Have you ever wondered various questions about your tires, without really knowing who to trust or how to answer them? Fortunately, there is the 1001Pneus blog to guide you! Today, we decided to answer one of these questions: how to read a tire ? You will finally see more clearly!

WHAT GOOD IS IT TO READ A TIRE?

First, simply to be able to change it  at the right time! It is also useful for your personal culture. And then simply to know what this quantity of information corresponds to . One important thing to note: if you think that all tires look the same, and think again because there are a multitude of different tires, corresponding to needs, uses, weather conditions, seasons or just a budget different. Check out: http://vimeo.com/thenomads

We will dissect the various compulsory elements that make up the tire:

TIRE MARKINGS

Let's start with the most obvious: the manufacturer . Present on all tires, the brand is one of the first elements that you will notice on the tire. So far, not too complicated?

Then comes the information concerning the dimensional and mechanical characteristics, that's where it gets tougher!

THE DIMENSIONS

Take for example the tire in the illustration above, each colored character corresponds to a datum. Here is their "translation":

205     Tire width expressed in millimeters

55       Sidewall height in% of tire height (55% of 205)

R        signifies the radial structure of the tire

16      Tire inner diameter (in inches)

91       Load index

V         Speed ​​rating

DATE OF MANUFACTURE

It can be identified by its four digits. The first two indicate the week of manufacture, the last two the year. Ex: 4514, meaning 45th week of the year 2014

THE APPROVAL NUMBER

It is present in two forms: Ea bbcccc-S or Ea bbcccc S1WR1.
“A” is the approval country code, “bb” identifies the type of vehicle, “cccc” is the approval number. Nothing you need to choose a tire, in short!

THE MENTION "TUBELESS"

For tires with integrated inner tube (the most widespread on the market)

THE MENTION REINFORCED OR EXTRA LOAD

For reinforced tires, inflated to a higher pressure (intended for heavy vehicles such as minibuses or combi).

THE MENTION "M + S"

For winter tires. Means "Mud and Snow" (mud and snow for those who do not speak English).

WEAR INDICATORS

An element of capital importance: they allow you to define whether your tires should be changed or not. These are extra thicknesses placed repeatedly at the bottom of the grooves of the tread. When these extra thicknesses reach the surface of the tread (and therefore contact with the road), it is imperative to change your tires

Well, you know a little more theoretical level and you are no longer a novice in reading the tire, it's not nothing! On the technical side, you will learn a lot more by going to this page dedicated to reading the tire and available directly on our site. All the elements of the tire are detailed there, you will no longer have any doubts on the subject.