Reading your Tyres

The markings on the side of your tyres may seem rather baffling but they are vitally important in ensuring that your vehicle is running safely and legally. When ringing please have these details to hand so that we can provide you with the best possible service.

A brief guide to reading you tyre.

  1. Width of your tyre in millimetres. E.g. This tyre is 205mm wide.
  2. The aspect ratio of the tyre or profile. E.g.: This tyres height or sidewall is 55% of its 205mm width.
  3. Radial construction, if there is no R then the tyre will usually be of cross ply or bias ply construction.
  4. The rim diameter or size of the hole in the middle, this is measured in inches.
  5. The maximum load capacity of the tyre. This equates to a code on a chart, not 91 kilos!
  6. The maximum speed capacity of the tyre, again relating to a chart.
    There may well be some other markings, such as XL or reinforced, just make a note of them and we will decipher which are relevant, too much information is never a bad thing in this instance.
    Below are the load and speed charts referred to above.
  7. The date of manufacture in week and year format, the example is of the second week 2004.
     

Below are the load and speed charts referred to above.

Speed Symbol Max Car Speed Capability
Km/h MPH
L 120 75
M 130 81
N 140 87
P 150 95
Q 160 100
R 170 105
S 180 113
T 190 118
U 200 125
H 210 130
V 240 150
W 270 168
Z 240+ 150+

 

Load index Load in kg Load index Load in kg Load index Load in kg
62 265 84  500 106  950
63 272 85  515 107  975
64 280 86  530 108  1000
65 290 87  545 109  1030
66 300 88  560 110  1060
67 307 89  580 111  1090
68 315 90  600 112  1120
69 325 91  615 113  1150
70 335 92  630 114  1180
71 345 93  650 115  1215
72 355 94  670 116  1250
73 365 95  690 117  1285
74 375 96  710 118  1320
75 387 97  730 119  1360
76 400 98  750 120  1400
77 412 99  775 121  1450
78 425 100  800 122  1500
79 437 101  825 123  1550
80 450 102  850 124  1600
81 462 103  875 125  1650
82 475 104  900 126  1700
83 487 105  925    

 

If you need any further assistance please feel free to call.

Call now for a quote