Shopping for a new set of tires for your Ford car, truck, or SUV? If so, you may be wondering, “What do tire numbers mean?” All tires have a code printed on the sidewall which indicates the size, what type of tire it is, and its particular performance purpose. Learn more about tire number meaning in this guide from the experts at MacPhee Ford in Dartmouth.
If you look at the side of any of the tires on your vehicle, you’ll see a code that consists of letters and numbers. What do the numbers on tires mean? They provide the specifications regarding the type of tire, the size, the load index, and the speed rating. In the following example we’ll break down the tire number meaning:
While it may seem like gibberish, each section of code represents a piece of information to correctly identify the type of tire it is.
The “P” stands for “P-Metric tire,” meaning that it is used for passenger vehicles. If your tires read “LT,” this stands for “light truck,” and the tire is intended for light-weight pickup trucks. If the tire does not have a letter preceding the code, it is a European style tire, or Euro-Metric tire, which has different load capacities.
Following the “P” is the “215” number, which stands for tire width in millimetre sfrom sidewall to sidewall. So in our example, the width of this tire is 215 millimetres.
After the forward-slash comes the aspect ratio code, indicated in our example by “65.” This shows the ratio of the height of the tire’s cross-section to its width. In our example, this tire has an aspect ratio where its height is equal to 65% of the tire’s width. The bigger the aspect ratio, the bigger the sidewalls will be.
The “R” indicates the tire’s construction, with “R” representing that it’s a radial.
“15” indicates the diameter of the wheel from one end to the other in inches or centimetres. This code tells us that this tire is meant for a 15-inch wheel.
At the end of the code is “95H,” which is the load index and speed rating for the tire. The load index indicates how much weight in pounds or kilograms the tire can support when it’s properly inflated. For most passenger vehicles (cars, SUVs and pickup trucks), the load index is between 75 and 100, which is a load limit that the tire can support between 387 and 800 kilograms. “H” represents the speed rating, which is how fast the tire can safely go based on its load capacity. A tire with an “H” rating can reach a maximum speed of 210 km/h.
No matter what size or type of tire is on your vehicle, making sure that they are carrying the correct amount of air is essential to your safety on the roads in and around Halifax and Sackville. New Ford models are equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), which will alert you when your tires are under-or over-inflated. You can top-off the air in the tires at your local Bedford-area gas station or have the certified technicians in the MacPhee Ford Service Centre do it for you when you.
Whether you need to install a new set of tires on your vehicle, or are due for your next tire rotation or wheel alignment, just schedule an appointment online with MacPhee Ford. Our prices are always very competitive, and we offer rotating service specials and coupons to help you save even more! If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact our Service Centre.
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