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TIRE AND WHEEL TECH (/ABOUT/TECH)

Tire Tech (/About/Tire-Tech)

Wheel Tech (/About/Wheel-Tech)
Tire & Wheel Glossary (/About/Glossary)

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TIRE TECH
Tire Sizing Storing Winter Tires
×
Speed Ratings Air Pressure

Load Ratings Tire Rotation

Sidewall Markings Alignment

Sidewall Descriptions Puncture Repairs

Treadwear Indicator Noise and Vibration Problems

Uniform Tire Quality Grading When to Replace Tires?

Mixing Tires Mounting and Balancing

Tire Storage

TIRE SIZING

Passenger Tire sizing is typically displayed as:

P215/65R15 89H

The "P" stands for "P-Metric" or "Passenger". This means it is a North American tire sizing designation. European tires typically don't have the "P" attached to the size. Tires with higher ply ratings
will generally start with "LT" which stands for "Light Truck". This indicates the tire is an LT metric and will always have a Load Range indicated. It is important to note this for vehicles that call for LT
metric tires. Never substitute a P metric tire for an LT metric tire, even if all the other dimensions are the same.

The "215" is the width of a tire, also known as the "section width". This is the width of the tire in millimeters at its widest point from sidewall to sidewall when mounted on the recommended rim
width. The actual tire width can vary depending on the rim width it is mounted on.

The "65"is known as the Aspect Ratio. It is calculated by dividing the section height by the section width and multiplying by 100. (In this example, the sidewall will be 65% of 215).

The "R" stands for Radial, meaning it has a radial construction. Radial tires have ply cords that extend to the beads and are laid at 90 degrees to the centerline of the tread, the carcass being
stabilized by a circumferential belt. Other possibilities include "B" for belted construction and "D" for diagonal construction. This means the ply cords extend to the beads and are laid at alternate
angles less than 90 degrees to the centerline of the tread.

The "15" stands for the diameter of the wheel in inches. This is the exact size that this tire will fit. There are some older rims called "TRX" which are metric measurements like 390. You CAN NOT
mix TRX rims with regular tires or vise-versa.

The "89" is the load index

The "H" is the speed symbol.

SPEED RATINGS

The speed rating of any tire is a measurement of the top

safe speed the tire can carry a load under specified
conditions. It is also an indication of how the tire will
handle at lower speeds. A higher rated tire will give you
better traction and improved steering response even at
50mph.

Maximum Speed Rating

Q = 99 MPH, 160km/h

R = 106 MPH, 170km/h

S = 112 MPH, 180km/h

T = 118 MPH, 190km/h

U = 124 MPH, 200km/h

H = 130 MPH, 210km/h

V = 149 MPH, 240km/h

Z = 149 MPH, 240km/h and over

W = 168 MPH, 270km/h

Y = 186 MPH, 300km/h

LOAD RATING

The load rating for any tire (load index) indicates the maximum weight that each tire is able to support. Below is a quick rating of common Load Indexes:

Load Index (60-95) Pounds (lbs) Kilograms (kgs)

60 551 250

61 567 257

62 584 265

63 600 272

64 617 280

65 639 290

66 662 300

67 677 307

68 695 315

69 717 325

70 739 335

71 761 345

72 783 355

73 805 365

74 827 375

75 853 387

76 882 400

77 908 412

78 937 425

79 964 437

80 990 450

81 1018 462

82 1047 475

83 1074 487

84 1102 500

85 1135 515

86 1168 530

87 1201 545

88 1234 560

89 1278 580

90 1323 600

91 1356 615

92 1389 630

93 1433 650

94 1477 670
 95 1521 690

Load Index (96-125) Pounds (lbs) Kilograms (kgs)

96 1565 710

97 1609 730

98 1653 750

99 1708 775

100 1764 800

101 1819 825

102 1874 850

103 1929 875

104 1984 900

105 2039 925

106 2095 950

107 2149 975

108 2205 1000

109 2271 1030

110 2337 1060

111 2403 1090

112 2469 1120

113 2535 1150

114 2601 1180

115 2679 1215

116 2750 1250

117 2833 1285

118 2911 1320

119 2999 1360

120 3080 1400

121 3197 1450

122 3308 1500

123 3410 1550

124 3528 1600

125 3638 1650

SIDEWALL MARKINGS
Here are some other markings you may find on your tire's sidewall:

The M+S (also displayed as M&S or M-S) indicates the tire has all season capabilities. You will find this on almost all all season and winter tires. Summer tires will not have this designation. For a tire
to get this designation, it must have a specified tread-to-void ratio, however it does not mean that the tire has passed any actual tests for it effectiveness in severe conditions.

