ASE Certified Master Techs
Tires sidewall information
- Service/Tire Type
- Designates the type of vehicle the tire is designed to fit: passenger (P), light truck (LT), temporary spare (T), and special trailers (ST). No letter indicates that the tire is euro-metric.
- Tire Width
- Indicates the width or thickness of the tire in millimeters. Measured from the widest point of a tire’s sidewall to the widest point of its inner sidewall. Also known as Section Width.
- Aspect Ratio
- Identifies the relationship between the tire’s sidewall height and the tire’s width. A lower ratio means a smaller sidewall height, better cornering, and a rougher ride.
- Construction
- Refers to the tire’s internal construction. Nearly every tire on the road has a radial construction, which means the cords of the carcass plies inside the tire radiate directly across one side of the tire to the other. Other letters are D (diagonal) and B (belted).
- Rim/Wheel Diameter
- Indicates the diameter of the rim/wheel the tire is designed to fit.
- Load Index
- Refers to the weight a tire can carry at its maximum rate of inflation. The number corresponds to a load capacity found on a load index chart.
- Speed Rating
- Designates the maximum safe speed at which the tire is designed to carry a load under certain conditions. The range of speed ratings is from A (lowest) to Y (highest), with the only exception being that H falls between U and V. Surpassing the lawful speed limit is not recommended.
SPEED RATING
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