The designation of the tire is applied to its sidewall.
For example, the designation 215/ 50 R17 91V is decrypted as follows:
- 215 – tire width, mm;
- 50 – profile height to width ratio, %;
- R — radial tire;
- 17 - disc diameter in inches;
- 91 – load index (see table. 1);
- V — speed index (tab. 2).
Note. Sometimes, in addition to the load index or instead of it, the permissible load is indicated on the tire - «MAX LOAD 616 KG».
Depending on the type and country of manufacture, additional designations may be applied to the side surface of the tire, giving more detailed information about this model. The following are the most common designations:
- REINFORCED (reinforced) – the tire of the increased loading capacity;
- REGROOVABLE - a tire with the possibility of deepening the pattern by cutting;
- STELL (Steel belted) - a tire with an encircling metal cord;
Note. Sometimes on the sidewall of the tire instead of the designation «Stell» a complete list of materials that make up the individual elements of the tire tread structure can be indicated («Plies tread» – composition of the tread layer).
- TWI (tread wear index) or triangular symbol - indicates the location of the wear indicators.
Wear indicators are made in the form of protrusions inside the tread grooves. After the tread has worn down to the level of these indicators, the tire is considered unserviceable.
The residual tread height must not be less than 1.6 mm;
SAFETY WARNING (for US and Canadian market tires) - text in English explaining some of the features of the safe use of the tire;
- date of manufacture of the tire - consists of four digits, the first two indicate the week, and the last two indicate the year of manufacture (up to 2000 - three digits, the last one of which is the year of manufacture);
- DOT - a symbol of compliance with current safety standards established by the US Department of Transportation;
- E with a number — code of the country that issued the certificate of conformity according to UNECE rules. The following is the identification or serial number of the tire (up to 11 numbers and letters);
- RIM PROTECTOR - an indication of the presence in the tire structure of an element that protects the edge of the disc rim from damage when hitting road obstacles (e.g. on curbs) and when driving with a flat tire.
- ETRTO (The European Tyre and Rim Technical Organization) – Association of European manufacturers of tires and disks, Brussels;
- ECE (Economic Commission for Europe) - United Nations office in Geneva;
- FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) – US safety regulations;
- TUBELESS — tubeless tire design;
- TUBED TIRE — chamber design of the tire;
- SIDEWALL — composition of the sidewall layer;
- ROTATION (arrow) – direction of rotation;
- DA (stamp) – Minor manufacturing defects that do not interfere with normal operation.
For tires with an asymmetric tread pattern, indicate the correct position of the tire on the car:
- LEFT - the tire is installed on the left side of the car;
- RIGHT - the tire is installed on the right side of the car;
- OUTSIDE (Side facing outwards) – the outer side of the installation;
- INSIDE (Side facing inwards) - the inside of the unit.
Often, the tire can be marked with operating conditions, such as:
- M+S (Mud + Snow) – mud and snow;
- R+W (Road + Winter) – road and winter;
- WINTER - winter;
- RAIN - rain;
- WATER or AQUA - water;
- AW (Any weather) - all-weather.
- ALL SEASON NORTH AMERICA (all seasons of North America) and so on. - tires designed for use in specific conditions.
Some manufacturers use icons instead of letters (sun, snowflake, cloud, etc.).
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