How to read a tyre

How to read a tyre sidewall

*Maximum load corresponding to the Load Index (LI)

215: Tyre width in millimetres.
60: Tyre aspect ratio. Ratio of height to section width.
R: Construction = Radial
17: Internal diameter in inches.
100: Load Index. The load index is a code showing the maximum load a tyre can carry at the recommended pressure.*
T: Speed Index. The speed symbol indicates the maximum speed of use under service condition specified by the tyre manufacturer.

LI	lbs	kg
71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80	761 783 805 827 853 882 908 937 963 992	345 355 365 375 387 400 412 425 437 450

LI	lbs	kg
81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90	1019 1047 1074 1102 1135 1168 1201 1235 1279 1323	462 475 487 500 515 530 545 560 580 600

LI	lbs	kg
91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100	1356 1389 1433 1477 1521 1565 1609 1653 1709 1764	615 630 650 670 690 710 730 750 775 800

LI	lbs	kg
101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110	1819 1874 1929 1984 2039 2094 2149 2205 2271 2337	825 850 875 900 925 950 975 1000 1030 1060

Please note that some of these markings are not always used: for example, the 'M+S' marking is solely used for winter tyres.

Brand name: e.g. KORMORAN
Tyre Range name: e.g. Ultra High Performance
3PMSF: Sidewall symbol of tyres for use in severe snow conditions. Tyres with the '3 Peaks mountain Snow Flake' marking have been tested and offer snow performances confirmed by regulatory snow tests.

M+S: Tyres with Mud & Snow marking are snow tyres according to European rulings, the snow performance under winter conditions have not been subject to testing.

Tubeless: This indicates that this tyre does not require an inner tube.
Manufacturing information: Tyre Identification Number (TIN) is composed of 8 to 12 digits, please read further for the detailed explanation.

European regulation marking: The 'E' and 'e' markings with the approval numbers marks the compliance with ECE 30 ruling and 2001/43 EC directive and tests associated.
These markings are mandatory for commercialization in EEC countries.

INMETRO: The INMETRO marking with approval number marks the compliance with Brasil’s regulations and associated approval tests.
These markings are mandatory for commercialization in Brazil.

NOM: The NOM marking marks the compliance with Mexican regulation and associated approval tests. This marking is mandatory for commercialization in Mexico.

Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG)
UTQG was established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to test tyres following government prescribed test methods.
- Tread wear:
  Grades are based on actual road use A grade of 100 would indicate that the tyre tread would last as long as the reference CMT tyre, 200 would indicate the tread would last twice as long, 300 would indicate three times as long, etc.
- Traction:
  Grades are based on the tyre's straight line wet coefficient of traction. The UTQG traction test does not evaluate dry braking, dry cornering, wet cornering, or high speed hydroplaning resistance.
  Traction grades are AA, A, B and C (with AA being the highest grade). Any tyre rated under C is considered unacceptable for road travel.
- Temperature (Resistance):
  Grade indicates the tyre’s ability to dissipate heat under controlled indoor test conditions. The temperature grades, from highest to lowest, are A, B and C. Any tyre rated below C is considered unacceptable.

Tyre structure: This branding on the sidewall of a tyre list the materials and number of layers of each material used to reinforce the rubber in the tread and sidewalls.