Tire Information

How to know the age of the tire?
What is the year of manufacture of my tire? How to read the DOT?

To find out the age or manufacturing date of your tire, you have to read the DOT code stamped on it. DOT=Department of Transportation, informs that the tire complies with US DOT regulations. The code starts with the letters DOT followed by two letters and the number representing the factory where it was produced. Then there are three or four numbers depending on when it was produced:

Tires produced after the year 2000 have a DOT of four numbers, the first two numbers represent the week (remember there are 52 weeks in a year) it was produced and the last two represent the year.

Example: DOT AX 3003
30 is the 30th week of the year. 03 is the year 2003.
Tires before the year 2000 have only 1 digit for the year.

Example: DOT AX 148
14 is the 14th week of the year. 8 is the year 1998

How do I know if my tire is symmetrical or asymmetrical?

To know if the tire has a symmetrical or asymmetrical design, it is easy, just create an imaginary line in the middle of the tread. If the tire is symmetrical, the design will be the same on both sides of the imaginary line, in turn, if the design is not the same, the tire will be asymmetrical.

How do I know in which country my Tire was produced?

All tires must indicate the country where they were produced. On imported tires, the data is normally in English. A tire made in Japan: Made in Japan, if it was made in South Korea: Made in South Korea.

How to read the tire size?

The common measurement in most tires in the world is to present the width, profile and rim.

Example: 175/70R13

175 represents the width of the tire in millimeters, 70 means the height of the tire wall and 70% of the width, so the height would be 122.5 and 13 is the inner diameter of the tire, in this case 13 inches. It is also used to identify which wheel size (in inches) fits that tire. The letter R in the measurement, means that the tire has a radial construction.

How to read measurements with "X" in the measurement? What does the "X" in the tire size mean? Is it in inches?

Yes, these measurements are in inches.

Example: 31x10.5R15

31 is the total tire diameter, 10.5 is the tire width and 15 is the wheel diameter. The letter R means the tire has Radial construction.

What is treadwear number?

This number can vary from 60 to 700, and the higher the number, the higher the mileage will be on the tire. For example, a Treadwear 400 tire should yield twice as much as a Treadwear 200 tire. It is worth remembering that a tire that lasts longer is not always a better tire, because a soft tire that has more grip may last less, but offer better cornering and braking performance.

O que é a letra de "Traction" escrita no Pneu? O que signfica Traction?

É um índice baseado na capacidade do pneu parar um carro no asfalto ou concreto molhado. Não tem nada que ver com a habilidade do pneu fazer curvas. Há quatro categorias de tração, AA , A , B e C , AA sendo o mais alto e C o mais baixo.

What do the letters "Temperature" written on the Tire mean?

The temperature index written on the tire indicates the tire's ability to dissipate heat and how it handles heat buildup. There are three possible indices: A, B and C, A being the best and C the worst. The index only applies to tires correctly inflated according to the pressure value described in the car manual. Inflation, speeding or excess weight causes the tire to heat up more quickly, causing it to wear out prematurely and possibly causing failure in performance.

What is my tire's maximum speed? How do I know the maximum speed of my tire? How to read speed letters on my penu?

To find the maximum speed that you can drive with your tire, you can consult the table where you find all the indexes and respective speeds. You will find one of these letters stamped on your tire after the measurement. Example: in size 215/45R17 100Y, Y is the letter that designates the tire's maximum speed, in this case Y represents 300 km/h in the table.

What is the maximum weight my tire can support? Tire weight index? How to read weight index?

To find out the maximum weight your tire can support, you can also check the load index table. You will find one of these numbers stamped on your tire after the measurement. Example: in size 205/70R16 112S, 112 is the number that designates the maximum weight per tire, in this case 112 represents 1120kg.

How to know if the tire comes with white letters or white wall? I'm on the manufacturer's website, how do I know if the tire size I want has white letters?

In the manufacturer's measurement list, the next letters will appear, see what each one means:

Tire Type with White Letters: OWL: Outlined White Letters, RWL: Raised White Letters, ROWL: Raised Outlined White Letters, ORWL: Outline Raised White Letters, WO: Outlined White Letters

Tire type with black letters: RBL: Raised Black Letters, OBL: Outlined Black Letters, BL: Black Letters

White Wall Tire: WSW: White Side Wall

Black Wall Tire: BSW: Black Side Wall

What raw materials are used in a tire?

