Tips on Tire Codes and Tire Maintenance

Most drivers hardly ever give them a thought until it's time to change a flat, but tire maintenance is one of the most important things you can do for your car in terms of ensuring safety, economy, and comfort. Sure, the engine won't start if something goes missing under the hood, but even when it isn't running, the tires are still exposed to dangerous conditions. Even those who have no interest in changing their own oil should be aware of some basic automobile tire maintenance facts.

The first order of business is to become intimately acquainted with your tires. