How to read your tires – what the markings on the rubber REALLY mean

It’s important to know what the different markings on your tires mean, especially when it’s time to change them.

The sidewalls of your tires have a combination of letters and numbers that may be difficult to interpret – here we explain how to read them.

1

The first three digits indicate the width in millimeters.

That means if your first three digits are 235, for example, the tire measures exactly 235mm side-to-side.

The next two digits indicate the height of the tire as a percentage of the tire width.

For example, if the number is 55, it means the tire’s height is 55 percent of the tire’s width.

The next mark is a letter that indicates the type of construction.

Tires marked with the letter “R” are radial tires, which means they are constructed with plies of cords arranged at 90 degrees for added strength to the tire.

Today, most tires are made this way.

The next number indicates the rim diameter.

That is, it indicates the size of the rim that the tire can fit.

If the tire is marked “20”, the driver should know that it will fit on a 20″ rim.

The number below represents the stress index.

It helps drivers to know the maximum load capacity of their tires in kilos.

Finally, the last digit indicates the speed rating of your tires.

This means drivers can determine the top speed of their tires when properly inflated.

It is important to remember to fit the correct tire for speeds on your vehicle.

Find out how to do it Clean your tires Use of a household item.