Your tyre size can be found on the sidewall of your current tyre and is a sequence of numbers and letters. The most common tyre size in the UK is 205/55R16 but there are many variations so it’s important to check your existing tyre or to check your vehicle handbook to ensure the right tyre size has been installed.
How to read tyre size?
When it comes to how to read tyre size, the first five digits of the code are the ones to concentrate on. The first three digits belong together and indicate the width of the tyre (in millimetres). In the example above, the tyre is 195mm wide. The two digits following the first slash are what is known as the aspect ratio.
What are the markings on a tyre?
These markings are shown on the sidewall of the tyre as inscriptions with specified values: TREADWEAR – Tread resistance to wear. TRACTION – Grip of the tyre on a wet road. To explain treadwear better, let’s start with the concept of a reference tyre. It is a standardised model with parameters that correspond to the TREADWEAR 100 index.
What is a tyre code?
It tells you the range, size and specific characteristics of a given tyre, namely: sidewall height; width; aspect ratio; construction type; load index; and speed rating. Here we provide an example tyre code to help explain what each component means: 205 – the width of the tyre section in millimetres.
What is a tyre speed index?
Tyre Speed index indicates the maximum speed at which you can drive on the tyre. You can find it on the side of the tyre, at the end of the size marking. Tyre load index is another important marking on the tyre. It indicates the maximum load a tyre can safely carry when driving at the maximum speed permitted.
What does XL mean on a tyre?
Extra Load
Generally speaking, the tyre name XL is used for heavy duty tyres. However, the labelling varies between tyre manufacturers. Sometimes you might have XL tyres that are also labelled “reinforced” (RF or RFD), or models labelled EL (Extra Load).
In our example: 17. This number is expressed in inches and indicates the diameter of the wheel on which the tyre is designed to fit. XL, HL or Reinforced : Tyres with a higher load capacity than normal for their dimension. Such tyres need to be replaced by the equivalent (example : an HL tyre by another HL tyre)
What are XL tyres?
The acronym XL stands for Extra Load. But it doesn’t apply to cars carrying a heavy load ‑ although they’ll probably need XL tyres. It refers to the weight of the vehicle the tyre will have to support. It’s worth checking whether your car needs these.
Why do XL tyres need higher air pressure?
The load capacity of a reinforced tyre also decreases with decreasing air pressure, so XL tyres need higher air pressure. This is the only way to ensure a higher load-bearing capacity. The stipulated tyre speed rating and load index of your XL tyres can normally be found in the last characters on the sidewall.
Can You exceed the maximum load rating on XL tyres?
It’s worth noting, however, that you should never exceed the maximum load rating for your vehicle – regardless of the maximum load rating of the tyres fitted. What’s the difference between XL tyres and Runflats?
What is the difference between xL and extra load tires?
XL Tires are long-lasting load tires, XL best tires for heavy loads. Extra Load tires have better damage resistance. In the normal world, XL means extra-large. However, in the tyre terminology, XL means ‘Extra Load.’
What does C mean on a tyre?
commercial-rated tire
The C-Type tire, on the other hand, is specifically meant as a commercial-rated tire, with a higher load rating for a given size than many LT tires. These C-Type tires will show the letter “C” immediately after the wheel diameter in the tire code.
What do all the codes on my tyre mean?
The diagram here outlines and identifies the different codes on the sidewall of your tyre. 16 Extra Load: Denotes higher load capacity than standard tyre.
What does a Z Tyre mean?
Letters ranging from A to Z represent the speed rating. Each letter denotes the maximum speed a tyre can sustain under its recommended load capacity. In our example, “H” is equivalent to a maximum speed of 130 mph (209 kph). Even though a tyre is capable of performing at this speed, drivers should not exceed legal speed limits.
What does V mean on a tyre?
In this case, the letter V means that the tyre is rated for sustained speeds up to 149 miles per hour. Your tyre’s sidewall may also show the maximum air pressure, a traction rating and a treadwear rating, as well as the legally required DOT code, among other information. All of these aspects are explained in more detail below.
Do I need A C tyre?
Yes C = commercial meaning the tyre made to carry heavier weight and generally commercial (lorry / van ) need this kind of tyre to carry heavy LOAD for those if only for private use like carrying 3-5 passenger you actually do not needs this but you may have issue when come to Veh inspection.
What does TL TT mean on tyres?
