What do markings on tyres mean

If you are still having problems, please search by tyre size. Gold Club. The writing or markings on the rubber of your tyre is there for two main reasons: To convey important information such as the size and specifications of the tyre To prove that the tyre has passed necessary safety standards. What do the numbers on tyres mean? These tyre numbers mean: — Tyre Width This indicates the width of the tyre in millimetres from sidewall to sidewall. More tyre symbols explained.

Load Index The load index is a numerical code, in the image represented by , and this refers to the maximum load that a tyre can carry. Load Index Kilograms Load Index Kilograms Load Index Kilograms 65 80 95 66 81 96 67 82 97 68 83 98 69 84 99 70 85 71 86 72 87 73 88 74 89 75 90 76 91 77 92 78 93 79 94 Tyre load capacity This number gives you an indication of the maximum load your tyres can handle. Brand Name The brand who manufactured the tyre will be displayed clearly.

Pattern Name Tyre manufacturers produce different tyres that have different patterns. Country of Manufacture Where your tyre was manufactured will be indicated by the writing on the sidewall. Tread Wear Indicators Tread wear indicators will be situated in the grooves of the tyre rather than on the tyre sidewall. Load ratings and speed ratings should be looked at together when you buy a new tyre.

Speed rating: The speed rating is the maximum speed for a tyre when it is correctly inflated and being used under load. The speed rating is the letter at the end of the sidewall, after the load index number. When buying new tyres, make sure you match their speed rating with the speed capabilities of your vehicle.

To help better understand how to read your tyre's sidewall, Jon Benson from Tyre Reviews, explains the meanings of the key markings on your tyre. This means that the tyre is road legal for winter conditions across Europe. Your dealer may help you verifying this before purchasing or fitting tyres. Yes, this may be possible.

After all, this is the only part of your vehicle which actually touches the ground. Enter, tyre markings. These are used to identify the specifications and physical features of a tyre, so you can find a replacement which works in tandem with your vehicle. When in doubt, always get in touch with our friendly advisers for help and advice. But what you might not know is that you can find information relating to your manufacturer-recommended tyres in a few other places too, including:.

When in doubt, you can also get in touch with the Tyres on the Drive team. A tyre sidewall contains a lot of information. So, in the above example, a tyre that has an aspect ratio of 55 would have a height equal to 55 per cent of its width. Next up is a letter. This tells you how a tyre is constructed.

This is where the internal ply cords extend across the casing from bead to bead, in a radial direction. The next number represents the diameter code. Unlike the width, this is shown in inches.

Tyre date code - This is presented at the end of the DOT number. The photo shows a Matador tyre manufactured in week 42 of Information on the age of the tyre is also on the sidewall. Look for the tyre identification number, beginning with DOT.

This is a sequence of 7 to 12 characters providing the information on the entire batch of tyres produced in the factory. For example, , the first two digits indicate the week of manufacture, followed by two digits of the year, which means that the tyre was manufactured in week 42 of FR - Felgen Ripen , rim protection against mechanical damage. It is often seen in tyres with a 55 or lower profile.

This depends on the manufacturer and on the type of tyre and its size. The FR marking is not placed on the side of the tyre.

INSIDE - Symbol used in asymmetric tyres; it indicates that the sidewall of the tyre is to be installed toward the inside of the car, facing the wheel hub. This side of the tyre should not be visible from outside the vehicle. JLB - Jointless Band made of nylon.

LT - Light Truck, indication that the tyre is designed for 4x4 vehicles and light trucks used in the US. It is placed under the size of the tyre. It can also be found on tyres supplied from outside of Europe. This marking is only a manufacturer's declaration, it is not an official symbol confirming the properties of winter tyres. Its aim is to protect the edge of the rim from mechanical damage which may be caused by driving onto a curb or by colliding with small objects.

There are different names used for this protector depending on the tyre manufacturer. Apart from MFS, the most common names include:. P - Passenger; symbol placed in front of the tyre size marking. It indicates that the tyre is designed for passenger vehicles used in the U. PAX - Zero-pressure Michelin tyre with a stable ring inside. RF - Reinforced; it indicates a reinforced tyre with a higher load capacity.

It has a similar meaning to the tyres with an XL symbol. This kind of protection prevents damage to the rim caused by impacts or abrasions, for example, against a curb. ROF - Run On Flat, marking used by Goodyear and Dunlop to indicate tyres that may continue operation after damage and loss of internal pressure. Reinforced tyres have a special design that allows them to be used with a higher load. TWI is present at six locations on the tyre circumference as a raised rubber strip inside tread grooves and it indicates the limit of permitted tread wear.

When the tread is worn to the level of TWI, it means that the tyre reached a legally required minimum depth of 1. At this stage, you should consider replacing the tyre. VR or ZR - Speed indexes included in the tyre marking.