It is suitable to understand the reading of your tyre. Many brands also provide tyre reading manuals such as Car Tyres Reading manual and Goodyear tyres reading manuals. In this article, we will discuss Tyre reading tips.
What do the numbers on the tyres mean?
This string of numbers (255/55 R16 in the picture) indicates the size of the tyre. This is important as you will need to ensure that any tyres that fit your vehicle are the correct size as specified in your vehicle handbook. These tyre numbers mean:
- 255 – Tyre width : This indicates the width of the tyre in millimetres from sidewall to sidewall.
- 55 – Aspect ratio : These numbers represent the tyre's sidewall height expressed as a percentage of the tyre's width. In this example, the height of the tyre is 55% of its width.
- R – Tyre Construction : The letter "R" indicates that the tyre has radial construction like most tyres produced today. Other construction types include "B" (bias belt) and "D" (diagonal).
- 16 – Wheel diameter : This figure indicates the size of the wheel rim in inches for which the tyre is specifically designed.
A detailed explanation of tyre symbols
Load Index
The load index is a numerical code, represented by 105 in the picture, and it refers to the maximum load that the tyre can carry. The load index is dyrectly related to the weight in kilograms as shown in the table below. In this example, the load index of the tyre is 105, so the maximum load it can carry is 925 kg.
Speed Rating
The speed rating is basically shown by a letter, in the example 'V', and this indicates the maximum speed that the tyre can sustain under maximum load. The speed letter refers to the speed expressed in miles or kilometres per hour as shown in the table below. In this example, the tyre's speed rating is "V" - so the top speed is 149 mph or 240 km/h.
Tyre load capacity
This number tells you the maximum load your tyres can handle. This is especially important to know if you are loading heavier items into your car. You can find the tyre marking on the tyre sidewall. Look for a two- to a three-digit number that indicates the tyre's load capacity.
1. Brand name
The brand that manufactured the tyre will be clearly displayed. This is often the largest text on the tyre.
2. The name of the pattern
Tyre manufacturers make different tyres that have different designs. Your tyre pattern will be clearly displayed on the tyre sidewall.
3. Country of manufacture
Where your tyre was somewhat manufactured will be specifically marked on the sidewall. In this example, the tyre was basically manufactured in the UK.
4. Tread wear indicators
Tread wear indicators will be mostly located in the tyre grooves rather than on the tyre sidewall. They may be in the form of the letters "TWI", a small picture or logo or another marking. These will only be visible when the tyre tread approaches the legal minimum of 1.6mm. Not all tyres have tread wear indicators - so it's important to check tyre tread depth frequently.
5. Production date code
Information about when your tyre was uniquely manufactured can be easily found as a string of numbers and letters (which looks like DOTCXXXXXXX1017). The last four numbers refer to the date of manufacture, so you can determine the age of your tyre. In this example, the date code is 1017, which would mean that the Churchill Tyres Reading took place in the 10th week of 2017.tyre
