Introduction
How Car Tire Sizes Explained?
Tire size can be confusing. Some numbers on the sidewall are listed in millimeters while others are in inches. Also, the exact size of your car, truck or trailer depends on where and how you drive.
How Car Tire Sizes Explained? You can find your original equipment tire size in your owner’s manual or usually on a placard on the driver’s side door jamb. This is the size recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
If you are interested in replacing your tires for a different look or performance, a good place to start are the numbers and other markings on the sides of your existing tires. Next, ask a tire professional to help you determine the tire size range that will best suit your vehicle and driving needs.
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How Car Tire Sizes Explained?
There are several ways to remove plasti dip. Since there will be more or less degradation on each side, there is no way to guarantee the fastest of them.
You’ll be more likely to drown in some sort of removable product. But which substance is better is a matter of debate.
Kerosene is one of the best and has been recommended by many people who have ditched plasti dip in the past.
You can also mix and match the following methods, from kerosene to saying that the alcohol doesn’t work to your satisfaction.
However, avoid physically mixing the ingredients. Make sure all traces of your previous attempt are gone before switching to any of the methods below.
Tire Size Meanings
What do the numbers and symbols on the sidewalk mean and how to interpret them:
A: TIRE TYPE
The first letter of the tire type code tells you what class the tire belongs to.
- P stands for Passenger Vehicle Tires. P-Class tires include cars, SUVs, crossovers, minivans and small pickup trucks.
- LT stands for Light Truck Tire, designed for vehicles capable of carrying heavy loads, trailers, or looking for an extra heavy duty option. They are often equipped with three-quarter or 1-ton trucks and SUVs.
- ST stands for Special Trailer. These tire sizes are for trailers, including fifth wheels and other travel trailers, as well as boat and utility trailers.
If there is no letter before the first number, you have a metric tire, commonly known as the European size. It is also measured in millimeters but its load capacity may be different from a P or LT tire.
B: TIRE WIDTH
Tire width The three-digit number after the letter is the width of the tire in millimeters (aside, looking at the tire head). It can also be called the width of the segment.
C: ASPECT RATIO
Aspect Ratio The forward slash separates the tire’s width number from the two-digit aspect ratio. The larger the aspect ratio, the higher/higher the sidewall of the tire, or “profile” as it is sometimes called.
The aspect ratio is displayed as a percentage on the side of the tire. It is the sidewall height measured from the wheel rim to the top of the tread, expressed as a percentage of the tire’s width.
In this example, the aspect ratio is 65, which means the sidewall is 65 percent longer than the tire is wide. If you want to get the sidewall height of the tire, take the tire width of 215 mm and convert it to inches (8.46). Then multiply that by 65% ​​(.65). This gives you the answer of 5.5, the pavement height in inches.
D: CONSTRUCTION TYPE
Construction Type This one letter tells you about the internal construction of the tire.
- R stands for radial tires, which is the industry standard for most tires today. They have better road grip, lower rolling resistance for better gas mileage, ride comfort and durability as compared to the previous generation tires. In a radial tire, the ply – layers of strong cords made of a mixture of polyester, steel and fabric and coated with rubber – are perpendicular to the direction of travel.
- The D stands for tires that are manufactured with diagonal (crisscross) ply, which are called bias-produced tires.To this they are also called the conventional, X-ply or cross-ply tires. Tell now some motorcycle and the trailer tires still use the internal construction.
Some run-flat tires are identified with an F followed by the type of interior construction.
E: WHEEL DIAMETER
Wheel diameter This two-digit number indicates the diameter of the wheel in inches. This is the distance between the two bead seat areas (where the tire is firmly attached to the wheel).
F: LOAD INDEX
Load Index A two-digit or three-digit number followed by a space indicates the tire load index. The load index symbol indicates how much weight a tire can support, based on the standard chart below. In our example, the load index is 89, which indicates that the tire has a load capacity of 1,279 pounds when inflated to the tire’s maximum air pressure rating.
G: SPEED RATING
Speed ​​Rating The last letter is the tire’s speed rating. It indicates the maximum speed at which it is safe to travel for a continuous period. A tire with a higher speed rating can handle heat better and provide more control at higher speeds. The maximum operating speed of the vehicle does not exceed the minimum speed rating of all the tires on the vehicle. (Of course, you must always follow the speed limit for safe driving.) The speed rating is usually a letter, but not always (see chart).
Tire Size Charts
Below you’ll find several charts to help you understand tire size numbers, including a load index chart and a speed rating chart.
Buying New Wheels or Changing Your Tire Size?
The tire size calculator is a quick way to see if the tire size you’re considering will fit your car, SUV, sports car, light truck or crossover.
But remember that this is just an estimate. It is important that you take into account the size of your vehicle. The wrong size tire can cause some steering wheel drag, rubbing against your vehicle’s suspension or body, low clearance on hills, or a harsh or noisy ride.
If you are considering getting a different tire size fitted for your vehicle, consult a tire specialist. Find out if the tires and wheels you’re looking for are compatible with your vehicle’s suspension, gearing, and bodywork. And ask how any difference in revolutions per mile, tire speed, load index and speed rating will affect your ride quality and vehicle performance.
How Car Tire Sizes Explained?
Conclusion
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