How to read car tire sizes correctly
Content
Knowing the meaning of the numbers and letters that are on your car's tires will help you decide when you need to replace them.
Nobody likes to spend money on new tires. They are expensive, wear out faster than you'd like, and finding the right type can be a real headache. You may have found yourself in this situation and want to buy new ones for your car, but have you wondered What do tire sizes and brands mean??
The size numbers you find on the sidewall of your tires are a little more complicated than just a number or a letter. Tire size information can tell you more than just size. Letters and numbers indicate how fast you can go, how much weight the tires can handle, and can even give you an idea of how comfortable those tires will be in everyday life.
Why do you need to know the tire size that goes on your car?
Well, first of all, this way you will get the right size tire when you have to pay for it and you won't waste any money. Your local tire shop can find the ones that came with your car, but what if you buy an option package with a special wheel size? That's why you need to know the perfect tire size for your car.
What do speed ratings mean and why are they important?
A tire's speed rating is the speed at which it can safely carry a load. Different types of tires have different speed index. For example, an S-rated tire can handle 112 mph, while a Y-rated tire can safely handle speeds up to 186 mph.
These are the overall speed ratings, where miles per hour is the maximum safe speed for each rating:
C: 112 mph
T: 118 miles per hour
U: 124 miles per hour
H: 130 miles per hour
In: 149 miles per hour
Z: 149 miles per hour
W: 168 miles per hour
Y: 186 mph
Reading tire sizes
Locate the sidewall of the tire that is between the wheel and the tread. On the side wall, you will see various designations, including the brand name and model name.
The tire size will be clearly marked on the sidewall. It is a sequence of letters and numbers that usually starts with a "P". In this example, we will be using the P215/55R17 tires found on the 2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid.
P” refers to the fact that the tire is P-Metric, which means it meets the standards set in the United States for passenger car tires.
The number immediately after that, in this case 215, indicates tire width. This tire has a width of 215 millimeters.
The aspect ratio is displayed immediately after the slash. These tires have an aspect ratio of 55 which means that tire height is 55% of its width. The higher this number, the "higher" the tire.
"R” here means radial, indicating that the plies are arranged radially across the tire.
The last number here is 17 which is the measure wheel or rim diameter.
Many tires will include another number at the end of the chain, followed by a letter. This indicates the load index and speed rating.
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