Anyone looking to buy a tire not only has the problem of finding the right tire with the right fuel consumption and the right driving behavior in the wet, but there are also numerous key figures on the tire. Of course you can at Premium tires like the Goodyear Ultra Grip 8 Build on special reserves - but you should know what the “numbers” on the tires mean!
If you need a new set of tires, you need the right size of tire. Many vehicles have several types and sizes of tires. In order to keep an overview here, drivers should take a close look at the key figures on the tires.
Find the right tires - there are two options
If you need a new set of tires, you have two options. You have the opportunity to follow the old set of tires, so simply buy the same set of tires again or you have the opportunity to use a set of tires from another manufacturer. In the latter case, you should remember to stick to the CoC.
Anyone looking for a tire now has the option of following the instructions in a tire catalog and taking the approval for assistance. However, it should be remembered here that in the new approvals, which were introduced around 10 years ago in the year 2005, there is only a recommended tire size and no bound tire size.
This means that vehicle owners do not necessarily have to adhere to this information, but they can also use other tire sizes for the vehicle. However, an agreement should be made with the dealership or a specialist workshop, because not every tire fits every vehicle.
Anyone who decides on a different tire size than the specified must first consult the manufacturer's tire catalog in order to determine which tire sizes are still suitable for the vehicle.
An overview of the individual key figures and what they mean
If you look more closely at your registration certificate, you will find the tire indicators under 15.1 and 15.2. To explain what these numbers mean, we give an example here.
For example, find the label in your approval 155 / 75 R13 81T then you can derive the following characteristics from it. The key figure 155 stands for the tire width of the unloaded tire. The number 75 is a percentage that indicates a ratio between the width and height of the tire.
The R in the formula stands for the construction of the tire, in this case the R is called radial. Tires can also appear in a diagonal construction, in which case there would be a D in the label. In our example, the tire also has a rim size of 13 inches. The 81 in the equation indicates the load capacity index. This in turn gives the carrying capacity that can be applied per tire. The letter behind it in turn informs about the maximum speed that is permitted for this tire. In this case 190 km / h. We have listed the individual classes in the table, whereby this only starts at 130 km / h, as tires under this class make little sense:
| 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 |
| H | 210 km/h |
| V | 240 km/h |
| W | 270 km/h |
| Y | 300 km/h |
| ZR | > 240 km / h |
Additional characters for winter tires
If you need new winter tires, you have to pay attention to additional markings. The winter tire needs a snowflake symbol on the tire. In addition to the snowflake symbol there is an M + S symbol, which stands for mud and snow. It should be noted here that this symbol is not a protected trademark, which means that the M + S symbol does not have to stand for winter tires.
To find a different tire size, you should look in the manufacturer's catalog with the symbols mentioned above. If you have any questions, you can certainly contact your trusted car dealership.