Are your car tyres exhausted and worn out completely and you’re looking to replace them? Well, the first thing you should be doing is to identify the correct size of your current car tyres. You can find the manufacturer’s recommended tyre size in the below-listed places:
- Inside the owner’s manual, normally in the specifications section.
- On your car tyre’s sidewalls.
- Look inside the glove box for a sticker that will have the information.
- Look inside the driver’s side door jamb for a sticker containing the information.
Irrespective of where you find your tyre size, the markings will normally remain the same for passenger vehicles. Here, we’ll explain how to interpret your vehicle tyre’s sidewall markings and how you can use it to buy brand new tyre set for your car.
Understanding Sidewall Markings
First, identify the brand & pattern – look at the tyre image below:
All tyres have brand and pattern information on the sidewall. In this example, the brand is Hankook and the pattern is Optimo H724.
Identifying Tyre Size
Width: The tyre is measured in millimetres (mm) from the two widest points – here, its 195mm.
Profile: The tyre’s aspect ratio that’s the sidewall’s height has a percentage of the width, which is 55% in this example image.
Size of the Wheel: Wheel rim’s diameter that the tyre is designed to fit is measured in inches, which is 16-inch in the above example.
Construction: The letter R before the rim diameter stands for Radial construction.
Load Index: A numerical code is linked with the maximum load a tyre can handle when inflated to operating pressure. In the above example, it’s 87 that equal 545 kg in load per tyre.
Speed Category Symbol: This specifies the maximum safe operating speed for the tyre when transporting a load within its load index rating. Here in this example, it’s V that specifies a maximum rated top speed of 240 km/h.
Tyre Pressure: Almost all manufacturers print a maximum inflation pressure on the tyre’s sidewall. Please be informed that this is not the recommended operating pressure for that tyre. If you’re not sure of the right inflation tyre pressure for your vehicle or pressure information is not there, then refer to your tyre placard or label on your vehicle. Alternatively, you can ask an established wheel and tyre dealer near you.
Caution: Some vehicles will have different size for the rear and front tyres, therefore, you need to check both the front and rear tyres without assuming that they are same.
Final Words
There you are! Using this information, you can identify the right size for your car tyres. Do an internet search to find out reputed tyre dealers that deliver to you. When you’re on a tyre dealer’s website, you can put this tyre size information to know the available tyre brands that have the tyre size you’re looking for. Once you get the list, find out what tyre brand provides the utmost value for your money. Next, you can buy online or contact Eagle Tyres, a reputed local tyre shop in Sydney with the identified tyre brands to compare, buy and get it installed on the same day without any hassles.
If you plan to visit Eagle Tyres then you don’t have to understand everything about tyre size, rather, you can drive straight to us, and we’ll check your car tyres and provide you available options, and all you have to do is select your preferred brand tyres and leave rest to us. If we find the wheels also need replacement, then we’ll advise you.
Accordingly, as decided with you, we’ll replace your car’s existing tyres with brand new tyre set that you have chosen (and replace wheels if they are worn out and requires replacement); do the wheel alignment and balancing, and make your car ready, so when you arrive in the evening, you’re all set to go.
