on winter tires, as well as on summer and all-season tires. However, in addition to them, there is also a color marking, the meaning of which also needs to be known.
Usually on tires you can see various symbols of four colors: red, yellow, white and blue.
Photo: Shutterstock
The most commonly used white label is . For example, you might see icons in a small circle. The white marking is applied by a specialist when checking the compliance of the tire with quality standards. If this symbol is present, it means that the product has been checked by the technical control department.
Red marker can have two meanings. Usually rubber, which has such a marking, is installed at the factory. A small red circle indicates that the tire is the heaviest in this place. nine0003
The yellow marker indicates the lightest area of the tire. It is this part of the tire that should be located opposite the spool. This marking helps tire fitters to properly balance the wheel.
Typically, color markings carry useful information for auto mechanics who repair wheels. The car owner does not need to thoroughly understand what the colored markers mean.