DOT stands for Department of Transportation. The 10, 11 or 12 digit code appearing after the DOT designation gives information such as the week and year the tire was produced, as well as the
manufacturer, plant, tire line, and size. The first 2 characters designate the tire's manufacturer and plant code. The third, fourth and fifth characters, are the tire size code. The last three or four
numbers (4 numbers for years after 2000) are when the tire was manufactured. The first two digits of the date code represent the week and the last 1 or 2 digits represent the year.

Maximum Inflation Pressure is the highest inflation pressure that the tire can withstand. This is not, however, the recommended inflation pressure. Inflation pressures should never be below the
recommended pressure or above the maximum pressure branded on the sidewall.

Also see Air Pressure.

SIDEWALL DESCRIPTIONS

Below is a quick legend to notations describing the appearance of the tire's sidewall:

Sidewall Marking Meaning

BCS BLACK CIRCUMFERENCIAL SERRATION

BL BLACK LETTERS

BSL BLACK SERRATED LETTERS

BSB BROKEN SERRATED BAND

ENWL EXTRA NARROW WHITE LETTERS

ROBL RAISED OUTLINED BLACK LETTERS

OWL OUTLINED WHITE LETTERS

OBL OUTLINED BLACK LETTERS

OGL OUTLINED GOLD LETTERS

ORBL OUTLINED RAISED BLACK LETTERS

ORWL OUTLINED RAISED WHITE LETTERS

OWL OUTLINED WHITE LETTERS

RBL RAISED BLACK LETTERS

RWL RAISED WHITE LETTERS

RRBL RECESSED RAISED BLACK LETTERS

SBL SERRATED BLACK LETTERS

SRBL SERRATED RAISED BLACK LETTERS

SOWL SLANTED OUTLINED WHITE LETTERS

SVSB SLANTED VERTICAL SERRATED BAND

VSB VERTICAL SERRATED BAND

WL WHITE LETTERS

WS WHITE STRIPE

WW WHITE WALL

UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING

The Uniform Tire Quality Grading rating is a quality rating system developed by the American Department of Transportation. It is designed to tell consumers the relative performance of passenger tir
(but does not apply to winter tires).

Below is an example of a UTQG Rating

150A B

150 A B

The "150" indicates the treadwear rating The "A" indicates traction The "B" indicates temperature

The Treadwear rating is based on a wear test performed on a 400 mile government test course covering specified sections of public roads in Texas. A group of not more than 4 test vehicles travels th
course in a convoy so that all tires experience the same conditions. Tread groove depths of the tires being tested are measured after each 800 miles. The same procedure is followed for a set of
"control" or "course monitoring tires" Upon the completion of the 7200 mile test, the rating results of both tires are compared, and the tires being tested are assigned a treadwear rating according to
government standards. This number can be used to compare between tires. In the above example, this tire rated 150 should last 1/2 as long as a tire rated 300. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use and may be significantly different from the norm due to differences in road characteristics and climate.

The Traction ratings are AA, A, B, and C, from highest to lowest. This measurement indicates a tires ability to stop in a straight line on wet pavement. The rating is based on a 40mph test where the
brakes are "locked up" on wet asphalt and wet concrete surfaces. It's important to remember that this rating does not indicate the tires ability to resists hydroplaning, and do not apply to cornering
traction.