- Natural rubber, or polyisoprene is the base used in tires making elastomer
- Styrene-butadiene co-polymer (SBR) is a synthetic rubber that is often replaced by natural rubber, in part based on comparative raw material costs
- Polybutadiene is used in combination with other rubbers due to its properties and low heat build-up
- Halobutyl rubber is used for the inner lining of tubeless tires due to its low air permeability. Halogens provide a bond to the housing which are essentially composed of natural rubber. Bromobutyl is superior to chlorobutyl but more expensive
- Carbon Black constitutes a high percentage of rubber compounds. This gives reinforcement and abrasion resistance.
- Silica, used in conjunction with Carbon Black in high performance tires as a low heat build-up booster
- Sulfur joins rubber molecules in the vulcanization process - Accelerators are complex organic compounds that accelerate vulcanization
- Activators assist vulcanization. The main one is zinc oxide.
- Antioxidants and anti-skinning flanks prevent cracking due to the action of sunlight and ozone
- Textile fabric reinforces the tire casing.

How many years does a tire last? Tire life? What is the lifespan of a tire?

This is a very difficult question to answer, as it depends on many variables such as the brand, model, size, in addition to the conditions of use of the tire. The tracks in Brazil are not very good, making the tires last less than in countries like the United States and European countries. Durability also depends on the vehicle's maintenance conditions, correct calibration and the treadwear index of that model, so each tire has a very different durability compared to others.

What are the biggest dangers to a tire? Situations to avoid? Problems common to a tire? How safe is it to use a tire?

Under-inflation: riding with a flatter tire than indicated, causes the tire to wear out more on the outside, leaving the central area much less worn.

Excessive Inflation: Riding the tire with more air than recommended results in the center area being forced into contact with the road, causing rapid wear to the center and shoulders of the tire.

Alignment Errors: A typical example of wear caused by misalignment on the front wheel is progressive wear from one side. Wear can be felt by running your hand over the tire or observing that one part has more wear than the other.

End of Life: when a tire reaches the end of its life, reaching the minimum legal standard of depth of 1.6 millimeters, it still seems to have a useful life, but it is no longer safe to use it, so it is important to pay attention to the TWI, which indicates wear.

Emergency Braking: An emergency braking maneuver can cause the tires to wear out quickly, causing deformation of the ground contact area.

Objects on the track: can cause considerable damage such as cuts, tears, blisters and deformations.

What does TT mean?

TT stands for Tube Type, which indicates that the tire uses an inner tube. Normally when a tire is TT, the words Tube Type are also stamped. Nowadays there are few tires being produced with TT technology, as it is an old technology that is being replaced by TL.

What does TL mean?

TL stands for Tubeless, which means the tire doesn't use an inner tube. When the tire is of the TL type, the words Tubeless are stamped on the tire.

What do the letters P, LT, ST, T mean in the tire size?

These letters on the tire are part of the international tire classification code, but are optional, so they do not always appear stamped on the tire. Q: Indicates that it is for a passenger car (Passenger Car). LT: Indicates that it is for light truck. ST: Indicates it is for Special Trailer. T: Indicates that it is for temporary use, emergency tire.

Is it common for my tire to make noise? Why is my tire making noise?

Yes. The noise caused by your tire depends a lot on the track and tread pattern. Each tire design makes a different amount of noise.

Is it common for my tire to vibrate? Why does my tire vibrate?

Not. If your tire vibrates, it could be that it is not properly inflated, or you have wheel balance problems. It is important to check the cause, avoiding premature wear.

Is it important to align my tire? Why align my tire?

Misaligned tires cause discomfort when driving, as the vehicle tends to "pull" to the sides, causing the tires to wear out faster and have a shorter life. It can also cause damage to the vehicle's suspension.

Is it common for my tire to vibrate? Why does my tire vibrate?

Not. If your tire vibrates, it could be that it is not properly inflated, or you have wheel balance problems. It is important to check the cause, avoiding premature wear.

Is it important to align my tire? Why align my tire?

Misaligned tires cause discomfort when driving, as the vehicle tends to "pull" to the sides, causing the tires to wear out faster and have a shorter life. It can also cause damage to the vehicle's suspension.

How to find the tire air pressure (inflation)?