Apart from the structure of a tyre, size and profile, tyres can also be distinguished by whether they are tube type (TT) or tubeless (TL) tyres.
What are the differences between TT and TL tyres?
Truck Apart from structure (radial or diagonal), size and profile, tyres can also be distinguished by whether they are TT (tube type) or TL (tube less) tyres. In this case, the former features an inner tube while the latter does not. Air improves load capacity
Which tyre is tubeless?
If the air-tight liner is built into the tyre, which is far more common on modern or high-speed tyres, then the tyre is Tubeless (TL) because an inner tube is not required. Of the two tyre types (TT and TL), tyres with an inner tube are a more traditional option. In this case, the inner tube – which has its own valve – is placed inside the tyre.
What are the different types of tyres?
Classification of tyres: In general, there are two major classes of tyres, according to the presence or absence of tubes in them. Thus, they are called ‘tubed tyres’ and ‘tubeless tyres’ respectively. Furthermore, based on the construction or skeleton of tyres known as carcass, tyres are classified into the following main types: 1.
What does GT tyre mean?
“GT” means the tyre is designed for heavier motorcycles such as the BMW R 1200 RT, Kawasaki 1400GTR, Yamaha FJR1300, among others. It’s not recommended to mount it on your middleweight bike just because “the GT version lasts longer.”
What does 88 mean on a tyre?
What is the tyre load index rating?
| LOAD INDEX | KG MAX. LOAD PER TYRE |
|---|---|
| 88 | 560 |
| 89 | 580 |
| 90 | 600 |
| 91 | 615 |
What does 88H v t mean in tire specs?
H , V and T are regarding to max. speed – V is about 230km/h ; H is about 200KM/h; T is about 190km/h, and so on. Q: What does 88h and 88V mean in tire specs? Write your answer… Still have questions? 88 is the max weight for the tyre, h refers to the max speed allowed for the tyre, in this case 139 mph.
What is 88 h tyre?
Write your answer… Still have questions? 88 is the max weight for the tyre, h refers to the max speed allowed for the tyre, in this case 139 mph. What does a U S Army 88H Cargo Specialist do?
What does 235 mean on a tyre?
The first number is the easiest and measures the width of the tyre in metric millimetres. 235 means your tyre is 235mm wide. The second number refers to the profile of the tyre or the height of the tyre’s sidewall. The number isn’t in millimetres but is instead an aspect ratio measurement of how the height relates to total width.
What does 55 mean on a tyre?
The number “55″ refers to the nominal aspect ratio, i.e. the ratio of the tyre’s height to its width. In this case, the height of the sidewall is 55 percent of the nominal width. The abbreviation “R” says something about the construction and describes the way the cords of the casing are arranged.
What is H or V on tyres?
H: 130mph. V: 149mph. Z: 150+ mph. W: 168mph. Y: 186mph.
What is the difference between H & V tires?
The obvious difference between these two types is how fast they can go. An “H” tire rating is designed to travel at the maximum speed of 130mph, whereas the “V” speed-rated tire can operate at the fastest speed of 149mph. So, the V is nearly 20 mph faster than the H.
How do you know if a tire is H rated?
The rating is the speed the tire has been tested to for continuous safe driving. The English equivalent speed for H-rated tires is 130 mph and V-rated tires are good for up to 149 mph. There are two ways the speed rating will be indicated on the tire sidewall. The older method puts the speed rating next to the “R” for radial in the size.
What is a V rated tire?
Here, the tire would have a speed rating of V. V-rated tires can be driven at 149 MPH. Tires having a maximum speed capability over 149 MPH may have “ZR” in the size designation. Tires with a maximum speed capability over 186 MPH are required to include “ZR” in the designation. Below are examples of tire sizes with a “ZR” speed rating.
What do the letters ‘H’ and ‘V’ mean?
The letters “H” and “V” represent speed ratings. Speed ratings originated in Germany in the early 1980s to give consumers information on how fast they could safely use the tires on the autobahn. Passenger speed ratings are designated L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, U and H, stepping in rated speed from 120 kilometers per hour up to 210 kph.
What does R17 mean on a tyre?
Size of the wheel After the letter R, a number that indicates the wheel size where it fits. So for the example, P225/45R17 91V, R17 means the tire is made of radial-ply construction and that it fits a 17-inch rim.
What does R Mean on a tyre?
