Every time you look at a tire on your vehicle in Chicago, you’ll see a series of letters and numbers on the sidewall. These numbers are very important when it comes to ordering a new set of treads for your vehicle.
Do you wonder, “What do tire numbers mean?” We’ll get into the tire number meaning with our guide from the service team at Badger Truck & Auto Group near Madison. We want you to get the best experience out of owning your vehicle.
The tire number meaning has a singular purpose. This standard code indicates the size and type of tire it is, its performance rating, and the dimensions of the sidewall. Parts stores use the tire number to order a new set for your vehicle.
A tire’s code uses a series of letters and numbers to inform you or your Milwaukee service center of various characteristics of the tire. What do tire numbers mean for the physical specs? They indicate:
While it may seem like gibberish, each section of code represents information to identify the type of tire it is correctly. Now, we’ll answer, “What do the numbers on tires mean for each code segment?
The “P” stands for “P-Metric tire,” or it’s used for passenger vehicles. Tires with “LT” are intended for light-duty pickup trucks. If there is no letter at the start of the code, it’s a European-style tire.
Following the “P” is the “220” number, which stands for tire width in millimeters from sidewall to sidewall. The width of this example tire is 220 millimeters.
After the forward slash comes the aspect ratio code, indicated by “55.” A tire’s ratio is the height of its cross-section to its width. This tire has an aspect ratio where its height is equal to 55% of the tire’s width. The larger the aspect ratio, the bigger the sidewalls will be compared to the tire’s width.
The “R” indicates the tire’s construction based on the steel belts embedded in the rubber. The steel belts help the tire maintain its shape and strengthen the rubber. R represents that it’s a radial tire. Other codes are “B” for belt or “D” for diagonal.
“18” indicates the wheel size from one end to the other or the wheel’s diameter. The wheel is the round metal part the tire fits around. In this case, we have a tire that fits an 18-inch wheel.
At the code’s end is “95H.” This is a combination of the load index and speed rating. The load index (“95” in this instance) indicates how much weight the tire can support when properly inflated. This number ranges from 75 to 105 for passenger vehicles. A load index of 95 can carry a maximum of 1,521 pounds on a single tire (multiply that by four tires to get the maximum weight your car can be).
“H” represents the speed rating, which is how fast the tire can safely go based on its load capacity. An “H” rating can reach a maximum speed of 130 mph. Speed ratings range from A to Z. As another example, a Y-rated tire, built for high-performance sports cars, maxes out at 186 mph.
One misconception is that the tire number meanings indicate the optimum tire pressure. This is not the case. The optimum tire pressure is in your owner’s manual or a permanent label affixed to the driver’s door frame.
Use a tire pressure gauge to dispense a tiny bit of air to check the tire pressure. The indicator will tell you what the tire pressure is. You might need to add some air if you see it’s low. Typical tire pressure is from 32 to 38 pounds per square inch (PSI) of air.
Does your car, truck, or SUV need new tires? Is it time for your tire rotation? Contact us or call to schedule an appointment with Badger Truck & Auto Group near Waukesha. Or, we have a quick lane for tire rotations for your commercial vehicle. Just stop by, and we’ll take care of you!
Look at our service specials to see if you could save some cash on your next maintenance.
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