A Brief Guide To Car Tire Numbers
When you look at your tires you will notice several sets of numbers on them. If you are not familiar with tires, those numbers and letters may look like a foreign language to you.
However, the numbers provide significant information about your tires and may be of great assistance when you need to inflate them or when you are purchasing new tires.
Let's take a look at a car tire number and decipher it.
Let's say you look at your tire and find this number and letter sequence P235/75 R 15 89H.
The first letter, "P," signifies the type of your tire. "P" stands for "passenger" and so these tires belong on passenger vehicles such as the family car. Other letters you might find include T for temporary or spare tire, or LT for light truck.
On to the first set of numbers, 235 is the tire width in this section. The width is from sidewall edge to edge and designated in millimeters. A good rule of thumb is that the larger the first set of numbers are, the larger the tire size is.
In P235/75 R 15 89H, the next number to look at is 75, which denotes the ratio of height for the tire. This indicates that the height of the tire is 55% of the section width. This number is important because it can indicated the function of your tire. A shorter sidewall would, for example, have a correspondingly lower number and this kind of tire affords superior steering and general handling.
The next position, "R," shows that the tire is of radial construction. R is the most common type that you will find.
Next, the "15," gives you the diameter, measured in inches, of the rim. Rim diameter is an important factor if you have plans to change the wheel size.
The next number, "89," indicates the load index of the tire, or the amount of weight which can be supported. That is, the greater this number, the heavier the load that may be supported. In P235/75 R 15 89H, the 89 states the tires can bear 1,260 pounds.
The letter "H" corresponds with the speed capacity of your car tire. This designation refers to a car that can travel at speeds as high as 130 mph. Various speed ratings are designated by various letters.
An identification and comprehension of the tire number is necessary in order to maintain your tires in satisfactory condition.
However, the numbers provide significant information about your tires and may be of great assistance when you need to inflate them or when you are purchasing new tires.
Let's take a look at a car tire number and decipher it.
Let's say you look at your tire and find this number and letter sequence P235/75 R 15 89H.
The first letter, "P," signifies the type of your tire. "P" stands for "passenger" and so these tires belong on passenger vehicles such as the family car. Other letters you might find include T for temporary or spare tire, or LT for light truck.
On to the first set of numbers, 235 is the tire width in this section. The width is from sidewall edge to edge and designated in millimeters. A good rule of thumb is that the larger the first set of numbers are, the larger the tire size is.
In P235/75 R 15 89H, the next number to look at is 75, which denotes the ratio of height for the tire. This indicates that the height of the tire is 55% of the section width. This number is important because it can indicated the function of your tire. A shorter sidewall would, for example, have a correspondingly lower number and this kind of tire affords superior steering and general handling.
The next position, "R," shows that the tire is of radial construction. R is the most common type that you will find.
Next, the "15," gives you the diameter, measured in inches, of the rim. Rim diameter is an important factor if you have plans to change the wheel size.
The next number, "89," indicates the load index of the tire, or the amount of weight which can be supported. That is, the greater this number, the heavier the load that may be supported. In P235/75 R 15 89H, the 89 states the tires can bear 1,260 pounds.
The letter "H" corresponds with the speed capacity of your car tire. This designation refers to a car that can travel at speeds as high as 130 mph. Various speed ratings are designated by various letters.
An identification and comprehension of the tire number is necessary in order to maintain your tires in satisfactory condition.
About the Author:
Daniel Akinson is a former mechanic and self-proclaimed gear-head. To learn more about Cheap Mud Tires and ATV Mud Tires be sure to visit us at MudKingTires.