What does 97w tire mean?

[LeMatthew]

Here is the relevant introduction about 97w tires: Introduction 1: The 97 in tire 97w represents the load index of the car tire. Introduction 2: 97 means that the car tire can bear a weight of 730kg. If this specified value is exceeded, the car tire may experience a blowout. The w represents the maximum speed of the tire, with w indicating a maximum speed of 270km/h. The relevant introduction about car tires is as follows: Introduction 1: Car tires are one of the important components of a car. They directly contact the road surface and work together with the car suspension to mitigate the shocks encountered during driving, ensuring good ride comfort and smooth driving. Introduction 2: They ensure good adhesion between the wheels and the road surface, improving the car's traction, braking, and passability, and bear the weight of the car. The important role that tires play in cars is increasingly being recognized by people.

[Dante]

The code 97W refers to two key parameters of a tire. The number 97 is the load index, which translates to a maximum load capacity of 730 kg per tire. Don’t underestimate this figure—the combined load capacity of all four tires directly affects how many passengers you can carry and how much cargo you can fit in the trunk. The letter W is the speed rating, indicating that the tire is designed for speeds up to 270 km/h. Last time, my buddy made a mistake when replacing his car’s tires. His sedan originally had 94V tires, but he opted for larger rims with 101Y tires, and the steering wheel ended up shaking like a massage chair. Currently, most passenger car tires on the market have load indices ranging from 90 to 100, and speed ratings of H (210 km/h) or V (240 km/h) are sufficient. When replacing tires, always check the factory parameter sticker on the door frame—mismatched parameters can even cause you to fail the annual inspection.

[LePatrick]

Last time when changing tires, the mechanic pointed at the sidewall marking 97W and explained to me: 97 represents the load capacity, which converts to 730 kg. Multiply this number by 4 to see if it can cover your vehicle's weight when fully loaded. W indicates the tire can withstand speeds up to 270 km/h, sounds impressive right? But ordinary family cars don't need such a high speed rating at all. In fact, it might reduce comfort due to the tire's overly rigid structure. Like my family's SUV, it came factory-fitted with 102H tires - H rating's 210 km/h is more than sufficient. One more thing to remind you: you can also find the production date code on the tire sidewall, for example 2523 means the 25th week of 2023. If the tires have been in storage for over three years, even if the tread depth looks good, it's better not to use them. Rubber aging is no joke.

[VanColeman]

The 97W marking on the tire is directly related to safety. The load index 97 corresponds to 730 kg, while tires for mid-size cars like the Civic typically fall in the 92-95 range. W indicates the tire structure is reinforced to withstand high-speed friction up to 270 km/h, though higher speed ratings usually mean louder road noise. The other day, I helped a novice neighbor choose tires and found that within the same brand and size, just one step up in speed rating (from V to W) cost 200 yuan more. In reality, with China's highway speed limit at 120 km/h, standard H or V-rated tires are perfectly adequate. The key is to check the recommended parameters in the vehicle's user manual - never just look at the size. Once I saw someone buy cheaper tires with insufficient load index, and they developed bulges after hitting a bump on the highway.