- Side Wall Information
- Passenger Tires
- Tire Types
- Load Rate
- Ply
- Grades
- Tread
- Traction
- Temperature
- Speed Rating
-
Light Truck Tires
- Despite their random appearance, the letters and symbols on the sidewall of your tire provide useful information.
Side Wall Information
Tires contain useful information molded into the sidewall. It shows the name of the tire, its size, whether it is tubeless or tube type, the maximum load and maximum inflation, and an important safety warning.
Passenger Tires
"P-metric", speed-rated auto tire. "P" stands for passenger, "215" represents the width of the tire in millimeters; "65" is the ratio of height to width; "H" is the speed rating; "R" means radial, and "15" is the diameter of the wheel in inches. Some speed rated tires carry a Service Description, instead of showing the speed symbol in the size designation. The Service Description 89H, consists of the load index 89 and speed symbol H.Tire Types
A "B" in place of the "R" means the tire is belted bias construction. A "D" in place of the "R" means diagonal bias construction
.Load Rate
The maximum load is shown in kg (kilograms) and lbs. (pounds), and maximum pressure in kPa (kilopascals), and PSI (pounds per square inch). Kilograms and kilopascals are metric units of measurement.
The letters DOT certify compliance with all applicable safety standards established by the Department of Transportation or DOT. Next to this is a serial number. This serial number is a code that are a combination of numbers and letters.
PLY
The sidewall also shows the type of cord and number of plies in the sidewall and under the tread.Grades
The DOT requires the manufacturers to grade passenger car tires based on factors: tread wear, traction, and temperature resistance.Traction
Traction grades, from highest to lowest, are A, B and C. They represent the tire's ability to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. Traction grades indicate a tire's ability to stop on wet pavement, as measured under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces. The traction grade is based upon straight ahead braking tests, and DO NOT indicate cornering ability.
Hard-rubber compounds give longer Treadwear, but poorer Traction. The Traction grade lets you compare Treadwear against Traction under wet weather conditions.
Temperature
The temperature grades, from highest
