TIRES AND SIDEWALL INFORMATION

❖ Pneumatic tires are the only means to transfer forces between the road and the vehicle. Tires are
required to produce the forces necessary to control the vehicle, and hence, they are an important
component of a vehicle. Figure (1) illustrates a cross section view of a tire on a rim to show the
dimension parameters that are used to standard tires.

❖ The section height, tire height, or simply height, 𝒉𝑻 , is a

number that must be added to the rim radius to make the
wheel radius.

❖ The section width, or tire width, 𝒘𝑻 , is the widest dimension

of a tire when the tire is not loaded.

Fig 1:Cross section of a tire on a rim to show tire height

and width.

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TIRES AND SIDEWALL INFORMATION
❖ Tires are required to have certain information printed on the tire sidewall. Figure (2) illustrates a side
view of a sample tire to show the important information printed on a tire sidewall.
❖ The codes in Figure (2) are:
➢ [1] Size number.
➢ [2] Maximum allowed inflation pressure.
➢ [3] Type of tire construction.
➢ [4] M&S denotes a tire for mud and snow.
➢ [5] E-Mark is the Europe type approval mark and number.
➢ [6] US Department of Transport (DOT) identification
numbers.
➢ [7] Country of manufacture.
➢ [8] Manufacturers, brand name, or commercial name.
❖ The most important information on the sidewall of a tire is Fig 2:Side view of a tire and the most important
the size number, indicated by [1] . information printed on a tire sidewall.

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THE FORMAT OF THE SIZE NUMBER AND THEIR DEFINITIONS
❖ Figure (3) show the format of the size number as a sample and
their definitions are explained as follows.
❖ [P] Tire type, the first letter indicates the proper type of car that the
tire is made for.
❖ The first letter can be:
➢ [P] stands for passenger car.
➢ [ST] for special trailer,
➢ [T] for temporary, and
➢ [LT] for light truck.
❖ [215] Tire width, this three-number code is the width of the
unloaded tire from sidewall to sidewall measured in [mm].
❖ 60 Aspect ratio. This two-number code is the ratio of the tire
section height to tire width, expressed as a percentage. Aspect ratio
is shown by Fig 3:A sample of a tire size number
𝒉𝑻
𝒔𝑻 = × 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝒘𝑻

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THE FORMAT OF THE SIZE NUMBER AND THEIR DEFINITIONS
Generally speaking, tire aspect ratios range from 35, for race car tires,
to 75 for tires used on utility vehicles.
❖ [R] Tire construction type, the letter R indicates that the tire has a
radial construction.
❖ The first letter can be:
➢ [R] indicates that the tire has a radial construction.
➢ [B] for bias belt or bias ply, and
➢ [D] for diagonal.
❖ [15] Rim diameter, this is a number in [in] to indicate diameter of
the rim that the tire is designed to fit on.
❖ [96] Load rate or load index, many tires come with a service
description at the end of the tire size. The service description is
made of a two-digit number (load index) and a letter (speed
rating). Fig 3:A sample of a tire size number

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THE FORMAT OF THE SIZE NUMBER AND THEIR DEFINITIONS
❖ The load index is a representation of the maximum load each tire
is designed to support. Table(1) shows some of the most common
load indices and their load carrying capacities. The load index is
generally valid for speeds under 210 km/ h (≈ 130 mi/ h).
❖ [H] Speed rate. Speed rate indicates the maximum speed that the
tire can sustain for a ten minute endurance without breaking down.
Table(2) shows the most common speed rate indices and their
meanings.

Fig 3:A sample of a tire size number

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TABLE 1 TABLE 2
Maximum load-carrying capacity tire index.
Maximum speed tire index

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WEIGHT OF A CAR AND LOAD INDEX OF IT’S TIRE
❖ Example 1

• For a car that weighs 2 tons = 2000 kg, we need a tire

with a load index higher than 84. This is because we have
about 500 kg per tire and it is in a load index of 84.

𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑤𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑎𝑟

Weight on one tire =
𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑖𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑎𝑟

2000
Weight on one tire = = 500 kg
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HEIGHT OF A TIRE BASED ON TIRE NUMBERS
❖ Example 2

• A tire has the size number P 205/65R15 94H. The aspect ratio 65 means the height of the tire is equal
to 65% of the tire width. To calculate the tire height in [mm], we should multiply the first number
(205) by the second number (65) and divide by 100.

ℎ𝑇
𝑠𝑇 = × 100
𝑤𝑇

𝑆𝑇 ×𝑤𝑇
ℎ𝑇 =
100
65×205 13325
ℎ𝑇 = = = 133.25 mm
100 100

• This is the tire height from rim to tread.

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TIRE AND RIM WIDTHS
❖ The dimensions of a tire are dependent on the rim on which it is mounted.

➢ For tires with an aspect ratio of 50 and above, the rim width is approximately 70% of the tire’s
width, rounded to the nearest 0.5 in.
• Example 3: a P 255/50R16 tire has a design width of 255mm = 10.04 in however, 70% of 10.04 in is
7.028 in, which rounded to the nearest 0.5 in, is 7 in. Therefore, a P 255/50R16 tire should be
mounted on a 7 × 16 rim.

