Tips About Your Car Tires What You Should Know About Your Car Tires

Do you know what is the best tire for your car?

You should consult your car manufacturer to know what are his requirements

Take a look at the tire placard (you can find it on a door edge, or door frame, or owner's manual. There you have speed rating, original tire size and recommended inflation pressures.

If possible, replace all four tires of your car.

Like that you keep optimal car performance. If that is not possible for you, place the new tires on the rear axle of your car. Like that you gain traction on the rear axle and avoid over-steer condition and win on car control.

Tire Size

Usually you can get that information on tire's sidewall. There you find some letters and numbers.

P just means a passenger tire. You can have there also the letter LT for light truck.

Next you have the width of the tire in millimeters, for example 245 means a tire with 245 millimeters width.

After you find the aspect ratio (the height of the sidewall section compared to the width of the tire). 45 means the tire section is 45% as tall as it is wide. The more small is this number more crisp is the tire handling. The bigger the number, the smoother is the ride.

After you have the tire construction. R just means radial construction.

Next is the wheel size designation, the distance across the "doughnut hole". The wheel diameter of the tire must match the diameter size of the rim where he will be mounted. In simple terms if you have a 18" rim you must install 18" diameter tires.

At last you have the Service description, a load index and a speed symbol. The load index number indicates a specific weight carrying capability. The higher the number the bigger load carrying capability. The letter gives you the speed limit of your tire. Just check the following table as reference.

Speed Category

S 180 km/h (112 mph)

T 190 km/h (118 mph)

U 200 km/h (124 mph)

H 210 km/h (130 mph)

V 240 km/h (149 mph)

*W 270 km/h (168 mph)

*Y 300 km/h (186 mph)

Now you already understand what means those numbers on the side of your tires.

For example, P275/40R17 93W means a tire for a passenger car with 275 mm with, 40% height sidewall section, radial construction, diameter 17" load capacity 93 and speed index 270 km/h (168 mph).

Be aware that your replacement tires must have similar construction.

It is dangerous to mix tires. Always use same size and type of tire on all four wheels (unless otherwise specified in user car manual) for optimal performance of your vehicle.

Never mix different types of tires for long time in your car. If you need to do it drive carefully paying special attention to your driving speed.

In winter specially if you live in a place with snow you must use winter/snow tires. Try to apply them to all wheel positions.

Never apply winter/snow tires only to your front wheels. This is true for all passenger cars independently of being two or four wheels driving.