What do the numbers on the tyre sidewall mean?
You must have often noticed numbers and alphabets on the side wall of your tyres, what do these numbers mean? What do the alphabets stand for and how will they help you making the right tyre choice for your machine? We at CarDekho help you decipher this simple numbering
Firdaus
Published On Sep 18, 2014 16:44 IST
Published OnSep 18, 2014 14:28 IST
Last Updated OnSep 18, 2014 16:44 IST
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Different tyres will have different alpha-numeric combinations depending on their make and purpose. We will focus on everyday use tyres which are seen on most cars.
Suppose the numbers on the tyre read 165/ 65R14 79T. This will be interpreted as
- 165 – this is width of the tyre in millimeters
- 65 – This is height of the tyre side wall and is described in aspect ratio. It represents the height as 65% of the tyre width.
- R – Indicates the construction of the tyre. In this case radial construction
- 14 – This is the inner diameter of the tyre in inches. This is also your wheel size.
- 79 – This is the load capacity of the tyre. There is a set rating that gives the load capacity of the tyre
- T – This is the speed symbol indicating the maximum speed for the tyre at full load. There is a rating chart for the maximum speed that a tyre should be subjected to. If your car tyre has a ‘V’ rating it means it can handle speeds of upto 240kmph, while a ‘U’ rating indicated it can handle speeds of maximum 200kmph.
To know more in detail about the different type of tyres check out the link below
https://www.cardekho.com/tyre-types-guide/different-types-of-tyres.htm
For your assistance, here is the tyre code chart
| Code | km/h | Code | km/h |
| A1 | 5 | L | 120 |
| A2 | 10 | M | 130 |
| A3 | 15 | N | 140 |
| A4 | 20 | P | 150 |
| A5 | 25 | Q | 160 |
| A6 | 30 | R | 170 |
| A7 | 35 | S | 180 |
| A8 | 40 | T | 190 |
| B | 50 | U | 200 |
| C | 60 | H | 210 |
| D | 65 | V | 240 |
| E | 70 | Z | Over 240 |
| F | 80 | W | 270 |
| G | 90 | (W) | Over 270 |
| J | 100 | Y | 300 |
| K | 110 | (Y) | Over 300 |
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<p class="MsoNormal">Firdaus is a true blue nomad and the only lady in the content team. Having dabbled in journalism, PR and TV, she is back to pursuing her first love – automobiles. An avid motorcyclist and car lover, she doesn’t skip any opportunity to ride a motorcycle, nor will you ever find her skipping a MotoGP race. A self professed foodie; this lady has a bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy and is an avid traveler, photographer and blogger. She’s a well know name in the automobile circuit as one of the foremost woman stunter in the country and also as the co-founder of India’s first all women motorcycle club.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In her free time you’ll see her populating her list of ‘restaurants to eat at’ (she has an exhaustive list of more than 130 restaurants in her hometown itself!) or gadgets to buy. Not just an auto buff, Firdaus has a love for make-up as well and is often seen sporting colours similar to the vehicles she rides; Red is her all time favourite. She is also proud of her scale model collection which includes some rare beauties. Mercurial by nature, this lady can handle motorcycles, cars and high heels with equal finesse and charm!</p>Read more
