HOW TO READ THE SIDEWALL OF A TIRE
Your tire has very useful information
molded into the sidewall. It shows the name of the tire, its size,
whether it is tubeless or tube type, the maximum load and maximum
inflation, the important safety warning and much other information.
Passenger Tires
Shown below is the sidewall of a
popular "P-metric," speed-rated auto tire. "P" stands for passenger;
"215" represents the width of the tire in millimeters; "65" is the ratio
of height to width; "R" means radial; "15" is the nominal rim diameter
code; and "95H" is the optional service description that consists of the
load index (95) and the speed symbol (H). Some older speed-rated tires
may include the speed symbol immediately before the "R" instead of
showing a service description.
Typical Passenger
Tire
A "B" in place of the "R" means the tire is belted
bias construction. A "D" in place of the "R" means diagonal bias
construction. "M+S" with the mountain/snowflake symbol is the
designation that the tire meets the RMA (Rubber Manufacturers
Association) definitions for use in severe snow conditions.
The maximum load is shown in kg (kilograms)
and in lbs (pounds), and maximum pressure in kPa (kilopascals) and in
psi (pounds per square inch).
The letters "DOT" certify compliance with
all applicable safety standards established by the Department of
Transportation (DOT).
Adjacent to this is a tire identification
or serial number. This serial number is a code with up to 12 digits that
are a combination of numbers and letters. The last characters are
numbers identifying the week and year of manufacture. (Example: "1501"
means fifteenth week of the year 2001.)
The sidewall also shows the type of cord
and number of plies in the sidewall and under the tread.
The DOT requires tire manufacturers to
grade passenger car tires based on three performance factors: treadwear,
traction and temperature resistance.
Typical Light Truck Tire
Source: Rubber Manufacturers Association
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