Temperature ratings are determined by running tires on an indoor roadwheel test under specified conditions. Successive 30 minute runs are made in 5mph increments starting at 75mph and
continuing until the tires fails. Tires with an A rating must withstand at least 114mph, B at least 99mph, and C at least 85mph. These measurements indicate the tire's ability to sustain high temperatu
which often cause tires to wear away quickly or in extreme conditions lead to sudden tire failure.

TIRE STORAGE

Storing Winter Tires

The best place to store winter tires is in a cool, dry location. (Basement, or possibly a garage). You can lay them down flat, stacked on top of each other no taller than 4 high. This offers the most supp
and should eliminate any fitting problems the following fall. We also recommend that you return to the store/dealer from where you purchased your tires from and ask for storage bags. This will pro
the tires from natural ozone in the air which can cause tire rubber to dry and crack. Wrap each tire individually and stack them. Stored tires should be kept away from electric motors or welders as th
produce ozone which will damage the rubber over time.

MIXING TIRES

Generally tires should not be mixed on any vehicle. To receive maximum safety and performance it is preferable to keep every tire on a vehicle identical in size, brand, model, rating etc. One of the on
exceptions is if the front and rear wheels are different like on all Porsche's and other high performance vehicles.

TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS)

There are two types of TPMS technologies available in the market: Direct and Indirect.
DIRECT TPMS

Direct TPMS type involves the use of pressure sensors attached to each tire and wheel assembly which measure the tire pressure and transmit the data through low frequency signals to the vehicle’s
computer system. This information is displayed on the vehicle’s instrument cluster usually in the form of a simple pictogram (low pressure warning light) or readings for each tire. There are two types
direct TPMS sensors – Banded sensors and Valve Sensors. Banded sensors attach to the barrel of the rim by a metallic strap.

Valve sensors attach to the rim just like a regular valve steam would, either rubber or aluminum.

INDIRECT TPMS

Indirect TPMS uses the vehicle’s Antilock Breaking System (ABS) to monitor the diameter of each tire through wheels’ rotational speeds. The under-inflated tire is determined because of a higher angu
velocity of its slightly smaller diameter.

AIR PRESSURE

Are your tires set at the optimum inflation? Chances are they are anywhere from 8psi to 18psi less than recommended. The most common way of damaging tires is improper inflation. Low air pressu
causes tires to experience irregular treadwear as well as poor vehicle handling and traction. Under inflated tires can build up excessive heat and blow out without warning.

Keeping your tires set at the manufacturer's recommended pressure is one of the easiest ways of saving gasoline, increasing tire treadlife, and ensuring safety. An Arizona Energy Office Report notes
your tires are inflated to 24psi, and you increase the air pressure to 32psi, your fuel mileage should increase by 3 miles per gallon (an average increase of 10%!)

Always check your air pressure and make adjustments when the tires are cold (tires have not been driven for 2 hours). Air pressure should be checked bi-weekly at the very least. This is important
because as outside temperatures change, so does tire air pressure. A 10 degree drop in temperature can reduce tire pressure by 1psi. That means if you set your pressures in the July and don't check
them again until December, you could have lost several psi, decreasing fuel mileage and causing pre-mature tire wear. Also remember to check your spare tire for loss of air.

If you are unsure how to use an air pressure gauge and hose, your local tire shop should be willing to show you the correct procedure. Always use a good quality tire pressure gauge that is not on
hose. The tire gauges built into the air hoses at your local garage have generally not been maintained and can not be trusted to be accurate.

*Note, air pressures can be “tuned”, however you should NEVER exceed the maximum pressure branded on the tire’s sidewall, and NEVER set pressures lower than recommended in the vehicle’s
owners manual. Also, if you have altered your tire size from original, then the minimum pressure may need to be adjusted. Consult a rim/tire professional for correct pressures.

TREADWEAR INDICATOR
As your tires wear down, their ability to grip the road decreases. Each tire has what are known as wear bars. These appear at various points around the tire as bars running through the tread design
from one side of the tire to the other. When your tires are legally worn out (2/32") the tread will be at the same level as the tread wear indicators and they will be easily visible. Usually before the tire
to this point, they will begin to feel unsafe. If that is the case, do not wait for them to get to the wear bars. Just because the tread depth is not as low as the tread wear bar, does not mean it is safe.

