How to Read Tire Sidewall Codes
Traditionally, tire sidewalls are full of letters and numbers in no particular order. It seems the only thing a person can make out is the brand name. While they are confusing, these codes hold valuable information you need when picking out a tire.
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Instructions
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1
Look for the letters, "M+S" off on their own on the side of your tire sidewall. This stands for Mud and Snow. This means it is an all season or winter tire. Not every tire will have this distinction, although many do. This rating comes from the tread pattern and what the tire is designed to do.
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2
Find the letters "DOT" on the side of your tire and notice a series of letters and numbers that follow it. This stands for "Department of Transportation" and is a required addition on all tires. This tells people the history of the tire: where and when it was produced, what machine made it and who inspected it. This information is important if there are ever problems because it is possible to trace the problems and find out if it is a manufacturer's mistake.
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3
Seek out a series of numbers followed by the letters "PSI." This stands for "Pounds per Square Inch," also known as tire pressure. This is important when you fill up the air in your tires because it tells you the safest pressure for your tires.
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4
Locate another long number around the base of the tire. This will be a series of letters and numbers as well, but most likely longer than the others you have found. This is the tire number and it is universal for all brands of tires. This is the size your car needs and it is useful when you purchase new tires.
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5
Search for a series of temperatures. This is the range in which it is safe to drive your car.
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ShamrockTire
Sep 18, 2008
the temperatures the tire is designed to withstand while driving, i.e. how hard the tire is driven and heated up during that driving. -
ShamrockTire
Sep 18, 2008
the temperatures the tire is designed to withstand while driving, i.e. how hard the tire is driven and heated up during that driving.
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ShamrockTire
Sep 18, 2008
designed to hold. This maximum pressure allows the tire to be used in a wide variety of vehicle applications. 4) The tire size stamped on the sides of tires is NOT universal for all brands of tires. There are P-Metric, Euro-metric and LT tires for smaller vehicles. There are also sizes that follow a different pattern, such as 31x10.50R15 (vs P235/75R15). It is universal that sizes are stamped on all tires, but the sizes themselves are not universal, and a P-metric tire installed on a vehicle requiring an LT tire can be deadly since the P-metric tire will not carry the same weight as the LT tire of the "same size" (dimensions). 5) There are no lists of temperatures on tires. There is instead a UTQG code which indicates treadware, temperature and traction, such as 420AAA. This temperature has nothing to do with the safety of any vehicle in any particular ambient temperature, rather t
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ShamrockTire
Sep 18, 2008
designed to hold. This maximum pressure allows the tire to be used in a wide variety of vehicle applications. 4) The tire size stamped on the sides of tires is NOT universal for all brands of tires. There are P-Metric, Euro-metric and LT tires for smaller vehicles. There are also sizes that follow a different pattern, such as 31x10.50R15 (vs P235/75R15). It is universal that sizes are stamped on all tires, but the sizes themselves are not universal, and a P-metric tire installed on a vehicle requiring an LT tire can be deadly since the P-metric tire will not carry the same weight as the LT tire of the "same size" (dimensions). 5) There are no lists of temperatures on tires. There is instead a UTQG code which indicates treadware, temperature and traction, such as 420AAA. This temperature has nothing to do with the safety of any vehicle in any particular ambient temperature, rather t
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ShamrockTire
Sep 18, 2008
This article is filled with many, many errors that are potentially dangerous for readers. 1) M&S does mean Mud & Snow, but that does not mean it is a winter tire. A winter tire is specifically designed to be used at temperatures less than 70 degrees F. M&S tires can be used year round. A winter tire may fail in the heat of summer. 2) The DOT information is basically correct in that it identifies where, when and who manufactured the tire. However, it does not identify any "inspector" or any particular machine which manufactured it. 3) The tire pressure stamped on the sidewall of tires IS NOT the safest pressures for any tire in question. The safest pressure for every vehicle is identified by the manufacture on placards posted on the vehicle, most commonly in the driver's door. The tire pressure stamped on the sidewall of every tire identifies the MAXIMUM pressure that tire is des
