Are Car Tire Sizes Greek To You? Here’s Some Help
Topics: wheels, alloy wheels, tires, custom wheels, vintage wheels
Nobody wants to learn the language of tires, except mechanics. That’s what we pay them to do, get their fingers greasy and fix our cars. When I say we, I mean, your average person. But, could it be that there is something that anybody can learn that would really help them out when they’re looking for tires? Maybe there is a bit of knowledge that can be gleaned from something we look at all the time. I know I learned something.
Normal people, it seems, or at least people like me, just look at the label on the side of the tires already on their cars when they need new tires. I always did so anyway. Then you can compare this name with other tires in the price range and make your choice. It seems simple. But is it wise? If you really know nothing about tires, don’t understand what the label on the side of your existing tires says, then you would never know, would you? I didn’t. In fact, a whole array of available choices in tires is out there, and it’s up to you to pick the right one.
If you look at an average tire label, it will read something like this “P175/50R 14 80Z”. This little series of letters packs quite a lot of information, if you know what you need to do to unpack it. But if you’re clueless, like I was, then it is useless to you. If you are without a clue with regards to understanding tire sizes, then the information that follows will help you.
On any tire label, the first letter tells what sort of vehicle should be using the tire. In our label above, the tire is intended for a passenger car. It breaks down as follows. P is for passenger cars, LT is for light trucks, and T is used to designate your spare, or temporary, tire. The number that immediately follows the first letter is the width of the tire in millimeters. 175, then, means that our example tire is 175 millimeters wide.
After the first number in the label comes a slash and then a second number. This second number tells us the ratio of the height and the width. Our tire has a height which is 50% of the width. It is a general rule of thumb that tires with a lower ratio of height to width are performance tires.
The letter following the ratio of height to width tells us the type of the tire. In our example, the R stands for radial.
Following the type indicator comes the number telling you how much a tire can carry, its load index. In our tire, it is 80. Consulting the Maximum Load-Carrying Capacity chart for this number, as it is indicated on your tire, will tell you exactly how much four tires of the same capacity can safely carry.
The last sign on the label tells you how fast the tire is rated for. Our example tire has a rating of Z, which means that it is rated for speeds of over 150 mph. It’s quite a speedster! The other ratings are S, for up to 112 mph, H, for up to 130, and V, for up to 150 mph. It is imperative that your follow these guidelines and not go faster than your tires are rated, because as you increase your speed, you increase friction. Friction heats up your tires, and as you tires get over heated, their treads can come unglued from their belts, which is never a good position to find yourself in. Speed ratings let you know exactly how fast you can go and not risk your life.
These signs are the most basic things that you need to know about what tires will fit on your car. And see, even you, a normal person, could pick them up. So put them to use!
There are other things to consider when you are choosing tires, such as mileage and weather conditions. Don’t hesitate to ask your dealer about anything in particular you need of your tires, or come across a label sign you don’t understand. They will inform you of what you can get or teach you the new term.
Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach Florida. Find more about this as well as car wheels at www.vintagewheelsplus.com
Previous Articles Highlighter:
Why The Harley Davidson Motorcycle Is More Popular Than Ever Before (1)
There are also a slew of online forums and websites devoted to Harley Davidson. Not even Yamaha, BMW, Victory, or Honda come close to having the same fan base.
Why You Should Always Seek Genuine Mazda Auto Parts (2)
Many people have longed to own one of these beauties. They imagine themselves zipping down a highway at break neck speeds or slowly cruising through town, making sure that everyone sees and admires them.
Why The Mountain Biking Phenomenon Is Growing In Popularity (3)
Many of these races are held on ski slopes during the warmer months. Such competitions demand that the riders have the utmost skill and experience as it can be an extremely dangerous endeavor.
Why Online Tire And Wheel Stores Are Increasingly Popular (4)
You want the width, in a perfect world, to be the same as the tread. This will extend the lives of your tires and give them better support. Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach Florida.
