For 1990-2009 cars only
Useful information about a tire is molded into the sidewall. The following illustration is an example of a typical P-Metric tire sidewall.
Passenger (P-Metric) Tire
(A) Tire Size : The tire size code is a combination of letters and numbers used to define a particular tire's width, height, aspect ratio, construction type, and service description. See the "Tire Size" illustration later in this section for more detail.
(B) TPC Spec (Tire Performance Criteria Specification) : Original equipment tires designed to specific tire performance criteria have a TPC specification code molded onto the sidewall. TPC specifications meet or exceed all federal safety guidelines.
(C) DOT (Department of Transportation) : The Department of Transportation (DOT) code indicates that the tire is in compliance with the U.S. Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
(D) Tire Identification Number (TIN) : The letters and numbers following DOT code are the Tire Identification Number (TIN). The TIN shows the manufacturer and plant code, tire size, and date the tire was manufactured. The TIN is molded onto both sides of the tire, although only one side may have the date of manufacture.
(E) Tire Ply Material : The type of cord and number of plies in the sidewall and under the tread.
(F) Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG) : Tire manufacturers are required to grade tires based on three performance factors: treadwear, traction, and temperature resistance. For more information, see Uniform Tire Quality Grading .
(G) Maximum Cold Inflation Load Limit : Maximum load that can be carried and the maximum pressure needed to support that load. For information on recommended tire pressure see Inflation - Tire Pressure and Loading the Vehicle .
Tire Size
The following examples show the different parts of a tire size.
Passenger (P-Metric) Tire
(A) Passenger (P-Metric) Tire : The United States version of a metric tire sizing system. The letter P as the first character in the tire size means a passenger vehicle tire engineered to standards set by the U.S. Tire and Rim Association.
(B) Tire Width : The three-digit number indicates the tire section width in millimeters from sidewall to sidewall.
(C) Aspect Ratio : A two-digit number that indicates the tire height-to-width measurements. For example, if the tire size aspect ratio is 75, as shown in item C of the passenger (P-Metric) tire illustration, it would mean that the tire's sidewall is 75 percent as high as it is wide.
(D) Construction Code : A letter code is used to indicate the type of ply construction in the tire. The letter R means radial ply construction; the letter D means diagonal or bias ply construction; and the letter B means belted-bias ply construction.
(E) Rim Diameter : Diameter of the wheel in inches.
(F) Service Description : These characters represent the load index and speed rating of the tire. The load index represents the load carry capacity a tire is certified to carry. The speed rating is the maximum speed a tire is certified to carry a load.
