What do the letters and numbers on tires represent?
2 Answers
Taking 225/50/R18 as an example, it means the tire has a cross-sectional width of 225mm, an aspect ratio of 50%, R stands for radial tire, and a diameter of 18 inches. The introduction to tire specification locations and viewing methods is as follows: Tire specification locations: The original tire size of a car can be found in the owner's manual, on the border of the left front door, on the storage compartment door, or on the fuel tank cap. The tire specification information can also be found on the sidewall of the existing tire. Tire performance: Tires are one of the important components of a car, directly contacting the road surface to ensure good ride comfort and smooth driving performance. They also ensure good adhesion between the wheels and the road surface, thereby improving the car's traction, braking, and off-road capability.
The string of letters and numbers on tires actually holds significant meaning. The most common is the size marking, such as 225/50R17. Here, 225 represents the tread width of 225 millimeters, the 50 after the slash is the aspect ratio, meaning the sidewall height is 50% of the tread width. R stands for radial construction, and 17 corresponds to a wheel size of 17 inches. These parameters affect vehicle handling and fuel consumption—wider tires offer stability but consume more fuel, while narrower tires save fuel but have less grip. The load index and speed rating that follow are also crucial. For instance, in 95V, 95 indicates a maximum load capacity of 690 kilograms per tire, and V means the tire can handle speeds up to 240 km/h. Experienced drivers pay close attention to these parameters when choosing tires, as getting them wrong can compromise safety.