You can find the ideal pressure in your vehicle's manual, or on the label that informs the pressure for each tire, usually fixed on the fuel tank cap or on the left front door.

How do I know if my tire is directional? Is there a specific direction to mount my tire on the wheel?

Asymmetrically designed tires do not have a specific direction of direction, so they can be mounted pointing in any direction. Symmetrical and unidirectional tires can only be mounted pointing in one direction.

Tires that can only be used in one direction usually have an arrow stamped on the tire indicating the correct direction to go.

Why is a flat tire dangerous?

Flat tires have smaller than ideal water drainage channels, and therefore do not offer the safety they should on wet roads, which can cause aquaplaning and loss of vehicle control.

How do I know it's time to change my tire? What test can I do to see if my tire is too flat?

To make life easier for drivers, most tires already come with a life indicator, called TWI, which are small rubber bands on the tread, which indicate when the tire has reached the limit.

How do I know if my tire is tubeless, doesn't use an inner tube?

Almost all tires these days are tubeless (they don't use an inner tube) but if you want to be sure look for the word "Tubeless" stamped on your tire.

What is Rim Protection? What is it for?

Tire with rim protector is a tire with a reinforced and thicker wall, which in addition to being more resistant, protects the rim of the wheel, as the tire is a little further out.

What is the maximum load my tire can support? Tire weight index? How to read load index? Tire load index?

To find out the maximum load your tire can support, you can also check the load index chart. You will find one of these numbers printed on your tire after the measurement. Example: in measure 295/75R22.5 149L, 149 is the number that designates the maximum load per tyre, in this case 149 represents 3250kg or 7165lb.

TIRE LOAD INDEX CHART

Load index Kg Pound(lb) Load index Kg Pound(lb) Load index Kg Pound(lb) Load index Kg Pound(lb)
51 195 430 101 825 1819 151 3450 7606 201 14500 31967
52 200 441 102 850 1874 152 3550 7826 202 15000 33069
53 206 454 103 875 1929 153 3650 8047 203 15500 34172
54 212 467 104 900 1984 154 3750 8267 204 16000 35274
55 218 481 105 925 2039 155 3875 8543 205 16500 36376
56 224 494 106 950 2094 156 4000 8818 206 17000 37479
57 230 507 107 975 2150 157 4125 9094 207 17500 38581
58 236 520 108 1000 2205 158 4250 9370 208 18000 39683
59 243 536 109 1030 2271 159 4375 9645 209 18500 40785
60 250 551 110 1060 2337 160 4500 9921 210 19000 41888
61 257 567 111 1090 2403 161 4625 10196 211 19500 42990
62 265 584 112 1120 2469 162 4750 10472 212 20000 44092
63 272 600 113 1150 2535 163 4875 10748 213 20600 45415
64 280 617 114 1180 2601 164 5000 11023 214 21200 46738
65 290 639 115 1215 2679 165 5150 11354 215 21800 48061
66 300 661 116 1250 2756 166 5300 11684 216 22400 49383
67 307 677 117 1285 2833 167 5450 12015 217 23000 50706
68 315 694 118 1320 2910 168 5600 12346 218 23600 52029
69 325 717 119 1360 2998 169 5800 12787 219 24300 53572
70 335 739 120 1400 3086 173 6000 13228 220 25000 55116
71 345 761 121 1450 3197 171 6150 13558 221 25750 56769
72 355 783 122 1500 3307 172 6300 13889 222 26500 58422
73 365 805 123 1550 3417 173 6500 14330 223 27250 60076
74 375 827 124 1600 3527 174 6700 14771 224 28000 61729
75 387 853 125 1650 3638 175 6900 15212 225 29000 63934
76 400 882 126 1700 3748 176 7100 15653 226 30000 66139
77 412 908 127 1750 3858 177 7300 16094 227 30750 67792
78 425 937 128 1800 3968 178 7500 16535 228 31500 69446
79 437 963 129 1850 4079 179 7750 17086 229 32500 71650
80 450 992 130 1900 4189 180 8000 17637 230 33500 73855
81 462 1019 131 1950 4299 181 8250 18188 231 34500 76059
82 475 1047 132 200 441 182 8500 18739 232 35500 78264
83 487 1074 133 2060 4542 183 8750 19290 233 36500 80469
84 500 1102 134 2120 4674 184 9000 19842 234 37500 82673
85 515 1135 135 2180 4806 185 9250 20393 235 38750 85429
86 530 1168 136 2240 4938 186 9500 20944 236 40000 88185
87 545 1202 137 2300 5071 187 9750 21495 237 41250 90941
88 560 1235 138 2360 5203 188 10000 22046 238 42500 93696
89 580 1279 139 2430 5357 189 10300 22708 239 43750 96452
90 600 1323 140 2500 5512 190 10600 23369 240 45000 99208
91 615 1356 141 2575 5677 191 10900 24030 241 46250 101964
92 630 1389 142 2650 5842 192 11200 24692 242 47500 104719
93 650 1433 143 2725 6000 193 11500 25353 243 48750 107475
94 670 1477 144 2800 6173 194 11800 26015 244 50000 110231
95 690 1521 145 2900 6393 195 12150 26786 245 51500 113538
96 710 1565 146 3000 6614 196 12500 27558 246 53000 116845
97 730 1609 147 3075 6779 197 12850 28329 247 54500 120152
98 750 1653 148 3150 6945 198 13200 29101 248 56000 123459
99 775 1709 149 3250 7165 199 13600 29983 249 58000 127868
100 800 1764 150 3350 7385 200 14000 30865 250 60000 132277

