What Do Tire Numbers Mean?

Have you checked your tires and seen all the numbers and letters on the sidewall and wondered: “What do the numbers on tires mean?” These numbers and letters are important codes used to determine what tries your car needs when you need to bring your car in for service to have your tires replaced. The code indicates the tire and wheel size, as well as the type of tire and its use. If you need new tires or are simply curious about what the numbers on tires mean, let Bayer Ford teach you.

Determining Tire Number Meanings

Determining the tire number meanings is simple once you know the formula. This important code informs you and your Comanche service center of the size, load index, speed rating, and type of tire your vehicle needs for maximum performance. Take this code for example:

Example: P215/65R15 95H

While it may seem like gibberish, each section of code represents a piece of information to correctly identify the type of tire it is. So, what do tire numbers mean? Here is an explanation below:

Decoding “P”

The “P” stands for “Passenger-Metric tire,” which means that it is used for passenger vehicles. If your tires read “LT,” this stands for “light truck,” and the tire is intended for lightweight 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.

Decoding “215”

Following the “P” is the “215” number, which stands for tire width in millimeters from sidewall to sidewall. So in our example, the width of this tire is 215 millimeters.

Decoding “65”

After the forward slash comes the aspect ratio code, indicated in our example by “65.” What does aspect ratio mean? A tire’s aspect ratio is the height of the tire’s cross-section or sidewall to its width, so 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.

Decoding “R”

The “R” indicates the tire’s construction, with “R” representing that it’s a radial.

Decoding “15”

“15” indicates the diameter of the wheel that the tire fits. This code tells us that this tire is meant for a 15-inch wheel.

Decoding “95H”

The last number in the code is “95H.” These are the load index and speed rating of the tire. The load index (“95” in this instance) indicates how much weight the tire can support when it’s properly inflated. The load range for passenger vehicles can range from 75-105. “H” represents the speed rating, which is how fast the tire can safely go based on its load capacity. This rating is ranked from A-Z, and with our example, a tire with an “H” rating can reach a maximum speed of 130 mph.

How to Check Tire Pressure

Regardless of the size of your car’s tires, one of the best ways to keep them in good health on Stephenville roads is to keep them properly inflated. Checking your vehicle’s tire pressure is quick and easy. Many late-model vehicles have a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). If your vehicle’s tires are over- or under-inflated, you’ll receive a notification from the TPMS. You can take your vehicle to a gas station to adjust the air pressure in the tires, or we’ll do it for you when you come in for a service visit!

Turn to Bayer Ford for All Your Maintenance Needs

You can trust Ford for any of your vehicle maintenance needs including new tires, brakes, or an oil change as well as minor or major repairs. Our parts department stocks genuine OEM Ford parts and accessories for those DIYers.

Schedule your serviceonline to make an appointment in Comanche. Complete this form by entering your VIN and basic contact information, so our service technicians can best service your Ford. If you have any questions, contact us online.