The Complete Guide on Reading Tires (with pictures)

TIRE SIZE

Let's start with this large tire, and look at its size. This has an uncommon size as it is in standard instead of metric. This is how to read a standard tire size, which is becoming much less common.

Now let's look at this other tire size, written in metric, which is much more common.

It's not just a metric conversion; the numbers are telling you different information.

What is the aspect ratio? In this specific tire, the aspect ratio is 70, which means the sidewall is as tall as 70% of the tire width. So in this case, the tire is 265mm wide, 70% of that would be around 186mm, so the tire sidewall is 186mm.

DATE CODES AND DOT CODES

This is typically going to be the second most important number to be looking at.

The DOT Code contains the date code, if yours is missing the last 4 digits (the date code), scroll down, we get into that.

DOT: Department of Transportation (just indicating this is the DOT code)

1BF: Every tire factory is assigned a code to be stamped on every tire they produce; this is that code.

P6 AT11: This is an internal number for the manufacturer; it really only means anything to DOT and the manufacturer, like BFGoodrich or Goodyear.

1023: This is the date code, which is split into two numbers. "23" means it was made in 2023, and "10" means it was made in the 10th week of that year, so this tire was made in the 10th week of 2023.

MISSING DATE CODE?

If your DOT code looks like this, there is an annoying solution.

It's on the back.

DOT codes only contain the date code on one side. If your outer side is missing the date code, it is likely stamped on the back of the tire with another DOT code.

TRACTION AND TEMPERATURE

Here we see theTreadwear, Traction, and Temperature Rating; this tire got a "440", "A", and "B" respectively. Let's see what that means.

Treadwear Rating is a rating for how the tire will wear over time, relatively.

1. 800+ - Over 100,000 miles

2. 600/800 - 80,000 miles

3. 500 - 75,000 miles

4. 400 - 60,000 miles

5. 300 - 45,000 miles

6. 200 - 30,000 miles

7. 100 - 15,000 miles

Rating 100 is the baseline rating; the rest of the ratings are that many times better than the baseline tire. 200 is 2x better than 100, 400 is 4x better than 100, etc.

Traction Rating is how well the tire can stop its respective vehicle in wet conditions.

1. AA - Highest rating

2. A - Excellent rating

3. B - Acceptable rating

4. C - Lowest legal rating

Temperature Rating is how well the tire can perform heat dissipation under load/speed.

1. A - Highest rating

2. B - Decent rating

3. C - Standard rating (not for use with hauling or speed)

SPEED AND WEIGHT RATING

This tire has an 108 R rating, let's dive in.

Weight Rating is the rating of how much weight a tire can safely carry in safe conditions. Here are some common weight ratings and their safe maximum load.

1. 130 - 4,188lbs

2. 125 - 3,638lbs

3. 120 - 3,086lbs

4. 115 - 2,679lbs

5. 110 - 2,337lbs

6. 108 - 2,205lbs

7. 100 - 1,764lbs

8. 95 - 1,521lbs

9. 90 - 1,323lbs

10. 85 - 1,135lbs

11. 80 - 992lbs

12. 70 - 739lbs

    
    

Speed Rating is the rating of how fast the tire can safely spin. Here are some common ratings and their maximum speeds.

1. Y - 186mph

2. W - 168mph

3. V - 149mph

4. H - 130mph

5. T - 118mph

6. S - 112mph

7. R - 106mph

8. Q - 99mph

9. P - 93mph

10. N - 87mph

11. M - 81mph

12. L - 75mph

    
    
    
    

The tire will possibly have the speed and weight rating in this context, as well/instead with the pressure recommendation to achieve this rating.

LOAD RANGE

This tire has a Load Range rating of C, let's dive into what that means.

Load Range rating puts the tire in a specific category for a specific use. In this case, Load Range C puts the tire in the use of light duty trucks and light hauling. Here are some common Load Range ratings.

1. G - Commercial and RV

2. F - Heavy-duty commercial trucks and heavy towing

3. E - Heavy-duty trucks and heavy hauling/towing

4. D - 3/4 trucks and moderate towing

5. C - Light-duty trucks and light hauling/towing

6. B - Passenger and light loads

PLY RATING

This tire has a ply rating of PR6, let's dive into what that means.

Ply rating used to mean the actual amount of layers the tire was made with, now it is just a rating based on the same strength. For example, this tire, PR6, means it has a 6 ply rating, not actually 6 ply but has the same strength of a 6 ply tire.

1. PR4 - 4 ply strength

2. PR6 - 6 ply strength

3. PR8 - 8 ply strength

4. PR10 - 10 ply strength

5. and so on..

   
   
   
   

The "PR" is to indicate it is just a rating and not the actual amount of layers of material.

Most tires will have this visible, which shows how the tire is built and what is made out of.