What Do the Numbers on Tires Mean?

Is your new or pre-owned Kia vehicle needing fresh tires? You’re more than welcome to order a new set from our Boise Parts Center. However, you’ve most likely seen an esoteric combination of letters and numbers on your tire’s sidewall. You may have even asked yourself, “What do the numbers on tires mean?”

The meaning of these tire numbers indicates the size and tire type, as it relates to its projected performance on Nampa roads. Find out more about what tire numbers mean with the service experts below.

What Do Tire Numbers Mean?

A tire’s code comprises specific numbers and letters that represent certain details about the tire. Your tire number’s meaning could indicate the type, speed rating, load index, and size your car, truck, or SUV requires for optimal performance on Caldwell roads. We’ve broken down a tire code for your convenience:

• P215/65R15 95H

Does this seem like a bunch of nonsense? Alas! Each portion of this code stands for a piece of information that lets you know what type of tire it is:

• Decoding “P”: The “P” stands for “P-Metric tire,” meaning that it is used for passenger vehicles. If your tires read “LT,” this stands for “light truck,” and the tire is intended for lightweight pickup trucks. If the tire does not have a letter preceding the code, it is a European-style tire, or Euro-Metric tire, which has different load capacities.
• Decoding “215”: Following the “P” is the “215” number, which stands for tire width in millimeters from sidewall to sidewall. So in our example, the width of this tire is 215 millimeters.
• Decoding “65”: After the forward slash comes the aspect ratio code, indicated in our example by “65.” A tire’s ratio is the height of the tire’s cross-section to its width, so in our example, this tire has an aspect ratio where its height is equal to 65% of the tire’s width. The bigger the aspect ratio, the bigger the sidewalls will be.
• Decoding “R”: The “R” indicates the tire’s construction, with “R” representing that it’s a radial.
• Decoding “15”: “15” indicates the wheel size from one end to the other, which informs us of what tire can fit on this particular wheel. This code tells us that this tire is meant for a 15-inch wheel.
• Decoding “95H”: At the end of the code is “95H,” which is the load index and speed rating for the tire. The load index (“95” in this instance) indicates how much weight the tire can support when it’s properly inflated and can range from 75-105 for passenger vehicles. “H” represents the speed rating, which is how fast the tire can safely go based on its load capacity. This rating is ranked from A-Z, and with our example, a tire with an “H” rating can reach a maximum speed of 130 mph.

Get Your Tires Changed at Dennis Dillon Kia

There’s no better place to go for new tires in the Meridian area than Dennis Dillon Kia! Simply reach out to us at Dennis Dillon Kia to explore our available stock. Just make sure you take a look at our current service specials before you commit to purchasing either online or in person!