All you need to know about Car Tire, the numbers on the sidewalls and which Tire to use in which application, read on – Car Tire Facts 101.

Want To Know More About Tires?

All Cars have them and must be replaced periodically, How do you choose which Tires are Best?

What do you prioritize when buying a car tire?

price – brand – style – quality – use – availability – convenience – durability

Whatever you prioritize it is important to know a few basics about Car Tires, below is a chart that visually explains the fundamentals of the average car tire. That puzzling numbers on the tire is explained in simple terms.

Numbers and Letters on the Sidewalls of the Tire?

• P – Passenger Car
• LT – Light Truck
• ST – Special Trailer 
• T – Temporary (restricted usage for “space-saver” spare wheels) 

• 215/55R15 would mean that the nominal width of the tire is approximately 215 mm at the widest point, the height of the side-wall of the tire is 55% of the width (107 mm in this example).
• R means that it is a radial tire, In this design, the cord or the plies are arranged at 90 degrees to the direction of travel, or radially (from the centre of the tire). 
• The tire fits 15-inch-diameter wheels.
• 98 would depict the Load Rating of the tire and the H would represent the Speed Rating of the Tire, how fast in Kilometers per hour you may safely drive with these tires fitted.

Tire Speed Rating Chart

It really is an indication of a tire’s ability to dissipate heat to avoid a blowout. Higher speeds mean greater heat buildup.

Tires with higher speed ratings are constructed to handle heat better. In general, they also ride harder than tires with lower speed ratings. Below is a chart to guide you in understanding Tire Speed Ratings.

Load Ratings for Car Tires

This depicts the load which the tire can bear safely. So if you are driving a pick up which you use for loading heavy items, you would take this into consideration when you fit tires to your Pick Up and so too if you have a Minivan which you use as a passenger transporter.

The loads would be heavier than a Sedan or Sports Car.

The tire above the load rating was 98, so according to the chart below this tire could carry a capacity of 1653 Pounds or 750 Kilograms.

Although one has to take into consideration what kind of Surface and Terrain the tires would be used on.

Three Important Car Checks To Perform Periodically On Your Car 

Tire Wear

Tires wear constantly, but when the suspension components of your car wear or the wheel alignment is not checked and set regularly or the Tires are not inflated to its correct pressure, then premature tire wear occurs as depicted in the illustrations below.

So simple Maintenance will save you lots of money on unnecessary cost for premature wear on your car’s tires.

Consider this when next your car needs new tires.

Where do you buy your tires? Comment below.

Until Next Time “Safe Motoring”