What Do Tire Numbers Mean?

You’ve bought new tires in North Myrtle Beach and seen a string of letters and numbers. Have you ever found yourself asking, ‘What do tire numbers mean?’ Put simply, the numbers and letters indicate what size and type of tire it is, and what performance it accomplishes. Wondering how to decipher the hieroglyphics of tire number meanings once and for all? The tire department at Bell And Bell GMC can help you figure out what tire numbers mean with this simple guide. 

Determining Tire Number Meaning

The tire’s code uses numbers and letters to inform you of the following on the tire:

• The size
• The load index
• The speed rating
• Type of tire needed for maximum performance in Myrtle Beach

To fully answer what tire numbers mean, let’s use an example code:

Tire Number: P215/65R15 95 H 

What do the numbers on this tire mean? Let’s decode to establish the tire number meaning:

“215”

After the “P” (which informs that it’s for passenger vehicles) comes this number, which represents the tire width in millimeters measured from sidewall to sidewall. The width of this tire is 215 millimeters accordingly. 

“65”

A forward slash brings us to the aspect ratio code, here indicated by the number “65”. What does this tire number mean? The tire ratio is the height of the tire’s cross-section in relation to its width; or this tire has an aspect ratio where the height is equal to 65% of the tire’s width. 

“15”

The R before this stands for its tire construction, in this case a radial. This numeral is the wheel’s size measured from one end to the other. The measurement is appropriate 15 inches. 

“95H”

Finally, we get to “95H”, or the load index and speed rating for the tire. The “95” is how much weight the tire can support. The letter “H” indicates the speed rating, which shows how fast the tire can perform without danger based on the load capacity. 

Get Fitted with New Tires at Bell And Bell GMC!

You should now know how to answer ‘what do the numbers on tires mean?’! To make sure your tires are up to date for the roads of Conway, schedule service for a tire appointment today! Don’t let service costs keep you from getting the tire rotations your car needs. Our ‘buy now pay later’ deal makes it easy for you to afford the best tire service near Little River