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[Kibanga Ampiga Mkoloni]

Tire Class - "P"
The first character(s) in a tire size designate the tire's class. In this example, "P" indicates that the tire is a passenger car tire. An "LT" before the tire size designates a light truck tire, and no letter before the size indicates that it is a European metric tire.

Section Width - "205"
A metric tire's section width is measured in millimeters. This measurement is taken from sidewall to sidewall. In this example, the section width of the tire is 205mm.

Aspect Ratio - "65"
This number refers to the height of the sidewall. It is a percentage of the section width. In this example, 65 percent of the section width of 205mm equals 133.25.

Tire Construction - "R"
The "R" in this example indicates radial tire construction.

Wheel Diameter - "16"
This indicates the wheel diameter in inches.
• Learn More About Tire Dimensions

Size (High Flotation)

Diameter - "35"
The first number indicates the tire's diameter in inches. In this example, the tire manufacturer has determined that this is a 35" tire. However, actual measured overall diameters vary from one manufacturer to the next.

Tire Width - "1250"
Standard tire width is indicated in inches with the decimal point removed. Therefore, in this example, the number 1250 indicates that this tire is 12.5" wide.

Tire Construction - "R"
The "R" in this example indicates radial tire construction.

Wheel Diameter - "17"
This indicates the wheel diameter in inches.

Plies - "E"
This letter indicates the load carrying capacity of the tire in terms of its construction. A "C" indicates the tire has a 6-ply load carrying capacity. The tire is not actually built with 6 plies, but contains one or two plies of equivalent strength. A "D" is an 8-ply rating, and an "E" is a 10-ply rating. If there is no letter, the tire has a standard 4-ply rating.

Load Index & Speed Rating

Load Index - "92"
The load index indicates the maximum amount of weight a tire can safely carry. Load index ranges from 0 to 279 and corresponds with the load-carrying capacity of a tire. Passenger car tire load indices typically range from 75 to 105. It is very important to maintain the proper load index for your vehicle when replacing your tires. See our load index chart for more information.
• See the Load Index Table

Speed Rating - "H"
A tire receives its speed rating from the U.S. Government by meeting minimum standards for reaching and sustaining a specified speed. In general, a higher speed rating will result in better vehicle handling. See our speed rating page for more information and a list of the various speed ratings.
• Learn More About Speed Ratings

U.S. DOT & Safety Standard Markings

DOT
The "DOT" marking indicates that the tire meets or exceeds the U.S. Department of Transportation's safety standard for tires.

Manufacturer Plant Code - "CC"
The first two letters following the DOT marking are codes to identify the manufacturer of the tire and the manufacturing plant.

Tire Size - "9L"
The third and fourth characters following the DOT marking are codes representing the tire size.

Brand Characteristics - "YYY"
The final three or four letters are codes representing other significant characteristics of the tire as determined by the manufacturer.

Manufacture Week - "11"
The first pair of digits identifies the week the tire was manufactured. In this case, the tire was manufactured in the 11th week. The number 01 would indicate the first week of January, whereas the number 52 would indicate the last week of December.

Manufacture Year - "05"
The second pair of digits identifies the year that the tire was manufactured, in this case 2005.

Treadwear, Traction & Temperature

Treadwear - "520"
The treadwear rating is a measurement of the tire's durability, but not the projected tread life. It is important to remember that road surfaces, driving habits, and other factors determine actual tread life. Each tire manufacturer independently determines treadwear through their own tests. Treadwear is not based on any one industry or government standard.

Traction - "A"
The traction rating is a measurement of a tire's ability to stop on a straight, wet surface under controlled conditions. It does not indicate the tire's cornering ability on a wet surface or its traction on ice or snow. Traction grades include AA, A, B, and C, with AA being the highest grade available.

Temperature - "A"
The temperature rating is a measurement of a tire's resistance to heat generation under normal operating conditions at recommended inflation pressures. Temperature grades range from A to C, with A being highest rated and therefore most resistant to heat generation.

• Learn More About Treadwear, Traction & Temperature Ratings

Maximum Load Limit & Air Pressure

Maximum Load Limit - "635 kg [1400 lbs]"
This indicates the tire's maximum load-carrying capabilities when the tire is inflated to its maximum inflation pressure, as indicated on the sidewall. Max load is based on standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Maximum Air Pressure - "300 kPa [44 psi]"
This indicates the maximum operating inflation pressure of the tire. It does not indicate the manufacturer's recommended inflation pressure, nor does it indicate the proper air pressure based on the vehicle the tire is mounted on. This category is also based on NHTSA standards.

Note - Some tires are marked 'Extra Load', 'XL', or 'RF' (for reinforced). This simply denotes that the tire's indicated maximum load and air pressure are higher than a standard load tire.

Ply Construction

This indicates what materials are used in the tire's plies, and the quantity of each type included.

• Learn About All the Other Components of a Tire's Construction

Rotation Direction

Some tires indicate the direction of rotation on the sidewall, while others indicate a specific side of the tire that is intended to face outward from the vehicle. Another type of tire combines both indications. It is important that these tires be mounted according to the indicated instructions.

Directional Tires
Directional tires feature arrows on the sidewall that indicate what direction the tire should rotate when the vehicle is moving forward.

Asymmetrical Tires
Asymmetrical tires have the word "outside" labeled on the side of the tire that should face outward from the vehicle.

Directional & Asymmetrical Tires
Tires that are both directional and asymmetrical will indicate what direction the tire must rotate, as well as what side must face outward from the vehicle.

