What Do the Numbers on Tires Mean?

What Do Tire Numbers Mean for Your Vehicle?

Tire number meanings show Bellevue service centers the size, load index, speed rating, and type of tire your vehicle needs for the best results. 

For our example, look at this series of letters and numbers:

P245/60R20 95H

These tire number meanings tell anyone looking at them the kind of tire they have. We’ll go over these letters and numbers in much more detail here.

What Do Tire Numbers Mean: “P” on the Tire Number Series

The “P” stands for “P-Metric tire” because it’s used for passenger vehicles, such as sedans, coupes, SUVs, crossovers, minivans, and smaller pickup trucks. If your tire numbers start with “LT,” this stands for “light truck,” and the tire works best for bigger pickup trucks. If the tire does not have a letter preceding the code, it’s typically for European tires.

What Do Tire Numbers Mean: “245” 

Next is the “245,” which shows the width of the tire in millimeters. The number 245 would be 245 millimeters or 24.5 centimeters. That equals about 9.6 inches.

What Do the Numbers on Tires Mean: “60”

After the forward slash, you see the number “60” on the tire. This shows the height of the sidewall as compared to its width, a figure known as the aspect ratio. The height of this tire is 60% of the tire’s width. The bigger the aspect ratio, the taller the tire will be.

What Do the Numbers on Tires Mean: “R”

The “R” indicates the tire’s construction, and the “R” for the tire number, meaning it’s a radial. You might also see “B” for the belt and “D” for the diagonal. This indicates the layout of the steel embedded in the tire’s rubber.

What Do the Numbers on Tires Mean: “20”

The number “20” indicates the wheel size as its diameter from one end to the other when measured through the exact center. The wheel is the round metal part around which the rubber tire fits. With 20, the wheel is 20 inches wide, usually for an SUV or pickup truck. Car wheels may range in width from 14 to 20 inches, with some specialty wheels going larger.

Tire Number Meaning: “95H”

At the end of the code is “95H,” or the load index and speed rating for the tire. The load index (“95”) indicates the weight the tire can support at optimal inflation. Typical passenger vehicle load indices go from 75-105. 

The “H” represents the maximum speed the tire can go. Speed ratings range from A to Z. An H tire can reach 130 mph.

How to Check Tire Pressure on Your Vehicle’s Tires

Every tire must be inflated properly to get the best handling on Council Bluffs, IA roads. Checking your vehicle’s tire pressure is simple with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). If your vehicle’s tires are over or under-inflated, you’ll see it on your TPMS. When that happens, fill the tire up with air.

Tire Service in Bellevue

Does your new vehicle need its first tire rotation? Or does your used vehicle require a set of new tires at 50,000 miles? Contact us, call (402) 685-9270, or schedule an appointment with our team. We’re happy to help in any way we can!