What Do the Numbers on Tires Mean?

Whether you’ve recently topped off your tires’ air on your Janesville commute or just had to order new ones for your Susanville Ford, you might’ve noticed the strange series of letters and numbers on the sidewall of your tires. You might have even wondered, “What do tire numbers mean?” If this has happened to you, Susanville Ford is here to answer your questions and more!

The numbers and letters on the sidewall of every tire can tell you everything you need to know about that tire — if you know how to read it. In this article, our expert service technicians will walk you through an example tire number step-by-step so you’re ready the next time you need a set of tires. When that time comes, the team at Susanville Ford is here to help you find the set of tires perfect for your Ford.

What Do Tire Numbers Mean?

The best way to answer the question, “What do the numbers on tires mean?” is by breaking down an example:

P215/65R15 95H

While this code may look like gibberish, it provides your Chester service team with everything they need to know to service and replace your tires. Here’s what each of the parts mean:

Tire Number Meaning: Decoding P

There are a few different types of tires in use today, and the beginning of the code tells you what type your car is wearing. The P here stands for P-metric tire, a common type in many passenger vehicles built for a smooth ride and long life. Other types you may see on your Standish drives include LT (light truck tires), ST (special trailer tires), and others. You might even see a tire without a letter at all—that indicates the tire is Euro-metric, which is similar to P-metric but built differently.

Tire Number Meaning: Decoding 215

The first tire number meaning is the tire’s width in millimeters. Our example tire is 215mm wide, or a little under 8 ½ inches.

Tire Number Meaning: Decoding 65

A forward slash separates the width of the tire and its aspect ratio, or the ratio between the tire’s height and its width. The example tire above is 65% as tall (measured from the inside rim to the outside) as it is wide.

Tire Number Meaning: Decoding R

R in a tire code means it’s been radially constructed. There are other types of tire construction you might see, but nowadays, radial construction is by far the most common.

Tire Number Meaning: Decoding 15

Next up is the tire’s rim diameter in inches—in our case, the tire will fit on a 15-inch wheel.

Tire Number Meaning: Decoding 95H

Finally, the 95H on our example tire indicates its load index and speed rating. The load index measures how much weight the tire can support when properly inflated, and the speed rating tells you how fast the tire can safely travel when properly inflated. Our example tire can safely carry up to 1521 pounds at 130 miles per hour.

How Do I Check My Tire Pressure?

Regardless of the tires you drive around Standish, it’s important to keep them properly inflated for your safety and the tire’s longevity. Checking your tire pressure manually is straightforward, but most modern Ford models include a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) that constantly monitors your tires’ inflation and can alert you if something is amiss. If you see the TPMS indicator on your dashboard, it’s time to refill your tires at a gas station or bring your Ford to our service center for inspection and maintenance.

Turn to Susanville Ford for All Your Maintenance Needs!

Now that you can answer the question, “What do tire numbers mean?” you can always call us for more information about your Ford’s tires, maintenance, and more!

Whenever your Ford needs new tires, brake maintenance, or even an oil change, you’re covered for all your service and parts needs here at Susanville Ford! Make a service appointment today to keep your car running at its best for years to come!