How to Read & Determine Tire Size for Your Vehicle
This is a subtitle for your new post
We cannot emphasize enough the importance of having the right-sized tires for your car. The right tires for your car will help maintain optimal performance, ride comfort, vehicle safety, and fuel efficiency not to mention a whole host of other benefits.
Before replacing a tire, check its sidewall. On it, you will find a string of numbers and letters that reveal important information about the tire.
So, what do they mean? Find out from one of the best tire shops in Newport Beach.
The First Half of the Series
The First Letter
The first letter on a tire’s sidewall denotes the tire type. The letter P denotes the tire was manufactured for a passenger vehicle. LT stands for light truck. C means commercial and T stands for temporary spare. If there are no letters at the beginning, then the tire is a Euro-metric tire.
The First Three-digit Number
The first-three digits denote the tire width which is measured in millimeters from sidewall to sidewall. All four tires of a vehicle should have the same width.
The Next Two-digit Number
The two-digit number after the slash indicates the aspect ratio which is the ratio of the cross-section’s height to its width. For example, the two-digit number after the slash is 65, the tire’s height is 65% of its width.
The Second Half of the Series
The Letter Corresponding to the Casing
The letter following the aspect ratio signifies how the tire was constructed. R stands for radial construction, B is for belted bias, and D means diagonal bias construction. When choosing a spare tire, make sure its construction is the same as the rest of the tires.
The Next Two-digit Number
The two-digit number after the letter signifies the measurement of the rim diameter (in inches). It tells the size of the wheel that the tire is supposed to fit. You will need this information when getting new rims or wheels.
The Last Alpha-numeric Character
The two-digit number is followed by a combination of a two-digit number and a letter. The alpha-numeric character is the tire’s load index and speed rating. A tire’s load index is the maximum amount of weight it can safely support, while its speed rating is the maximum speed it can handle.
To determine the maximum amount of weight a tire can support, check the load index chart corresponding to the load index number. Similarly, to determine the speed rating of a tire, take a look at the speed rating chart. It’s important to note that the number corresponding to the letter that denotes the tire’s speed rating indicates the maximum speed it can handle.
Grand Prix Performance is a renowned tire shop in Newport Beach. Whether you drive an SUV or a convertible, we will have the right tires and know-how for your vehicle. We are also your go-to team for automotive repairs and maintenance. To make an appointment, call us at (949) 645-7022.