Tire marking

Over many decades or even centuries of their evolution, tires have turned from banal pieces of rubber into very high-tech products. In the assortment of any manufacturer there are a large number of models that differ in a number of parameters.

The right choice of tires is very important in terms of vehicle handling, safety in difficult traffic situations, the ability to use on various types of road surfaces and in various weather conditions. Do not forget about such a factor as comfort.

In order for the consumer to be able to determine what characteristics a particular model has, letter and number designations are applied to each product. There are quite a few of them, and sorting them out can be quite difficult. The ability to decipher the tire marking will allow you to get comprehensive information about it and make the right choice for any particular car.

What to look for first

The first thing to consider is the size, as well as speed and load characteristics. It looks something like this: 

Standard size

• 205 - tire width P in millimeters. 
• 55 - profile height in percent. This is not an absolute value, but the ratio of the tire height H to its width P. 
• 16 is the diameter of the disk C (installation size) in inches. 

 

When choosing a standard size, it is impossible to go beyond the values ​​​​allowed for this particular car model. Failure to comply with this rule is fraught with unpredictable behavior of the vehicle. 

High-profile tires for improved comfort and increased flotation in the snow. In addition, it is decreasing. However, due to the upward shift in the center of gravity, stability is reduced and there is a risk of tipping over in a turn. 

Low profile tires improve handling and accelerate acceleration but are more sensitive to road irregularities. Such tires are not designed for off-road, you should not run into curbs with it either. Plus it's pretty noisy. 

Wider tires increase traction and perform well on the highway, but are more prone to hydroplaning if the road is covered in puddles. In addition, due to the increased weight of such tires, it is growing. 

Frame structure

R - this letter means the radial structure of the frame. In this design, the cords are at a right angle in the tread, providing better traction, less heat, longer life and more economical fuel consumption compared to diagonal tires. Therefore, the diagonal carcass has long been no longer used in tires for passenger cars. 

In the diagonal structure, the crossing cords run at an angle of approximately 40°. These tires are stiffer and therefore less comfortable. In addition, they are prone to overheating. Nevertheless, due to their strong sidewalls and relatively low cost, they are used in commercial vehicles.

Load characteristic

91 - load index. It characterizes the permissible load on the tire, inflated to the nominal pressure. For cars, this parameter is in the range of 50…100. 

According to the table, you can determine the correspondence of the numerical index to the load in kilograms. 

speed characteristic

V is the speed index. The letter characterizes the maximum speed allowed for this tire. 

The correspondence of the letter designation to specific values ​​\uXNUMXb\uXNUMXbof the permitted speed can be found in the tables. 

 

In no case should you exceed the limit determined by the speed index.

Other essential parameters in labeling

   

• MAX LOAD - ultimate load. 
• MAX PRESSURE - tire pressure limit. 
• TRACTION - wet grip. In fact, this is the braking qualities of the tire. Possible values ​​are A, B, C. Best is A. 
• TEMPERATURE - resistance to heat during high-speed driving. Possible values ​​are A, B, C. Best is A. 
• TREADWEAR or TR - wear resistance. It is indicated as a percentage relative to the least resistant rubber. Possible values ​​are from 100 to 600. More is better. 
• REINFORCED or the letters RF added to the size - reinforced 6-ply rubber. The letter C instead of RF is an 8-ply truck tire. 
• XL or Extra Load - a reinforced tire, its load index is 3 units higher than the standard value for products of this size. 
• TUBELESS is tubeless. 
• TUBE TIRE - Indicates the need to use the camera.
  

Characteristics related to season, weather and type of road surface

• AS, (All Season or Any Season) - all-season. 
• W (Winter) or snowflake icon - winter tires. 
• AW (All Weather) - all-weather. 
• M + S - mud and snow. Suitable for harsh operating conditions. Rubber with this marking is not necessarily winter. 
• Road + Winter (R + W) - road + winter, a product of universal application. 
• Rain, Water, Aqua or Umbrella Badge - A rain tire with reduced aquaplaning. 
• M / T (Mud Terrain) - used on the road. 
• A / T (All Terrain) - all-terrain tires. 
• H/P is a road tire. 
• H/T - for hard roads. 

Symbols for correct installation

Some tires must be mounted in a specific way. During installation, you must be guided by the appropriate designations. 

• OUTSIDE or Side Facing Out - designation for the side that should be facing out. 
• INSIDE or Side Facing Inwards - the inside. 
• ROTATION - the arrow indicates in which direction the wheel should rotate when moving forward. 
• Left - install from the left side of the machine. 
• Right - install from the right side of the machine. 
• F or Front Wheel - for front wheels only. 
• Rear Wheel - install only on the rear wheels. 

You need to pay attention to the last parameters when buying, so as not to accidentally purchase 4 left rear or 4 right front tires. 

Release date 

Marking is applied in the form of 4 digits indicating the week and year of manufacture. In the example, the production date is the 4th week of 2018. 

More options

In addition to the characteristics listed above, other designations are possible that provide additional information about the product. 

• SAG - increased cross-country ability. 
• SUV - for heavy all-wheel drive SUVs. 
• STUDDABLE - the possibility of studding. 
• ACUST - reduced noise level. 
• TWI is a wear indicator marker, which is a small protrusion in the tread groove. There may be 6 or 8 of them, and they are evenly spaced around the circumference of the tire. 
• DOT - This product meets US quality standards. 
• E and a number in a circle - made in accordance with EU quality standards. 

Anti-puncture technologies

SEAL (SelfSeal for Michelin, Seal Inside for Pirelli) - a viscous material from the inside of the tire avoids depressurization in the event of a puncture. 

RUN FLAT - this technology makes it possible to drive several tens of kilometers on a punctured tire.

EU marking:

And finally, it is worth mentioning the new marking label, which has recently begun to be used in Europe. It is very similar to the graphic markings on household appliances. 

    

The label provides simple and clear visual information about three tire characteristics: 

• Impact on fuel consumption (A - maximum efficiency, G - minimum). 
• Wet grip (A - best, G - worst); 
• Noise level. In addition to the numerical value in decibels, there is a graphical display in the form of three waves. The less shaded waves, the lower the noise level. 

  Understanding the markings will allow you not to make a mistake in choosing rubber for your iron horse. And you can make a purchase in the Chinese online store, which has a wide range of tires from different manufacturers.