What Do Tire Numbers Mean?

When you look closely at any of your tires you’ll find a combination of numbers and letters on the sidewall. These are tire numbers, and you might be wondering what tire numbers mean. The tire number meaning indicates the size and type of tire, along with its performance rating. When you need new tires in Virginia Beach and need to know which tires to buy, the service department at Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Norfolk can help you understand the tire number meaning and help you get the tires you need.

Tire Number Meaning Breakdown

When you’re learning what the numbers on tires mean, start with the series of letters and numbers on the sidewall. They might look like nonsense but each character and its placement has a specific meaning. Here’s how our Chesapeake service center breaks them down:

Example: P215/65R15 95H

What do these tire numbers mean?

Decoding “P”—Tire Type

The “P” stands for “P-Metric tire,” indicating the tire is meant for a passenger vehicle. Other letters you might see at the beginning of a tire code include:

• LT— light truck
• No letter—Euro-Metric tires, which have different load capacities.

Decoding “215”—Tire Width

“215” stands for tire width in millimeters from sidewall to sidewall. This number will vary depending on the type of tire and vehicle you drive.

Decoding “65”—Aspect Ratio

A forward-slash (/) separates the tire width from the aspect ratio code, which is “65” in this case. The aspect ratio is the percentage of the tire’s height to its width. In this case, the height is 65% the size of the tire’s width. Bigger sidewalls mean a bigger aspect ratio.

Decoding “R”—Construction

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

Decoding “15”—Wheel Size

When you measure from one end of the wheel to the other in inches, you get the wheel size. Which, in this case, is “15” inches.

Decoding “95H”—Load Index and Speed Rating

The load index and speed rating indicate how much weight the tire can support when it’s at its proper inflation. For passenger vehicle tires the number will be between 75-105. In this case, it’s 95. The letter represents the speed rating—how fast the tire can safely go based on its load capacity. The rating system is A-Z. The H rating indicates a maximum speed of 130 mph.

How to Check Tire Pressure

While you only need to know the answer to what tire numbers mean every few years, you should consider your tire pressure once a month. It’s a simple task you can do from your Suffolk driveway. Tire pressure indicates how much air is in the tire. Your owner’s manual will give you the number your tires should be. Most newer vehicles have a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) that lets you know if your tires are under-or over-inflated. A tire gauge is inexpensive, and about the size of an ink pen. It’s a great idea to keep one handy so you can measure your tire pressure once a month or when your TPMS activates.

Turn to Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Norfolk to Keep You Rolling in Norfolk!

At Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Norfolk we’re here to help you stay on top of your car’s maintenance needs, whether it’s an easy DIY task like rotating your tires or finding the right tires to fit your car.