Tyre Sidewall Explained
At first glance the lettering on the side of a tyre looks complicated, but, with a quick explanation it all becomes clear. From the lettering you can gain seven pieces of information relating you the exact specification of you tyre. In other words, it tells you anything that you may need to know about the tyre.
Now you might be asking: what are the seven pieces of information? It's a good question and one that we've anticipated. Using the example tyre above, check out the table below for the answer:
| Sidewell Marking | Explanation |
|---|---|
| 205 | Width of the tyre in millimetres |
| 50 | Height of the tyre sidewall as a percentage of the width. In this case 50% of 205mm. Also know as the aspect ratio. |
| R | Radial Construction |
| 15 | The diameter of the tyre's inner rim in inches |
| 91 | Load Capacity of Tyre (See Load Table). In this case its 615kg |
| V | Speed Symbol. Indicates the max. speed for the tyre at full load. In this case 149.1mph. |
| E4 | ECE type approval mark, which demonstrates the tyre has been tested as high quality by the European Regulatory Authorities. All Tyres sold by Blackcircles.com carry this mark. |
What is a Speed Rating?
This is indicated by the speed symbol on the tyre sidewall, and represents the maximum speed that this tyre can sustain at full load. Consult your vehicle manufacturer to check which speed rating your vehicle requires. It is of the utmost importance that you stick to the manufacturer's guidelines. Insurance can be void if you select the incorrect tyre.
| Speed Symbol | Speed (Kph) | Speed (Mph) |
|---|---|---|
Car | ||
| S | 180 | 111.8 |
| T | 190 | 118.1 |
| U | 200 | 124.3 |
| H | 210 | 130.5 |
| V | 240 | 149.1 |
| W | 270 | 167.8 |
| Y | 300 | 186.4 |
| VR | 210+ | 130+ |
| VZ | 240+ | 150+ |
| Speed Symbol | Speed (Kph) | Speed (Mph) |
|---|---|---|
Winter/Reinforced | ||
| Q | 160 | 99.4 |
| R | 170 | 105.6 |
Van | ||
| N | 140 | 87.0 |
| P | 150 | 93.2 |
Truck | ||
| J | 100 | 62.1 |
| K | 110 | 68.4 |
| L | 120 | 74.6 |
| M | 130 | 80.8 |
What is a tyre load rating?
The load capacity of a tyre determines what payload each tyre can carry. It is vital that you check with your manufacturer what capacity should be put on your car. Again in some cases, insurance can be void if you select the incorrect tyres. The following table shows what Index specification can carry.
| Load Index | Load in kg | Load Index | Load in kg | Load Index | Load in kg | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | 265 | 84 | 500 | 106 | 950 | ||
| 63 | 272 | 85 | 515 | 107 | 975 | ||
| 64 | 280 | 86 | 530 | 108 | 1000 | ||
| 65 | 290 | 87 | 545 | 109 | 1030 | ||
| 66 | 300 | 88 | 560 | 110 | 1060 | ||
| 67 | 307 | 89 | 580 | 111 | 1090 | ||
| 68 | 315 | 90 | 600 | 112 | 1120 | ||
| 69 | 325 | 91 | 615 | 113 | 1150 | ||
| 70 | 335 | 92 | 630 | 114 | 1180 | ||
| 71 | 345 | 93 | 650 | 115 | 1215 | ||
| 72 | 355 | 94 | 670 | 116 | 1250 | ||
| 73 | 365 | 95 | 690 | 117 | 1285 | ||
| 74 | 375 | 96 | 710 | 118 | 1320 | ||
| 75 | 387 | 97 | 730 | 119 | 1360 | ||
| 76 | 400 | 98 | 750 | 120 | 1400 | ||
| 77 | 412 | 99 | 775 | 121 | 1450 | ||
| 78 | 425 | 100 | 800 | 122 | 1500 | ||
| 79 | 437 | 101 | 825 | 123 | 1550 | ||
| 80 | 450 | 102 | 850 | 124 | 1600 | ||
| 81 | 462 | 103 | 875 | 125 | 1650 | ||
| 82 | 475 | 104 | 900 | 126 | 1700 | ||
| 83 | 487 | 105 | 925 |
How do I know if my tyres are Trading Standards approved?
Check your tyre for an "E" Number. E.g. E4 0213760. This is an ECE type approval mark and number that shows if the tyre has been tested and passed as high quality by the European regulatory authorities. All tyres sold by Blackcircles.com carry this mark and are therefore of the highest quality.