What does P mean on a tire?

P identifies your tire as a Passenger Tire. The P stands for PMetric. If your tire size starts with LT rather than a P than it identifies the tire as a Light Truck tire. 225 identifies the tire section width, which is the measurement of the tire from sidewall to sidewall in millimeters.

Does the P in tire size matter?

The "P" is short for "P-metric," which is a designation by the Tire and Rim Association for a "passenger car" tire type. A "P" signifies the tire was designed to primarily be used on passenger vehicles, which can include cars, minivans, SUV's and other light-duty pickup trucks.

What's the difference between LT and P tires?

LT-metric tires are used for rougher driving conditions. You'll find these tires on SUVs, pickups, and vans that tend to haul a heavier load and travel in more off-road conditions. P-metric tires offer a quieter, smoother, and more comfortable ride.

What does the P and R mean on tires?

“P” means it's a passenger vehicle tire (tires labeled “LT” are for light trucks), and “R” stands for radial, by far the most common type of tire construction. Most passenger-vehicle and pickup-truck tires come with aspect ratios of 55, 60 or 65.

What ply are P rated tires?

If you don't see a Load Range or Ply Rating, you might find the letters P (passenger rated, which is 4-ply rated or lower), LT (light truck, which is 6-ply rated or higher), or XL (extra load is typically 4-ply rated with a higher-than-standard Load Index) stamped on the tires.

How to Read a Tire Size

Can I tow with P rated tires?

P Rating doesn't matter as far as weight is concerned. The weight is in the trailer. Where the tires come into play is trailer sway.

Can you put P rated tires on a truck?

By the same token, a P-Metric tire may be acceptable for a light truck or SUV application, providing the tire offers sufficient load rating (to handle vehicle weight), and providing the vehicle won't be driven in an off-road situation.

What does Z mean on a tire?

Some manufacturers will insert a “Z” in the middle of the tire size description (right after the aspect ratio) when the tire is rated at “W” or “Y.” And if a tire is rated in excess of 186 mph (300 kph), manufacturer's usually will list a “Z” within the size description, per industry standards.

What does W mean on tires?

The letter W denotes the maximum speed rating, which translates 168 mph—not something intended for mom's minivan. See our list of speed ratings below, which range from a low of "L" (just 75 mph for some off-road tires) to a high of Y (186 mph).

What does H mean on a tire?

“H” represents the speed rating, which is how fast the tires can go based on their load capacity. This rating ranges from A – Z. “H” indicates a speed rating of up to 130 mph.

Can you mix LT and P tires?

So long as the outside diameter is the same, no worries. So long as the outside diameter is the same, no worries. That's what I figured, thanks! P-rated probably increases payload by 20 lbs too compared to an LT tire!

Do I really need LT tires?

Vehicles like ¾ ton or larger pickup trucks, work vans and trucks, and other large vehicles that regularly carry heavy loads or pull heavy trailers will need Light Truck (LT) tires.

Do I need LT tires for off-road?

Only if your vehicle came with a Hard Metric do you have the choice to move up to the beefier LT. For most off-road enthusiasts, the move up to a LT is the right one. The sidewall strength, deeper tread, and more available sizes make the LT the leading tire type for truck and SUV owners looking to upgrade.

Is P225 the same as 225?

Tire width always refers to the measurement from one sidewall to another. Thus, a tire with the measurement “P225” is for a passenger vehicle and has a nominal width of 225 millimeters.

What is P in front of tire size?

A: TIRE TYPE The first letter in the code tells you what class of tire it is. P stands for passenger vehicle tire. P-class tires include cars, SUVs, crossovers, minivans and smaller pickup trucks.

What does the P 225 mean on tires?

P identifies your tire as a Passenger Tire. The P stands for PMetric. If your tire size starts with LT rather than a P than it identifies the tire as a Light Truck tire. 225 identifies the tire section width, which is the measurement of the tire from sidewall to sidewall in millimeters.

Should I get H or V rated tires?

If you feel the need to drive at or above 130 mph then you should get a “V” speed rated set of tires. If you don't plan on driving that fast, then an “H” speed rated set is the better option.

What does XL mean on a tire?

XL tyres have been especially developed for use with heavy loads. 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).

What does BSW mean on a tire?

OWL = Outlined White Letters. RWL = Raised White Letters. ORWL = Outlined Raised White Letters. B, BLK, BW, BSW = Blackwall or Black Sidewall.

What speed rating is H?

SPEED RATING H

If you recall from earlier, the “H” speed rating doesn't appear after “G” but between “U” and “V.” It represents a maximum speed of 130 mph (210 kph) and is commonly found on sports sedans and coupes.

Can I use ZR tires instead of R?

R indicates that the structure is RADIAL. So, VR indicates that the tyre has a RADIAL structure and a speed index equal to V. There is therefore no difference between a ZR or an R tyre with the same speed index.

Can I use W rated tires instead of V?

Higher Tire Speed Ratings

Nissan, Cadillac, Toyota, and Honda are currently using higher original equipment or V-rated tires on approximately 70% of their brand new vehicles. A V rating represents 149 mph but no faster. W, on the other hand, means the tires can achieve maximum speeds of up to 168 mph.

What's the best speed rating for tires?

As manufacturers developed bigger and better tires, it became necessary to regulate performance at standardized speeds to ensure safety. The "Limited V" category of 250 km/h (149 mph) was then created, and eventually the "Z" speed rating was added as the top speed rating.

Do LT tires need more air pressure?

Size-for-size, compared to P-metric tires, LT tires require higher air pressures to carry equivalent loads. Failure to adjust air pressures to achieve the vehicle's load requirement will result in tire fatigue and eventual tire failure due to excessive heat build-up.