How To Read Car Tyre Markings
Tyres purchase is one of the most distressed acquisition for most of the drivers. So we will explain how to buy and maintain tyres properly to make the purchase easy as 1-2-3.
Reading the Large Print
1. Tyre Width - this number show the tyre width in millimetres. This is the total width of an inflated tyre at its widest point (excluding sidewall ribs and lettering).
2. Aspect Ratio (also referred to as the profile or series) - this number after the slash shows the height of the tyre as a percentage of the width (1). The ratio is determined by dividing the tyre's section height by its section width when the tire is inflated to maximum air pressure, mounted on a rim and under no load.
3. Internal Construction of the Tyre - this letter, which usually comes after the aspect ratio, shows the type of construction. R stands for radial, B for bias-ply, D for diagonal.
4. Rim Diameter - this number, always in inches, represents the rim diameter which fits the tyre.
5. Load Index - an extremely important number checked against the Load-Carrying Capacity Per Tire chart to identify the maximum load the tyre can carry.
6. Speed Rating - this letter shows the maximum safety speed you can drive. The most common speed ratings are:
S means a tire can travel 112 mph (180 km/h).
T means a tire can travel 118 mph (190 km/h).
U means a tire can travel 124 mph (200 km/h).
H means a tire can travel 130 mph (210 km/h).
V means a tire can travel 149 mph (240 km/h).
Z means a tire can travel over 149 mph (240 km/h).
W means a tire can travel 168 mph (270 km/h).
Y means a tire can travel 186 mph (299 km/h).
Reading the Small Print
7. E-Mark Compliance - this is a marking which should be on every tyre sold in EU and is denoted by the letter "E", followed by a number of the country in which approval was granted. E1 – Germany, E2 – France, E3 – Italy, E4 – Netherlands, E5 – Sweden, E6 – Belgium, E7 – Hungary, E8 – Czech republic, E9 – Spain, E11 – United Kingdom, E12 – Austria, E13 – Luxembourg, E17 – Finland, E18 – Denmark, E19 – Romania, E20 – Poland, E21 – Portugal, E23 – Greece, E24 – Ireland, E26 – Slovenia, E27 – Slovakia, E29 – Estonia, E32 – Latvia, E34 – Bulgaria, E36 – Lithuania, E49 – South Cyprus, E50 – Malta.
DOT Code - DOT stands for the Department of Transportation. The code is made of numbers and letters aimed to indicate the place and date of the tyre’s manufacture. So, a tyre that wears the imprint FT 8A 05VX 5018 denotes:
8. Manufacturer and Factory - FT
9. Tyre Size - 8A
10. Optional Code - 05VX is an optional indicator of the version of tread.
11. The Week and Year in which the tyre was made - 5018. It means the tyre was manufactured during the 50th week of 2018. The British Rubber Manufacturers Association (BRMA) recommends that unused tyres should not be put into service if they are over six years old and that all tyres should be replaced ten years from the date of their manufacture.
12. Temperature-resistance Rating - signifies the tyre's resistance to heat at high speed. This may be an A, B, or C rating with A being the highest resistance and C being the lowest resistance.
As well you can find some other information on the tyre side. For example the "CP" marking shows tyres designed for motorhomes, which can tolerate higher pressures. The maximum inflation pressure itself you can find usually near the inner edge of the tyre.
