What Do Tire Numbers Mean?

As you inspect your tires every week or two to see if they are properly inflated, have you ever wondered what that series of letters and numbers mean? It’s not a secret code that unlocks the deepest mysteries of the universe. But it does help your local Golden Valley tire shop determine what type of replacement tires your vehicle requires when it needs new tires!

What do tire numbers mean? The code indicates the size and type of tire it is, its purpose, and what the tire is designed to do. Find out more about what the tire numbers mean from the friendly team at Anderson Ford Kingman thanks to our handy guide!

What Do the Numbers on Tires Mean?

A tire’s code uses a series of letters and numbers to let your Dolan Springs-area service center know the size, load index, speed rating, and type of tire your vehicle needs. The tire shop will match the numbers on your old tires with the numbers on the new tires to make sure you get the right ones. Installing the wrong tires will decrease your fuel economy and handling. You can also find the correct tire size in your owner’s manual and vehicle information center through the vehicle’s touchscreen.

The right tires, on the other hand, give you optimal performance in terms of handling, air inflation, wear, and fuel economy. The correct tires are also vital to the safe operation of your vehicle.

Take this code for example: P215/65R19 95H

While it may seem like gibberish, each section of this sample code represents a piece of information to correctly identify the type of tire you’re looking at.

Decoding “P” for the Tire Number Meaning

The “P” stands for “P-Metric tire.” It also indicates the tire is made for passenger vehicles. If your tire reads “LT,” this stands for “light truck”. Light truck tires are intended for lightweight pickup trucks, such as the Ford F-150 you see on Kingman roads. If the tire does not have a letter preceding the code, it is a European-style tire, or Euro-Metric tire, which has a different load capacity.

Decoding “215” for the Tire Number Meaning

Following the “P” is the number “215”, which shows the tire width in millimeters from sidewall to sidewall. The width for this tire in our example is 215 millimeters or 21.5 centimeters. That equals 8.5 inches, or about as wide as a standard piece of paper.

Wider tires are for heavier-duty vehicles because they can handle higher weight loads per tire by holding more air. Narrower tires could be for subcompact cars. Narrow tires are better for handling in winter or for slippery conditions. Wide tires are great for high-performance vehicles and dry surfaces.

Decoding “65” on Tire Sidewalls

After the forward slash comes the aspect ratio code, as shown by the number “65” in our example number. A tire’s aspect ratio is the height of the tire’s cross-section compared to its width. This tire has an aspect ratio where its height is equal to 65% of the tire’s width. The bigger the aspect ratio, the bigger the sidewalls will be and the taller the overall tire is. Take a look at off-road tires or tires for heavy equipment. Their aspect ratios may look much different compared to ordinary vehicle tires.

Decoding “R” on the Tire Number Meaning

The “R” indicates the tire’s construction based on the steel that reinforces the tire. Every tire on the road today has steel cords embedded in the rubber to strengthen the structure, much like steel-reinforced concrete. Without steel, the tires wouldn’t last as long. The “R” in this example represents a radial pattern for the steel. You might also see “B” for belt or “D” for diagonal. The R, B, or D indicates how the steel cords are arranged among the rubber.

Decoding “19” on Your Tire

The number “19” indicates the wheel size as its diameter. By the wheel we mean the round metal part around which the rubber tire fits. This code tells us that this tire is meant for a 19-inch wheel. Car wheels may range in width from 14 to 20 inches, with some specialty wheels coming in larger sizes. This tire fits on a larger car wheel, or perhaps a high-performance sports car. SUVs and pickup trucks might have wheels 17 to 20 inches wide, while compact cars might have wheels 14 and 15 inches wide.

Decoding “95H” for a Tire Number Meaning

At the end of our example code is “95H,” which highlights the load index and speed rating for the tire. The load index (“95” in this instance) shows the weight the tire can support after it’s inflated all the way to the right pounds per square inch. Typical passenger vehicle tires range from 75 to 105 for their load index. Tire centers have a handy chart they follow when looking at the load index numbers. In this case, a load index of 95 can carry a maximum of 1,521 pounds on a single tire. Multiply that by four tires to get the max weight your car can be, including cargo.

Finally, the “H” represents the speed rating, or how fast the tire can go safely. Speed ratings range from A to Z. An H tire can go up to 130 mph. A Y-rated tire, built for high-performance sports cars, can work up to 186 mph.

How to Check Tire Pressure on Your Vehicle

Regardless of what tires your vehicle needs, they must be inflated properly to get the best handling and most efficient gas mileage. If not inflated correctly, you might have problems on slick roads or the engine might have to work harder to move your vehicle forward along Hackberry streets.

Checking your vehicle’s tire pressure is simple. Most modern, high-tech vehicles have a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). If your vehicle’s tires are over- or under-inflated, the TPMS will alert you. When that happens, head to the nearest gas station to put more air in the tire. If you need new tires, the staff at our tire center can assist you with the right high-quality tires for your ride. New tires can make all the difference in ride quality, too.

You can also check tire pressure with a tire pressure gauge. This simple tool is about the size of a pen and costs a couple of dollars. We suggest keeping one in your glove box to measure your tire pressure in a pinch. The tire pressure gauge can help you inflate your tires to the right level at a gas station.

Need New Tires? Bring Your Vehicle to Kingman

Now you know the answer to the question, “What do tire numbers mean?” If your vehicle is ready for new tires, contact us or call (928) 565-1927. We’re happy to help in any way we can!

Our service center also offers brake service, new parts, oil changes, transmission service, and every type of repair you need. Bring your new or used vehicle to Anderson Ford Kingman for quality service. Schedule a service appointment today.