How To Find Auto Parts Treasures Through Auto Parts Recyclers (5)
Truthfully, used car parts will save you money. Obviously it is cheaper than buying brand new car parts, but do you think you'll be getting the same quality? That is something you should be concerned about.
Some Simple Tips To Help You Keep Your Custom Wheels Clean (6)
No matter how you decide what works best for you, there is a consensus among professionals that it is best to work on one tire at a time. This keeps any of the chemical cleaners or polishes from drying on your tires or wheels, which can cause stains or other damages.
How To Find The Best High Performance Tires For Your Car For All Seasons (7)
Turning too quickly is one of the things that wear out all season tires more than anything else, except perhaps skidding to a stop by applying the brakes too abruptly.
Find The Parts You Need For Your Car At Online Auto Parts Stores (8)
The ECS centers on diminishing the amount of smog released by the exhaust. This system can be broken down into two subcategories: elimination, and alteration. This system keeps the smog from forming, and alters the spin-off before the exhaust is discharged into the environment.
Why Keeping Your Tires In Good Shape Helps Protect Your Wallet (9)
You should have your tires rotated twice per year. When you are ready for a replacement tire, make sure that you purchase the right tire for your car. Check your owner's manual for the right size and type.
If You Want To Be Healthier And More Fit You Should Consider Cycling (10)
So you've decided that you're going to get into biking as a way to improve your health. The first thing you need to do is get a bike. If you already have one that you feel is suitable, then feel free to skip this paragraph.
Newer Articles Highlighter:
To Keep Up The Value Of Your Honda You Need Quality Honda Parts (1)
They can offer you headlamps, emissions parts, transmission parts, pumps, hoses, and filters, coolant system parts, engine parts, suspension parts, and more, all at amazingly practical prices. You don't need to go anywhere else but one of the many online automotive stores, for all your Honda parts.
How To Select The Appropriate Custom Wheels For Your SUV (2)
Setting a price range will also limit the amount of choices available to you, which, counter intuitively, is a good thing, since the vast choices available in rims can be very daunting.
Why Bowling Shoes Are A Necessity If You Are Serious About Bowling (3)
Football has its own shoes. There are golf shoes, yachting shoes, skateboarding shoes, ballet shoes, etc. Bowling, of course, is no exception. Anyone who's ever gone bowling has an image in their mind of what bowling shoes are all about.
A Look At Some Of The Different Motorcycle Engines (4)
If your main purpose for riding a motorcycle is riding through traffic and along roads, do not purchase a bike with less than a twin cylinder engine, although a three or four cylinder engine is a better idea.
Why More People Are Getting Into Wilderness Camping (5)
Wilderness camping has many advantages such as having no need to hurry and no schedule to follow. It is a chance to commune with nature in some of the most attractive wilderness camping areas in the nation, many of which are not well-known to the general public.
The Benefits Of Owning And Driving A Truck Or SUV And Get Good Fuel Efficiency With The New Hybrids (6)
That's been changed to ten dollars worth of gas, if you please, and you clean your own windshields and check your own oil. Hopefully you wont drip gas on your clothes or stain your hands when checking the oil level in your car.
Why You Need A Camper Jack If You Own A Camper (7)
These jacks hold up to 2000 pounds. This type of jack is best used for larger campers and for campers that need to be hoisted significantly off the ground in order to attach it to a truck.
Why The Basic Canvas Shoe Is Experiencing A Revitalization In Popularity (8)
You'll appreciate the canvas the first time you get them wet and you see how quickly they dry. A nice feature of canvas shoes which you may not have been aware of is that they are quite excellent for dying.
Some Easy To Implement Ideas To Help You Conserve Gas (9)
Cash is key at the pump. It may not be quite as convenient as the popular paying at the pump option is, but using cash makes the most sense to use when fueling up your car.
How To Find Parts And Accessories For Your Volkswagen Jetta (10)
The Volkswagen Jetta is well known for being the most economically priced of the European sedans in America. This status has remained unchanged even after the release of the 2005 model.
Permalink to Are Car Tire Sizes Greek To You? Here’s Some Help