What does the writing on my tyres mean?

The writing on your tyre is there for two main reasons; to convey important information such as the size and specifications of the tyre, and secondly, to prove that the tyre has passed necessary safety standards.

Tyre Size
This string of numbers (in the photo 215/50 R18) indicates the size of the tyre. This is important as you will need to ensure that any tyres you fit to your vehicle are the correct size as specified in your vehicle handbook.

These tyre numbers mean:

215 – Tyre Width
This indicates the width of the tyre in millimetres from sidewall to sidewall.

50 – Aspect Ratio
These digits express the height of the tyre sidewall as a percentage of the tyre width. In this example, the tyre height is 50% of its width.

R – Tyre Construction
The letter ‘R’ indicates that the tyre is of radial construction, as most tyres manufactured today are. Other types of construction include ‘B’ (bias belt) and ‘D’ (diagonal).

18 – Wheel Diameter
This figure signifies the size of the wheel rim in inches that the tyre is intended to be fitted to.
We hope you found this helpful, we could go on and on!

For further advice on tyre markings and what they mean, call TyreAware on 087 3522920.