TIRE SPEED RATING CHART

Symbol Speed Speed (km/h) Speed (mph)
A1 5 3
A2 10 6
A3 15 9
A4 20 12
A5 25 16
A6 30 19
A8 40 25
B 50 31
C 60 37
D 65 40
E 70 43
F 80 50
G 90 56
J 100 62
K 110 68
L 120 75
M 130 81
N 140 87
P 150 94
Q 160 100
R 170 106
S 180 112
T 190 118
U 200 124
H 210 130
V 240 149
W 270 168
Y 300 186

 

How to convert 32 Inches to CM (32nds to MM)

1/32nds is one part of one inch divided in 32 parts.

So 18/32nds are 18 parts of 1 inch (2,54 cm or 25,4 mm) divided in 32 parts. 18/32nds = 0.563 inch or 14.29 millimeters.

What is cm and what is inch?

What is CM?
A centimetre (international spelling as used by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures; symbol cm) or centimeter (American spelling) is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one hundredth of a metre, centi being the SI prefix for a factor of
1/100. The centimetre was the base unit of length in the now deprecated centimetre–gram–second (CGS) system of units.

Though for many physical quantities, SI prefixes for factors of 103—like milli- and kilo-—are often preferred by technicians, the centimetre remains a practical unit of length for many everyday measurements. A centimetre is approximately the width of the fingernail of an average adult person.

What is Inches?
The inch (abbreviation: in or ″) is a unit of length in the (British) imperial and United States customary systems of measurement. It is equal to ​1⁄36 yard or ​1⁄12 of a foot. Derived from the Roman uncia ("twelfth"), the word inch is also sometimes used to translate similar units in other measurement systems, usually understood as deriving from the width of the human thumb.

Standards for the exact length of an inch have varied in the past, but since the adoption of the international yard during the 1950s and 1960s it has been based on the metric system and defined as exactly 25.4 mm.

Fraction /32"s

 Inch MM
1/32" 0.031 0.79
2/32" 0.063 1.59
3/32" 0.094 2.38
4/32" 0.125 3.18
5/32" 0.156 3.97
6/32" 0.188 4.76
7/32" 0.219 5.56
8/32" 0.250 6.35
9/32" 0.281 7.14
10/32" 0.313 7.94
11/32" 0.344 8.73
12/32" 0.375 9.53
13/32" 0.406 10.32
14/32" 0.438 11.11
15/32" 0.469 11.91
16/32" 0.500 12.70
17/32" 0.531 13.49
18/32" 0.563 14.29
19/32" 0.594 15.08
20/32" 0.625 15.88
21/32" 0.656 16.67
22/32" 0.688 17.46
23/32" 0.719 18.26
24/32" 0.750 19.05
25/32" 0.781 19.84
26/32" 0.813 20.64
27/32" 0.844 21.43
28/32" 0.875 22.23
29/32" 0.906 23.02
30/32" 0.938 23.81
31/32" 0.969 24.61
32/32" 1.000 25.40