The letter (R) stands for “RRadial” which is the type of tyre. The number (16) tells you the size of the wheel rim in inches. The last two numbers (91) tell you the load index rating and the letter (V) tells you the speed rating. Here they are labelled and broken down further:
What does 225-45r17 mean?
Tire sizes are easy to understand once you learn how to read them. On this page you’ll find a color-coded explanation of the 225-45R17 tire code. This number indicates that your tire has a width of 225 millimeters. The tire size was designed to fit rims or wheels that are 17 inches in diameter.
What is a load rating on a tyre?
The load rating on a tyre converts to a maximum weight that each tyre is manufactured to support at a specified speed. The UK law requires the load rating to be equal to or higher than the tyre that is recommended by the vehicle manufacturer for the tyre size that is fitted.
How do you know if a tire is 225/65r17?
In the tire size, the first three numbers refer to the width of the tire. As an example, if your tire size is P225/65R17, the width of the tire would be 225 millimeters. 3. Aspect Ratio After the slash mark, the next number you will see is the tire’s aspect ratio. The aspect ratio of a tire is the height of the cross-section compared to the width.
What does 91 mean on a tyre?
This is the maximum load that the tyre is able to carry when inflated to the correct level. Each double digit number represents a different weight (in KGs). 91 is the number in the example and this corresponds to a weight of 615KG.
What does 91 mean in tyre size?
The number “16” in the size data refers to the rim diameter in inches (1 inch = 2.54 cm). “91” is the tyre’s load index (LI). There is a standard conversion table for converting this numerical code to the maximum tyre load. It starts at 50 (= 190 Kg) and progresses in increments of one up to 124 (= 1,600 kg).
What does 91 mean in kg?
Each double digit number represents a different weight (in KGs). 91 is the number in the example and this corresponds to a weight of 615KG. Overloading any vehicle is dangerous and can increase fuel consumption, impact on handling, and can even occasionally cause catastrophic tyre failure.
What does a tyre number mean?
The second number (55) tells you the height of the tyre as a percentage of the width. The letter (R) stands for “Radial” which is the type of tyre. The number (16) tells you the size of the wheel rim in inches. The last two numbers (91) tell you the load index rating and the letter (V) tells you the speed rating.
What is H in tyre size?
Speed rating index As with the load index, this letter references a look-up table which indicates the maximum permissible speed of a tyre. In this example, “H” means the vehicle has a maximum speed of 130mph under the maximum load.
What does h mean on a car tire?
H – the speed index, this means the maximum permitted speed, here 210 km/h (130 mph) Prior to 1964, tires were all made to a 90% aspect ratio. Tire size was specified as the tire width in inches and the diameter in inches – for example, 6.50-15. From 1965 to the early 1970s, tires were made to an 80% aspect ratio.
What is the difference between height and diameter of a tire?
The height is measured in a height-to-width ratio. The diameter is measured in inches and tells you the size of the rim or wheel that the tire will fit onto. For example, a tire with a width of 225, a height of 50, and a diameter of 17 would be considered a 225/50/17 tire.
What is a tyre size calculator?
There are many more possibilities and choices in metric tyres so the use of a tyre size calculator can come in handy. The tire size comparison calculator takes the measurements of two tyres and compares the diameter, width, sidewall, circumference, and revolutions per mile.
What do the three numbers on a tire mean?
The three numbers on tire size represent the width, height, and diameter of the tire, respectively. The width is measured in millimeters and indicates how wide the tire is from side to side. The height is measured in a height-to-width ratio. The diameter is measured in inches and tells you the size of the rim or wheel that the tire will fit onto.
What does TL mean on Michelin tyres?
Tubeless: No tube is used, when mounted on a tubeless rim; abbreviated “TL” Rear: Direction of rotation for rear tyre, indicated by an arrow on the tyre sidewall.
Is a tyre TT or TL?
If this air-tight liner is a separate piece with its own valve – an Inner Tube – then the tyre is said to be Tube-Type (TT). If the air-tight liner is built into the tyre, which is far more common on modern or high-speed tyres, then the tyre is Tubeless (TL) because an inner tube is not required.
How do I know when a Michelin tire was made?
1. Use the tire date code chart printed in your dealer registry card. 2. Check the DOT tire code in the inner or outer sidewall of your tire. To make sure that you know how to tell when tire was made, it is important to familiarize yourself with the type of information included in Michelin DOT code lookup.
