Read A Tire Sidwall
Using a P215/65R15 95H tire size as example:
P: When a tire size begins with a “P”, it signifies the tire is a “P-metric” size that was designed to be fitted on vehicles that are primarily used as passenger cars. This includes cars, minivans, sport utility vehicles and light trucks.
215: 215 indicates this tire is 215 millimeters across from the widest point of its outer sidewall to the widest point of its inner sidewall, when mounted and measured on a specified width wheel.
65R: The 65 indicates that this tire size’s sidewall height (from rim to tread) is 65% of its section width. The measurement is the tire’s section height, and also referred to as the tire’s series, profile or aspect ratio. A letter ”R” identifies the tire’s internal construction as “Radial construction”.
15: 15 indicates that the rim diameter is 15 inches.
95H: At the end of the size represents the tire’s service description. A service description identifies the tire’s load index and speed rating. The first two digits, 95, represent the tire’s load index and are followed by a single letter, 95H, identifying the tire’s speed rating.
Tire Speed-Rating System
The speed-rating system in use today was developed in Europe in response to the need to control the safe performance of tires at standardized speeds. All tires are rated with a speed letter. This indicates the maximum speed that the tire can sustain for a ten minute endurance without coming to pieces and destroying itself, your car, the car next to you and anyone else within a suitable radius at the time.
|
Speed Symbol
|
Max Speed Capability
|
Speed Symbol
|
Max Speed Capability
|
|
Km/h
|
MPH
|
Km/h
|
MPH
|
|
L
|
120
|
75
|
S
|
180
|
113
|
|
M
|
130
|
81
|
T
|
190
|
118
|
|
N
|
140
|
87
|
U
|
200
|
125
|
|
P
|
150
|
95
|
H
|
210
|
130
|
|
Q
|
160
|
100
|
V
|
240
|
150
|
|
R
|
170
|
105
|
W
|
270
|
168
|
|
|
|
Y
|
300
|
186
|
|
|
|
Z
|
240+
|
150+
|
Tire Load Index
|
Load Index
|
Pounds
|
Kilograms
|
|
Load Index
|
Pounds
|
Kilograms
|
|
71
|
761
|
345
|
91
|
1356
|
615
|
|
72
|
783
|
355
|
92
|
1389
|
630
|
|
73
|
805
|
365
|
93
|
1433
|
650
|
|
74
|
827
|
375
|
94
|
1477
|
670
|
|
75
|
853
|
387
|
95
|
1521
|
690
|
|
76
|
882
|
400
|
96
|
1565
|
710
|
|
77
|
908
|
412
|
97
|
1609
|
730
|
|
78
|
937
|
425
|
98
|
1653
|
750
|
|
79
|
963
|
437
|
99
|
1709
|
775
|
|
80
|
992
|
450
|
100
|
1764
|
800
|
|
81
|
1019
|
462
|
101
|
1819
|
825
|
|
82
|
1047
|
475
|
102
|
1874
|
850
|
|
83
|
1074
|
487
|
103
|
1929
|
875
|
|
84
|
1102
|
500
|
104
|
1984
|
900
|
|
85
|
1135
|
515
|
105
|
2039
|
925
|
|
86
|
1168
|
530
|
106
|
2094
|
950
|
|
87
|
1201
|
545
|
107
|
2149
|
975
|
|
88
|
1235
|
560
|
108
|
2205
|
1000
|
|
89
|
1279
|
580
|
109
|
2271
|
1030
|
|
90
|
1323
|
600
|
110
|
2337
|
1060
|
|
