1. Brand name of the tyre - i.e. Continental, Dunlop, Goodyear, Michelin, Pirelli, etc.
2. Tyre model. E.g. Sport, Pilot, Eagle etc.
3. Tyre size - The width of the tyre tread expressed in millimetres, which in this illustration is 205; the aspect ratio - height of the tyre sidewall as a percentage of the width, in this case it is 55% of 205mm; and the diameter of the wheel size the tyre is designed to fit, expressed in inches. In this illustration, it is 16". The letter between the numbers is the type of construction i.e. 'R' Radial. So this tyre is a 205/55 R 16.
4. Service description - in this example the figure 91 denotes the maximum weight capacity of the tyre according to the official load index table, which translates to 615 Kg (see table below). The letter V indicates the speed rating of the tyre, in this case the tyre suitable for cars capable of reaching a maximum vehicle speed of 149.1 mph (see table below).
5. ECE (Economic Commission for Europe) Regulation 30 Conformity Approval Number - which means that the tyre meets the standards of the European Regulatory Authorities.
6. EEC Noise Approval Number, which means that the noise generated by the tyre is within approved European limits.
7. USA Department of Transport manufacturer's code. This has no relevance to the UK market.
8. Date of manufacture. This is important as the age of a tyre can affect its performance. The first 2 numbers refer to the week and the 3rd and 4th numbers refer to the year.
9. USA UTQG (Uniform Tire Quality Grade) ratings. This has no significance in the UK.
10. USA maximum tyre loading. This has no significance in the UK.
11. USA maximum tyre inflation pressure. This has no significance in the UK.
12. Denotes tubeless construction.
13. Safety warning refers to the dangers of under-inflation/overloading and the mounting of tyres together with the risk of severe over - inflation. This is particularly important as research shows that up to three quarters of cars on UK roads have incorrectly inflated tyres.
14. Direction of rotation which relates to directional tyres only. These tyres are designed to rotate in one direction only which is indicated on the sidewall by an arrow.
15. Outer/inner sidewall refers to the mounting of asymmetric tyres only. These tyres have different tread patterns on their inner and outer sides, offering improved performance, and must be fitted correctly.
16. Extra load version where applicable.
17. TWI indicates the location of the tread wear indicators, which are raised areas at the base of the tread to serve as a visual warning that the tyre is approaching or at the minimum legal tread depth.
Tyre Speed Rating Symbol Table
Speed Symbol
Speed (km/h)
Speed (mph)
L
120
75
M
130
81
N
140
87
P
150
93
Q
160
99
R
170
108
S
180
112
T
190
118
U
200
124
H
210
130
V
240
149
W
270
168
Y
300
186
Tyre Load Index Table
Load Index
Load (kg)
Load Index
Load (kg)
Load Index
Load (kg)
65
290
85
515
105
925
66
300
86
530
106
950
67
307
87
545
107
975
68
315
88
560
108
1000
69
325
89
580
109
1030
70
335
90
600
110
1060
71
345
91
615
111
1090
72
355
92
630
112
1120
73
365
93
650
113
1150
74
375
94
670
114
1180
75
387
95
690
115
1215
76
400
96
710
116
1250
77
412
97
730
117
1285
78
425
98
750
118
1320
79
437
99
775
119
1360
80
450
100
800
120
1400
81
462
101
825
121
1450
82
475
102
850
122
1500
83
487
103
875
123
1550
84
500
104
900
124
1600
The load index is a numerical code associated with the maximum load a tyre can carry
NORTH STAFFS TYRE & BATTERY AUTOCARE CENTRES LTD. NO.1 IN FOR CAR TYRES, EXHAUST SYSTEMS, BATTERIES, CAR SERVICING, MOT TESTING, BRAKES, SUSPENSION AND STEERING IN STOKE ON TRENT, STAFFORDSHIRE. BRANCHES IN LONGTON, TUNSTALL AND NEWCASTLE UNDER LYME.
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