TIRE ROTATION

Because each tire on your car typically supports a different amount of weight, and your driving patterns will typically wear out one tire faster than the others, it's important to rotate your tires every
5000 to 8000 miles. Rotation patterns differ depending on what kind of vehicle you drive. The best place to check is in your vehicle's owners manual. If you can not find what you are looking for, below
are some diagrams showing you the most common patterns.

Of course, if your vehicle has different sizes of tires from front to back, or if your tires are directional, these may not work. Consult a professional if you are still not sure.

VEHICLE ALIGNMENT

Vehicle alignment is one of the most important factors in not only vehicle care, but tire care. Improper alignment on either the front or rear wheels can result in unusual tread wear, damage to your
suspension, and unusual handling for the car. Wheel alignments should be performed every time you install a new set of tires, and any time you experience an impact such as a large pot hole, curb, o
other obstacle. For maintenance purposes, alignment should be checked every 30,000 km (about 18,700 miles).

There are several alignment types, including both two and four wheel alignment. Four wheel alignment is always recommended, but some vehicles are not able to have the rear alignment adjusted.
Consult with an alignment specialist you trust to find out what's best for your car.

Warning signs that you might need an alignment are your car pulling to one side or another, and irregular tire wear.

PUNCTURE REPAIRS

A puncture to any area of a tire's tread will affect performance and safety, and therefore must be immediately attended to through either replacement of the tire (spare or new tire) or a patch. Any p
that is applied to a tire must be applied to both the outer part of the tire (tread) and the inner part of the tire. The reason for this is that the rubber on each side is very different (inside is made of
halobutyl rubber meant for holding air, while the outside is a harder durable rubber primarily designed for traction). A good tire repair can only be made if the tire is removed from the rim (wheel) an
inspected carefully for any hidden damage. Only straight through holes, 3/16" or smaller diameter may be repaired, when no secondary damage has occurred.

NOISE AND VIBRATION PROBLEMS

Below are the most common (but not the only) causes of noise and vibration problems:

 Tire / wheel assembly is out of balance

 No hub centric rings on aftermarket wheels  >Buy Hub Centric Rings (http://www.1010tires.com/store/category/hub-centric-rings.aspx)

 Incorrect mounting hardware for aftermarket wheels

 Tire is poorly seated on the rim

 Irregular tire wear

 Out of round rim

 Out of round tire

Do not ignore apparent impacts, pulling, or vibration. This could be an indicator of tire damage as much as mechanical problems that should be inspected by a professional. If there is a problem with
your tires and the way they have been installed they will most likely begin to shake and vibrate your vehicle at between 50 and 65 mph.
WHEN DO YOU NEED TO REPLACE TIRES?

Tires are typically replaced when their natural lifespan has come to an end. There are however any number of factors that can affect this including storage, temperature, surfaces they are driven on,
how aggressive of a driver you are, punctures, etc.

The usual recommendation for replacing tires is when they no longer feel safe to the driver. You can see when they are legally worn out using the tread wear indicator. A typical set of tires under nor
driving conditions will last approximately 40 000 miles or 64 000 km. Some tires of-course are designed for much longer, even up to 80 000 miles or 128 000 kilometers.

MOUNTING AND BALANCING

When mounting wheels & tires on to the vehicle, ensure the following checks are made:

 Wheels are not damaged in any way

 There is no dirt or oily build up between the hub and the wheel

 Lugs are properly torqued

 Both tire beads are securely mounted

 Any retaining clips on the brake drums are removed

Tires are manufactured to close tolerances, however as they wear their mass can become unevenly distributed, negatively effecting the original balance. The most common signs of unbalanced tires
vibration problems. These can affect the speed, handling and mileage of your vehicle. Balancing is done by a computer that spins the wheel / tire assembly, senses heavy spots, and gives a location fo
the technician to apply weight to counter the heavy spots. The best type of balance is a dynamic balance, and this should be performed whenever possible. (Some rim designs will not allow this type
balance and you would have to settle for a static balance)

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