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Symbols On Car Tires
If you have ever looked at your car tires you have probably noticed that there is quite a bit of writing on them. This is a bunch of print of letters, symbols and words that are usually printed right on the side of the tire’s side wall. Sometimes this print can be hard to see. Some manufacturer’s highlight the print in white so it is easier to read. Others simply leave it looking like Braille.
So what exactly does all of this code on your tires mean? Well first of all you will find one or two letters that tell you the type of vehicle that the tire is best suited for. You might have to rotate the tire a bit to find these. You will find either a P that tells us that the tire is for a passenger vehicle, a T (which stands for temporary) and tells us that the tire is a spare one or a LT, which means that the tire is suited to be affixed to a light truck.
You will also find a three digit number somewhere on the tire (such as 325 which is a common car tire size.) This refers to the tire’s width as the rim of the car determines it. Also you will find the rim size of the car nearby that specifies, in inches, the diameter of the rim.
You will also find the aspect ration of the tire somewhere on its radial side. This number usually is expressed as a percentage and tells you the height of the tire, from the bead to the top of the tread. This is described as a percentage of the tire width. The smaller the aspect ratio, the wider the tire in relation to its height. All car tires have this information, you just may not have noticed it before because it is in small print and because tires just seem to get dirty. They are not exactly the best reading material! The more high performance a tire is the lower the percentage number of the tire will be. Car tires that have an aspect ratio of 75% will not handle as well as car tires that have an aspect ration of 45%. This is because cars with a lesser aspect ratio that is expressed as percentage will have shorter, more squalid wheels, which have the effect of making the vehicle more stable when it comes to steering it. The smaller the aspect ratio of the car tires, the easier the car will be to navigate curves as well.
On the tire you might also find alphabetic symbols that indicate the type of traction that is offered by the tire’s tread. Tire traction is rated AA, A, B or C, with AA being the tire with the most grip. This rating is calculated on the tire's ability to bring a car to a direct stop on wet concrete and asphalt. Obviously if safety is a concern then you will want to choose a tire tread with an AA rating.
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