How To Understand Tyre Markers

Every time you drive your vehicle, you run your tyres. So, they are critical to your driving experience. Thus, you must have as much information as possible on the particular set you are using. So, if you take a look at your tyres, you will find the information you might not have noticed before. For instance, a thorough inspection of the tread will let you know the pattern of tyres. But how can you find out the other vital specifications, such as size, load index and speed rating? For this, once again, you need to glance at your existing set of tyres. Check the sidewalls, and you will find some symbols on the rubber. These are known as tyre markers and contain all the information you need.

This article will learn about tyre markers and all the specifications they indicate. Learning these details about your Nexen Tyres Witham will ensure you are ready to provide them during any emergency. In addition, checking the tyre markers is an excellent way of figuring out whether your tyres are a good fit for your vehicle or not. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s start!

Tyre sizing information:

The size of the tyres you use determines how well they perform on the road. Thus, picking out the correct specifications from the plethora of options available at tyre stores is vital. But how can you distinguish a tyre of one size from that of another? All you need to do is check the sidewall of your tyres. You will find some letters and numbers represented in the following format: 255/55 R-16. Each of these numbers and letters represents a different feature of your tyres. These are as follows.

Here, 255 indicates the width of the tyres from one edge to another. That quantity is measured in millimetres.

The number 55 that follows represents the aspect ratio of the tyre. That means the height of the tyre is 55 per cent of the width.

The letter R stands for radial tyres. That is an indication of the tyre construction. Other variants such as D for diagonal ply and B for bias-ply are also available, although less common.

The final number in the series represents the wheel diameter. So, in this example, a wheel of 16 inches diameter will be a perfect match for this particular tyre.

Load index:

While you will notice the sizing information in almost all tyres, those are not the only markings. You might have another set of digits right beside the sizing data. In general, this will refer to the load index of the tyre. That parameter indicates the amount of weight your vehicle can carry while running that set of tyres. Exceeding this restriction can cause various tyre damages, including blowouts. The load index value corresponds to a particular weight. For instance, if you find the number 105 on the sidewall, the tyre is capable of carrying 925 kilograms.

Speed rating:

When you find the load index, it has another letter or two there with it. These letters indicate the speed rating of the tyres. That means you get an idea of the maximum speed at which you can drive your car on those particular tyres. Typically, the letters look something like this: Q, R, S, T, H, V, VR, W, Y, and ZR. Each of these letters corresponds to a different speed limit. For instance, if you find the letter V besides the load index, your tyres can be run at a maximum speed of 240 kilometres per hour. Above this, your tyres become prone to severe damage and blowouts.

Other markings:

The sizing details, load and speed indices provide most of the necessary information about your tyres. So, if you take a look at them, you will be able to find a similar set in no time. But other than these, there are often some other markers present in the rubber. These include:

1. Manufacturer's name: This one is pretty self-explanatory. The name of the manufacturing brand is present on the rubber, typically in a large font.

2. Manufacturing date: The production date of any time is always important to note. And the same is true for tyres. That lets you know how old your tyres are and when they will need a replacement. That date is in the form of a code, which resembles this format: DOTXXXXXXXX1017. That means this particular was manufactured in the first week of 2017.

3. European ECE approval: Not all tyres are made the same. So, it is necessary to have quality checks in place which ensure your tyres are safe for the road. The European ECE approval indicates the same and mentions it in your tyres. That is done in the form of a code, such as E11. That means a particular tyre received the European ECE approval from the UK.

Final words:

Tyres are vital to your vehicle, and so is having all the information about them. The markers on your Cheap Tyres Witham serve this exact purpose. So, always be on the lookout for them and cross-check before buying!