Explanation! What do the tire names say?

Reading time 6 Min.

Recently updated on March 14, 2023 at 10:39 am

Different numbers and symbols on the sidewall of each tire provide information about the tire manufacturer, tire type, rim diameter or suitability for winter use. The legal regulations for vehicle tires are regulated by §36 StVZO. Here you can find out what the letters, numbers and symbols on the car tires mean. And also on the subject of rim designations we have made a contribution for you!

more than just brand & type

If, for example, a combination like this can be seen on your tires - 205/50 R 15 91 V - then it has the following meaning:

• 205 stands for the tire width, i.e. 205 mm (20,5 centimeters)
• 50 stands for the percentage ratio of the height to the width of the tire. So it is 50% as high as it is wide. In the case 10,25 centimeters!
• R stands for the designation of the type. "R" stands for Radial tires.
• 15 specifies the rim diameter in inches, i.e. 15 inches (approx. 38 cm)
• 91 indicates the load index of the tires - here 615 kg per tire
• V indicates the speed index and thus indicates the maximum permissible speed, in this case up to 240 km / h
• and in this case it is one Low-profile tires

Other important symbols and numbers

The manufacturer's date can be found in the so-called DOT number, which consists of three blocks with four characters each. The key number in an oval in the third block indicates the date of manufacture (Example: 0100 = 1st week of production in 2000). Retreaded tires are marked separately with different designations such as “R”, “retreaded” or “retreaded”. The retreading date, like the production date of new tires, is indicated with the DOT number. Since 2006, only retreaded tires with an ECE mark / E mark may be sold.

What does the note (Y) on the tire mean? CLICK!

The E-mark is shown as E or e and confirms compliance with the European standard ECE-R 30. For safety reasons, it is advisable to only buy retreaded tires with the E-mark. The letters "TWI" (and/or the manufacturer's logo) are embossed on both sides of the tread at six points around the circumference of the tire, which indicate the wear of the tire with the tread depth. On some tires you will find the designation "tubeless". Incidentally, car tires are almost always “tubeless”. In the case of tires with a special profile, you will find a directional arrow on the tire flank as well as designations such as "rotation" or "direction". These show you the specified running direction, which must be observed when fitting the tires. You can read more about this in our article "Recognize the tire running direction? This is how it works!".

How do you know which tires are suitable?

Lines 1 and 15.1 of the "Registration Certificate Part 15.2" indicate which tire sizes are permitted for the vehicle. The entered tire sizes do not have to correspond 1: 1 with the actually installed tires. However, tire dimensions deviating from the specifications in the registration certificate may only be fitted if another variant is in the CoC papers (Certification of Conformity) or in the manufacturer's series tire catalog. The tire specialist provides information on tested and certified alternatives.

Information on winter tire duty

If you buy winter or all-season tires, look out for the Alpine pictogram symbol. The symbol with a three-pointed mountain and the snowflake has been mandatory for all winter tires since January 2018 and replaces the old M + S symbol. Until September 30, 2024, tires with M + S marking and without the Alpine pictogram symbol will still meet the winter tire requirement. After that, the old name is no longer sufficient. For winter and all-season tires, the speed index can be below the design-related maximum speed (bbH) of the vehicle. The driver must either go through a sticker be informed about the reduced maximum speed in the field of vision or by means of corresponding warnings in the on-board computer. More information can be found in our article "Speed ​​sticker - compulsory in the vehicle?"

Speed ​​classes and permitted maximum speed

A1 5 km / h A2 10 km / h A3 15 km / h A4 20 km / h A5 25 km / h A6 30 km / h A7 35 km / h A8 40 km / h B 50 km / h C 60 km / h D 65 km / h

E 70 km / h F 80 km / h G 90 km / h J 100 km / h K 110 km / h L 120 km / h M 130 km / h N 140 km / h P 150 km / h Q 160 km / h R 170 km / h

S 180 km / h T 190 km / h U 200 km / h H 210 km / h V 240 km / h VR> 210 km / h W 270 km / h ZR> 240 km / h Y 300 km / h (Y) <300km/h

Load index - overview

• Tire marking are in the registration certificate part 1 (lines 15.1 and 15.2, but is only entered Size combination)
• further possible sizes are in the CoC document (Certification of Conformity) under point “32. Tire of the wheels ”and / or“ 50. Remarks"
• Information on the tire flank stipulated by §36 StVZO
  - e.g. tire width / cross-section width in millimeters
• Height-width ratio indicates the ratio of tire height to tire width in percent
• Tire design with R for radial (tires with radially arranged carcass threads), diagonal tires are marked with a D (only permitted for classic cars), R and F are run-flat or run-flat tires
• Rim diameter is indicated with the first number after the first letter
• Load index / load index / load index is marked with the abbreviation LI (load index indicates the load capacity of the tire at 2,5 bar - see table above)
• Speed ​​index / speed index / speed symbol  (Abbreviation GSY) is the last letter in the row, it indicates the maximum speed
• Directional binding is often only stamped / specified on tires with a special tread pattern, is marked with rotation, direction of rotation, direction and a direction arrow
• Tubeless stands for "tubeless" tires
• Winter tires / all-season tires have been marked with the "Alpine" symbol since 2018 (triangular mountain pictogram with a snowflake in the middle), M + S mark still applies to old tires until September 30, 2024
• Winter and all-season tires are marked with M + S and / or the Alpine pictogram symbol, speed index "may" be below the design-related maximum speed (bbH)
• Wear indicator (Treadwear Indicator / TWI) is embossed in 6 places on the tire circumference on both sides of the tread in the form of letters "TWI" (or company logo)
• Production date, "DOT number", "E" certification mark
  - Complete DOT number consists of 3 blocks with 4 characters each (date of manufacture is the third block of digits)
  - the first 2 digits show the week of production
  - the last 2 digits show the year of manufacture
• Emergency bikes as a makeshift with usually a maximum of 80 km / h, emergency wheels and the dimensions are rarely entered in the vehicle documents, similar dimensions to the standard tires, index T (temporary use only), air pressure must be 4,2 bar
• retreaded tires are marked with an R (retreaded, retreaded, retreaded

Info: What is the truth of the rumor that nitrogen in tires is much better than air? We did some research. More information on the topic Tubes is there in our little one Tire ABC!

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