➢ For tires with aspect ratio 45 and below, the rim width is 85% of the tire’s section width, rounded to
the nearest 0.5 in.
• Example 4: a P 255/45R17 tire with a section width of 255mm = 10.04 in, needs an 8.5 in rim
because 85% of 10.04 in is 8.534 in ≈ 8.5 in. Therefore, a P 255/45R17 tire should be mounted on an
8(1/2) × 17 rim.

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CALCULATING TIRE DIAMETER AND RADIUS
❖ We are able to calculate the overall diameter of a tire using the tire size numbers, by multiplying the
tire width and the aspect ratio, we get the tire height ℎ 𝑇 . Then, we add twice the tire height ℎ 𝑇 to the
rim diameter to determine the tire’s unloaded diameter.
𝑆𝑇 ×𝑤𝑇
• Example 5: ℎ𝑇 =
100
A tire number P 235/75R15 find the tire’s unloaded radius R.
𝐷𝑢𝑛𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑑 = ℎ 𝑇 × 2 + 𝐷𝑟𝑖𝑛
ℎ 𝑇 = 235 × 75% = 176.25mm ≈ 6.94 in 𝐷
𝑅𝑢𝑛𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑑 =
2
𝐷𝑢𝑛𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑑 = 2× 6.94 + 15 = 28.88 in ≈ 733.8 mm
NOTE
1 in = 2.54 cm
𝑅𝑢𝑛𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑑 = 𝐷𝑢𝑛𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑑 /2 = 366.9 mm

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SPEED RATING CODE
❖ Two similar tires are coded as P 235/70HR15 and P 235/70R15 100H, both tires have code
H= 210km/ h for speed rating. However, the second tire can sustain the coded speed only
when it is loaded less than the specified load index, so it states 100H = 800 kg 210km/ h.
❖ Speed ratings generally depend on the type of tire.

➢ Off road vehicles usually use Q-rated tires.

➢ passenger cars usually use R-rated tires for typical
street cars.
➢ T -rated for performance cars.
Table (2) shows Maximum speed tire index.

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TIRE WEIGHT
➢ The average weight of a tire for passenger cars is 10 − 12 kg.
➢ The weight of a tire for light trucks is 14−16 kg, and
➢ The average weight of commercial truck tires is 135 − 180 kg.

EFFECTS OF ASPECT RATIO

➢ A higher aspect ratio provides a softer ride and an increase in deflection under the load of the
vehicle.
➢ However, lower aspect ratio tires are normally used for higher performance vehicles. They
have a wider road contact area and a faster response. This results in less deflection under
load, causing a rougher ride to the vehicle.
➢ Changing to a tire with a different aspect ratio will result in a different contact area, therefore
changing the load capacity of the tire.

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M + S AND SIGNS
❖ The sign "MS“ and "M + S" and "M/S" and "M&S" indicate that the tire has some mud and
snow capability.

❖ When you see this icon on the sidewall of your tire, you can be assured it meets more
stringent winter traction performance requirements and has been rated for “severe snow
service”. This includes snowy, slippery roads and low temperature or freezing roads. Most
all-season tires do not qualify for the Mountain/Snowflake symbol because the tread rubber
in all-season and summer tires become hard at temperatures below 40 F.
❖ Most radial tires have one of these signs.

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U.S. DOT TIRE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
❖ The US tire identification number is in the format "DOT DNZE ABCD 1309." It begins
with the letters DOT to indicate that the tire meets US federal standards. DOT stands for
Department of Transportation. The next two characters, DN, after DOT is the plant code,
which refers to the manufacturer and the factory location at which the tire was made. The
next two characters, ZE, are a letter-number combination that refers to the specific mold
used for forming the tire. It is an internal factory code and is not usually a useful code for
customers. The last four numbers, 1309, represents the week and year the tire was built.
The other numbers, ABCD, are marketing codes used by the manufacturer or at the
manufacturer’s instruction.
• Example 7 : A tire with DOT DNZE ABCD 1309 code find the week and year of
manufacture
o DN is the plant code for Goodyear-Dunlop Tire located in Wittlich, Germany. ZE
is the tire’s mold size, ABCD is the compound structure code, 13 indicates the
13th week of the year, and 09 indicates year 2009. So, the tire is manufactured in
the 13th week of 2009 at Goodyear-Dunlop Tire in Wittlich, Germany.

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LIGHT TRUCK TIRES
❖ The tire sizes for a light truck may be shown in two formats

LT 245/70R16
or
32 × 11.50R16LT

➢ In the first format, LT = light truck, 245 = tire width in

millimeters, 70 = aspect ratio in percent, R = radial structure, and
16 = rim diameter in inches.

➢ In the second format, 32 = tire diameter in inches, 11.50 = tire

width in inches, R = radial structure, 16 = rim diameter in inches,
and LT = light truck.

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