Tires are a crucial component of any vehicle. However, they are often most neglected by vehicle owners. It is the tires that make your car run and it is the tires that make it stop. Your safety on the road and a seamless drive depend on tire change and replacement at the right time.
Once you have made up your mind to go in for mobile tire changing services, you need to know the tire size that best fits your vehicle.
You might have looked at your car many times. Have you ever cared to check the tires?
Tires have a combination of letters and numbers. Ever wondered what they could be? They are key indicators about the type and size of tires that you must choose when you are going in for a tire change and replacement.
Consider the following example of letters and numbers printed on your tire.
P225/65R16 95S
Sounds confusing, right?
Let us break the tire size down to make things easier.
1) Tire Type
- The letter ‘P’ in the above example indicates a P-metric tire.
- For Euro-metric tires, there is no preceding letter before the number sequence.
- Both P-metric and Euro-metric tires are specifically designed for passenger vehicles.
2) Tire Width
- The number 225 that follows the initial letter is the tire width (in millimetres).
- Tire width is the measurement from one side to another.
3) Aspect Ratio
- The next double-digit number after the slash (/) mark indicates the aspect ratio of the tire.
- In the above example, the number 65 is the tire’s aspect ratio. This means that the tire’s height is 65 per cent of its width.
- The aspect ratio is calculated by dividing the tire’s height by its width.
4) Tire Construction
- The letter ‘R’ in the above example indicates a radial tire.
- Radial means that the internal cords of the tire are arranged in a radial direction.
5) Rim (Wheel) Diameter
- The number 16 refers to 16 inches, which is the tire’s inner diameter.
- It means that a tire having the size P225/65R16 95S would fit a rim having a diameter of 16 inches.
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6) Load Index
- It is the maximum load-carrying capacity of a tire when inflated properly.
- In the above example, the tire load index is 95. The number 95 corresponds to a specific load capacity in kilograms or pounds.
7) Speed Rating
- The last letter ‘S’ in the above tire size sequence refers to the tire’s speed rating.
- A tire with a speed rating ‘S’ has a maximum speed capability of 180 km/h.
- Different letters indicate different speed ratings.
It is necessary to keep all this information in mind while selecting the tire for replacement. Alternatively, you can take the help of one of the reliable tire change and replacement provider.
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