When should you replace a Michelin tire?
Most tire manufacturers recommend replacing tires after they reach six years of age. They embossed the tire manufacture date along with other critical information on the product’s sidewall. As you read these inscriptions, you might find the letters and numbers confusing. So, how to read Michelin tire date codes?
How do you read tyre age?
All the information you need to find out the age of your tyres is located on the tyre sidewall. Look for the letters DOT then a number code. This production code will tell you the age of your car tyre: the first pair of numbers are the week of manufacture and the second pair are the year.
How do you tell the age of a tire?
Telling the age of a tire is a breeze—just locate the Department of Transportation code on the tire’s sidewall and look at the date. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to decipher the DOT code to learn what year your tire was made plus give you the scoop on when to replace worn-out tires.
How do you read a tyre date code?
What is DOT? DOT is the abbreviation for “Department of Transportation” and indicates a unique tyre code which is a series of 7 to 13 letters and numbers printed on the sidewall of a tyre (the vertical surface of rubber above the wheel).
How do you read a car tire number?
By knowing how to interpret the numbers and letters on a car tire, you can know the speed rating, temperature resistance, load index numbers, as well as the tire’s width and rim diameter. Read the manufacturer and the tire name. These are printed in large letters toward the outside of the tire.
How do you know if a tyre has been manufactured?
The first two numbers of the 4-digit DOT date code (which, again, appears at the very end of the string of letters and numbers that start with DOT) indicate the week that the tyre was manufactured. The last two numbers of the date code tell you the year of manufacture.
How do you read Michelin tires?
After the DOT insignia is your tire’s identification number, which begins with the tire’s manufacturer and plant code where the tire was manufactured (two numbers or letters). The ninth and tenth characters tell the week the tire was manufactured. The final number(s) signifies the year the tire was manufactured.
How do you identify a Michelin tyre?
On MICHELIN tyres, you can easily identify them by the little Michelin Man symbol that appears in several places on the sidewall of the tyre. When you see the Michelin Man, you know that the wear indicators are arranged in line across the width of the tyre.
How do I find a Michelin Tire date code?
There is no specific regulation that standardizes the placement of any tire date code Michelin inscribes, but there are two ways to find this information. 1. Use the tire date code chart printed in your dealer registry card. 2. Check the DOT tire code in the inner or outer sidewall of your tire.
What do the markings on my tyres mean?
Some car manufacturers equip vehicles with tyres tuned specifically for their requirements. A marking on the tyre, meaning “Original Equipment”, indicates that the tyre was designed by the tyre manufacturer and approved by your vehicle manufacturer to be fitted as standard.
How do you read tyre symbols?
Understanding tyre markings A – The brand, make and model of the tyre. B – These three numbers show the tyre width in millimetres. This is the total inflated width at its widest point (excluding sidewall ribs and lettering). The ‘P’ indicates this is a passenger car tyre.
How do you read tyre markings?
Your tyres have a lot of useful information printed on the sidewall about the type of tyre, loadings and tyre dimensions. Here’s how to read the markings on your tyre: A – The brand, make and model of the tyre. B – These three numbers show the tyre width in millimetres.
What do the numbers on a tyre mean?
The tyre size concludes with a two-digit number denoting the load index, with a suffix to it marking its speed rating. Your tyre’s sidewall contains all the data about your tyre. There are a series of numbers and alphabets on the sidewall. These numbers represent the size, the load bearing capacity and speed limit of your tyre.
What do the markings on tires mean?
Tires are an essential part of any vehicle, and it is important to know what all of the markings on them mean. The “M+S” mark on tires stands for mud and snow. This means that the tire is designed for use in both off-road and winter conditions.
What does E4 mean on a tyre?
ECE stands for ‘Economic Commission for Europe’. Tires marked with a circle E4 followed by numbers are specifically designed for European market. Some tires intended to be used globally may have ECE certification on top of US DOT certification.
What does E mean on a tire?
A (lower case) “e” indicates that the tire is certified to comply with the dimensional, performance and marking requirements of Directive 92/23/EEC. The number in the circle or rectangle denotes the country code of the government that granted the type approval.
What does OE mean on a tyre?
A marking on the tyre, meaning “OOriginal Equipment”, indicates that the tyre was designed by the tyre manufacturer and approved by your vehicle manufacturer to be fitted as standard. The OE marking refers not only to the Manufacturer but often the specific car model.