 

[Kibanga Ampiga Mkoloni]

In addition to the tire's brand and line names (tire model), there is a lot of information provided by the manufacturer on the sidewalls of the tires they produce. Some of the branded information provides the tire's basic dimensions and identifies the week it was produced. Other branding lists the types of materials used internally to reinforce the rubber, along with the tire's maximum inflation pressures and loads. And others confirm the manufacturer certifies the tire meets various industry standards and measures up to the government regulations of the nations in which it will be used.
While not all information is branded on every tire, the illustration includes the typical information found on many tires.
Rolling your mouse over any of the descriptions will highlight the appropriate branding on the tire sidewall illustration. Clicking on selected descriptions will link you to a page providing additional details (where applicable).

Enlarge Illustration

More Tire Tech Information

Related Links:
Calculating Approximate Tire Dimensions
How to Read Speed Rating, Load Index &
Service Descriptions
Plus Size Wheels and Tires
Tire Size Conversion Chart
Tire Size Guide
​

Most Popular Links

 

[Kibanga Ampiga Mkoloni]

Speed rating


A tire receives its speed rating by the U.S. Government through meeting minimum standards for reaching and sustaining a specified speed. What does that mean to you? Well, in general, a higher speed rating will result in better car handling.
[h=5]Two important notes when considering speed rating:[/h]

• We do not recommend downgrading the speed rating of your tires. This may result in poor handling and unpredictable steering. However, if you want better cornering response, there is no problem installing a higher speed rated tire on your vehicle.
• Never mix and match tires with different speed ratings on your vehicle. This will cause serious problems with the handling of your vehicle.

Below is a list of speed ratings along with the corresponding speeds they represent. Remember, the speeds are test speeds, not recommended speeds.

• B - Up to 31 mph
• C - Up to 37 mph
• D - Up to 40 mph
• E - Up to 43 mph
• F - Up to 50 mph
• G - Up to 56 mph
• J - Up to 62 mph
• K - Up to 68 mph

• L - Up to 75 mph
• M - Up to 81 mph
• N - Up to 87 mph
• P - Up to 94 mph
• Q - Up to 100 mph
• R - Up to 106 mph
• S - Up to 112 mph

• T - Up to 118 mph
• U - Up to 124 mph
• H - Up to 130 mph
• V - Up to 149 mph
• W - Up to 168 mph
• Y - Up to 186 mph
• Z - 149 mph and over

 

[Kibanga Ampiga Mkoloni]

[h=2]Determining the Age of a Tire[/h]

Lea esta página en español
When it comes to determining the age of a tire, it is easy to identify when a tire was manufactured by reading its Tire Identification Number (often referred to as the tire's serial number). Unlike vehicle identification numbers (VINs) and the serial numbers used on many other consumer goods (which identify one specific item), Tire Identification Numbers are really batch codes that identify the week and year the tire was produced.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) requires that Tire Identification Numbers be a combination of the letters DOT, followed by ten, eleven or twelve letters and/or numbers that identify the manufacturing location, tire size and manufacturer's code, along with the week and year the tire was manufactured.
Tires Manufactured Since 2000
Since 2000, the week and year the tire was produced has been provided by the last four digits of the Tire Identification Number with the 2 digits being used to identify the week immediately preceding the 2 digits used to identify the year.
Example of a tire manufactured since 2000 with the current Tire Identification Number format:

[TABLE="width: 95%"]
[TR]
[TD]In the example above:
DOT U2LL LMLR 5107[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] 51[/TD]
[TD]Manufactured during the 51[SUP]st [/SUP]week of the year[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]07[/TD]
[TD]Manufactured during 2007[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

While the entire Tire Identification Number is required to be branded onto one sidewall of every tire, current regulations also require that DOT and the first digits of the Tire Identification Number must also be branded onto the opposite sidewall. Therefore, it is possible to see a Tire Identification Number that appears incomplete and requires looking at the tire's other sidewall to find the entire Tire Identification Number

The use of a partial Tire Identification Number on the one sidewall (shown above) reduces the risk of injury to the mold technician that would have to install the weekly date code on the top sidewall portion of a hot tire mold.
Tires Manufactured Before 2000
The Tire Identification Number for tires produced prior to 2000 was based on the assumption that tires would not be in service for ten years. While they were required to provide the same information as today's tires, the week and year the tire was produced was contained in the last three digits. The 2 digits used to identify the week a tire was manufactured immediately preceded a single digit used to identify the year.
Example of a tire manufactured before 2000 with the earlier Tire Identification Number format:

[TABLE="width: 95%"]
[TR]
[TD]In the example above:
DOT EJ8J DFM 408[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] 40[/TD]
[TD]Manufactured during the 40[SUP]th[/SUP] week of the year[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]Manufactured during the 8[SUP]th[/SUP] year of the decade[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

While the previous Tire Identification Number format identified that a tire was built in the 8th year of a decade, there was no universal identifier that confirmed which decade (tires produced in the 1990s may have a small triangle following the Tire Identification Number to identify the decade).
And finally, hold on to your sales receipt. Most tire manufacturer's warranties cover their tires for four years from the date of purchase or five years from the week the tires were manufactured. So if you purchase new tires that were manufactured exactly two years ago they will be covered for a total of six years (four years from the date of purchase) as long as you have your receipt. If you lose your receipt, your tires' warranty coverage will end five years from the week the tire was produced (resulting in the tire manufacturer's warranty coverage ending only three years from the date of purchase in this example).

 

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