Tire Designation
The dimensions of a P-metric sized tire are described in its designation as per the following table.
Example: 205/65R1594V
| Designation | Explanation |
|---|---|
| 205 | Tire width in mm |
| 65 | Aspect ratio height (h)/width (w) % |
| R | Construction type, see table below |
| 16 | Rim diameter in inches |
| 94 | Load index, see table below |
| V | Speed rating, see table below |
Construction Type
| Designation | Explanation |
|---|---|
| R | Radial |
| B | Bias-belted |
| D | Diagonal (Bias) |
Load Index
| Code | Max Load kg | Max Load lb |
|---|---|---|
| 91 | 615 | 1353 |
| 93 | 650 | 1430 |
| 94 | 670 | 1474 |
| 95 | 690 | 1518 |
Speed Rating
| Code | Max Speed km/h | Max Speed mph |
|---|---|---|
| Q | 160 | 99 |
| S | 180 | 112 |
| T | 190 | 118 |
| H | 210 | 130 |
| V | 240 | 149 |
| W | 270 | 168 |
| Y | 300 | 186 |
The marking of the tire in the example means:
- 205 - Tire width is 205 mm
- 65 - Aspect Ratio is 65% (height is 65% of width)
- 205 - Tire width is 205 mm
- 16 - The tire is for 16 inch rim
- 94 - Max load is 670 kg (1,474 lb)
- V - Max speed is 240 km/h (149 mph)
There may sometimes be an added marking showing that the tire can handle more load:
- RF - Reinforced
- XL - Extra Load
Winter tires have an extra marking M+S.
Week of Manufacture
The week and year of manufacture is indicated on the tire.
The 2 first digits states the production week and the 2 last digits states the year. The symbol "<" points to the year. The code 02 00< means that the tire is manufactured week 02 year 2000.