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United Tire and Service News

How To Read Tire Sizes

8/2/2021 4:15:00 PM | (2015) View Count | Return
Did you know that your tires have sizes? They aren't a one-size-fits all part, and it's important to pay attention. If tire sizes were as easy to read as shoe sizes, there would be no issue - but unfortunately, it's a little more complicated. Tire sizes can be a bit intimidating if you don't know what you're looking at. There is a long combination of numbers and letters, which all refer to a specific measurement of the tire. 
 
First things first, you can find the tire sizing information printed on the sidewall of your tire tread. That series of numbers and letters is an indicator of the size, type, and performance level of that tire. 
 
tire type

Tire Type

The first letter of that sequence indicates the type of tire you’re dealing with. If the first letter of the sequence is a “P” that means you’re dealing with a tire intended for Passenger vehicles. If you see the letters “LT”, that means you’re working with a tire designed for Light Trucks. The type of tire intended for the type of vehicle is important to understand for safety and performance purposes. You can shop tires by vehicle online with us to get a better understanding of what type you need.
 
 
 
tire width
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Tire Width

The second three numbers indicate the width of the tire measured in millimeters from sidewall to sidewall. The width of tires varies from type to type depending on performance indicators. 

 

tire aspect ratio

 
 
 
 

Aspect Ratio

The next set of numbers listed refers to your tire’s aspect ratio, or the ratio of height to width. For example, in a size P215/65 R15 tire, the 65 means that the height is

equal to 65% of the tire's width. The bigger the aspect ratio, the bigger the tire's sidewall will be.
 
 
tire construction
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Construction

The second letter in the sequence indicates the construction type of the tire. For example, if your tire has the letter “R”, it means that the various layers in your tire run Radially across the tire. 

 

tire wheel diameter
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Wheel Diameter

Following the second letter is another pair of numbers that indicates the wheel diameter of the tire, or the size of the wheel measured from one end to the other. It illustrates the size of the wheel that the tire is intended to fit. So, a size P215/65 R15 tire is made for a wheel with a 15" diameter. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Contact The United Tire Team 

 
If you have any questions about tire size or type that is best for your vehicle, you can call any one of our conveniently located United Tire & Service shops, and a member of our team will gladly help you make the best decision for your financial and driving needs. You can also schedule your next auto repair or tire installation appointment by calling or going online to schedule your service. Thank you for trusting the team at United Tire & Service with your auto repair and tire replacement needs in Pennsylvania. 
 
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Tires, tirefacts, Tiresafety

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Auto Repair 101

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