What does the 3 digit number on a tire mean?

B: TIRE WIDTH The three-digit number following the letter is the tire's width (from side to side, looking at the tire head on) in millimeters. This may also be referred to as the section width. C: ASPECT RATIO The forward slash separates the tire width number from the two-digit aspect ratio.

What do tire codes stand for?

Automotive tires are described by an alphanumeric tire code (in North American English) or tyre code (in Commonwealth English), which is generally molded into the sidewall of the tire. This code specifies the dimensions of the tire, and some of its key limitations, such as load-bearing ability, and maximum speed.

How do I read tire codes?

What do tire letters and numbers mean?

The number is the load rating, or the amount of weight that it can handle. The letter is the speed rating, or the maximum speed the tire is built for. As an example, a tire rated 90R could safely carry 1,323 pounds and travel at 106 mph. Consult a load and speed index to find out what your tire's specific rating means.

How do I know when my tires expire?

It's typically a 10- or 11-character DOT (Department of Transportation) code, near the DOT stamp, embossed on the sidewall of the tire. Check the last four digits. The last two refer to the year the tire was manufactured, the first two (of the four) represent the week number.

How to Read a Tire Size

What is a tire identification number?

Tires made in the United States have the DOT serial number located on the inside sidewall near the rim. The letters “DOT” are followed by eight to thirteen letters and/or numbers that identify where the tire was manufactured, tire size and the manufacturer's code, along with the week and year the tire was manufactured.

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.

Can you change tire size on the same rim?

Wheels and tires are not interchangeable words. Tires are a part of the wheel setup. For instance, your vehicle has a set size of rims, but you can buy different sizes of tires to fit those rims, as long as the middle of the tires is the correct size.

Can I use 235 tires instead of 245?

The quick answer is yes you can replace 245/50-18 tyres with 235/50-18 but they will have 10mm (0.4 in) smaller overall diameter. Will only slightly effect speedo and odometer - ie speedo will read about 1.5% high.

Can you put any 16 inch tire on a 16 inch rim?

For example, a tire with the P225/70R16 91S would fit a rim with a 16-inch diameter. Take note: if you decide to change your rims' size, you will also need to get new tires that are compatible with the change in size. Tires designed to fit a 16-inch wheel diameter will not stretch to fit on new 18-inch rims.

Can I use 235 tires instead of 215?

215 and 235 tires are interchangeable if they come with the same tire aspect ratio and the same rim diameter.

Is a higher load rating better?

The load rating can be located on the sidewall of all tyres and is represented by a numerical value. The higher the load rating number, the stronger the tyre. Tyres with a higher load rating can take a greater amount of air pressure, which means they can also carry heavier loads.

What does the T or H mean on tires?

The “T” or “H” on tires pertain to their speed ratings. A T-rated tire can withstand top speeds of up to 118 mph (190 km/h), while an H-rated tire can support up to 130 mph (210 km/h). It is important to note these markings and stay within those speed limits.

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.

How do you read a 3 digit tire date code?

Tires built before 2000 featured a three-digit date code at the end of the Tire Identification Number. The first two digits of the date code tell you the week that the tires were built, and the last digit tells you the year.

How do you decode a DOT number on a tire?

The four-digit DOT code is usually located in a window on the tire sidewall. 3811 - The DOT code is a four-digit number, 3811 in this case. The first two digits of the DOT code indicate the production week of the year (from 1 to 52). The third and fourth digits of the DOT code indicate the year of manufacture.

Do tires have different serial numbers?

So while DOT Tire Identification Numbers are commonly but erroneously referred to as the tire's serial number, unlike the serial numbers used on most other consumer goods that identify one specific item, Tire Identification Numbers actually identify production batches.

Can you mix T and H rated tires?

Just remember, never mix and match tires with different speed ratings on your vehicle. This will cause major problems with the handling of your vehicle. If tires of different speed ratings are mounted on a vehicle, the lower speed-rated tires should be placed on the front axle, regardless of which axle is driven.

What is a speed rating of T?

Q — Up to 99 mph. R — Up to 106 mph. S — Up to 112 mph. T — Up to 118 mph. H — Up to 130 mph.

Are H rated tires good?

H-Rated Tires: This is a perfect, average tire for most sedans and commuter vehicles. It might not seem to fit in our chart, but the tire speed rating “H” is rated for up to 130 mph. T-Rated Tires: This tire is often recommended for family sedans and vans. It's rated for up to 118 mph.

What load rating do I need?

To roughly determine the load range capacity for each individual tire, take the vehicle's gross weight and divide by four. If the vehicle gross weight is 4,500 pounds, each tire should be able to safely support at least 1,125 pounds.

Can I put XL tires on my car?

Their Use. Naturally, most people think that these tyres are designed for use on large vehicles like tractors, buses or lorries. However, it is not the case. Your everyday SUV, CUV or light commercial vehicle can also be fitted with XL tyres.

What does the XL mean on tires?

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).

How much wider is a 225 than a 215 tire?

In this respect, the aspect ratio of 215/45R17 is 45 percent of the width of 225 millimeters this context. You may have noticed from the description above that the tire width is written in metric millimeters (millimeters), whilst the wheel rim size is indicated in imperial measurement (inches).

How wide is a 235 tire?

Let us break down the tire size dimensions for better understanding. 9.3 inches or 235 mm stand for section width, or width of the tire tread. 28.9 inches or 733 mm represent the overall diameter of the tire, or tire height.