So, you've wondered all your life what the numbers and letters on tires mean; but you thought better of asking anyone! Additionally, you're not sure whether or not if you've learned this in a prior automotive training class.
Armed with a little information, you can begin to read those numbers and know if a particular tire will handle better in bad weather, or give you a smoother ride.
Here's the Mystery Unveiled in Plain English:
We'll use a make-believe number for the illustration:
P182/59R 15 82H
In the above example, the letter "P" indicates the vehicle is a passenger car. The number "182" is the section width of tire measure in millimeters. The number 59 indicates a tires aspect (this is the section height as a percentage of section width), and reveals that the height of the tire is 59% of the tire's width.
The letter "R" is represents the type of tire. In this case the tire happens to be a radial. The number 15, in inches, is the diameter of the wheel rim. The number 82 indicates the maximum load-carrying capacity; for these numbers you should refer to any relative industry chart. The letter "H" is the speed rating, which indicates the maximum safe speed the tire can carry under "ideal" conditions.
Of course, with every vehicle, you'll find different numbers and letters on the tires. However, with a little practice, you can begin to look at tires the same way as the professionals.
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