So, What Do Tire Numbers Mean?

When you check your tires for the tire number before the next order, you’ll find them located on the sidewall of your tires. You have probably wondered what the number means before you answer your next set from a Manhasset parts shop. The code describes the size and type of tire that you have and the performance purpose of that set. Our team at Rallye Acura has put together this guide of how exactly to understand the tire numbers. 

What Do the Numbers on Tires Mean?

The code of letters and numbers on the side of your tire informs your Roslyn service center about your tires. The size, speed rating, load index and type of tire to optimize your vehicle’s performance are all located in this code. Here are some examples:

Example: P215/65R15 95H

This isn’t just gibberish, each portion of letters and numbers have a valuable piece of information that helps correctly identify the tires:

Decoding the Letter “P”

Passenger vehicles have the letter “P,” which stands for “P-Metric tire.” If the tires have the letters “LT” at the beginning of the code, this stands for “light truck.” This is intend, as implied, for light-weight pickup trucks. The Euro-metric tire is a European style of coding the tires, and they won’t have a letter preceding the code. They also have different load capacities. 

Decoding the First Set of Numbers “215”

After the letter “P” is the number “215.” This stands for tire width in millimeters from sidewall to sidewall. In this case, the width of the tire is 215 millimeters.

Decoding the Second Set of Numbers: “65”

The aspect ratio code is the number after the forward slash, and is “65” in our example. This is the tire’s height of the cross-section to its width. In this case, the tire has an aspect ratio where the height is equal to 65% of its width. The sidewalls will be bigger with the larger aspect ratio.

Decoding the Next Letter “R”

The “R” is the tire’s construction, with “R” representing that it’s a radial.

Decoding The Next Set of Numbers: “15”

“15” is the wheel size from one end to the other. This informs our Garden City-area experts of what tire can fit on this particular wheel. In this case, the code is for a 15-inch wheel.

Decoding “95H”

The end of the code is “95H,” and this is the load index and speed rating for the tire. The load index (“95”) informs you of how much weight the tire can support when it’s properly inflated, and the range would be from 75-105 for passenger vehicles. “H” represents the speed rating or how fast the tire can safely go based on the load capacity. The rating is from A-Z, and with our example, a tire with an “H” rating can reach a maximum speed of 130 mph.

How to Check Your Tire Pressure 

Now that you know the tire number meaning, learn how to check your tire pressure. No matter what size, your tires are properly taken care of when the tire pressure is at the proper level. It’s simple and easy to check the pressure, and these days, most vehicles have a Tire Pressure Monitoring System that will let you know if your tires aren’t properly inflated. You can easily go to the gas station to top off the air in your tires.

Come Visit Rallye Acura for All Your Vehicle Maintenance 

If you need a new set of tires, brakes, or it’s time for your regularly scheduled oil change, turn to Rallye Acura for everything that you could need! You can schedule your service online or contact us to make an appointment in Roslyn outside of Glen Cove. Check out our service specials to see how you can save money on your next appointment.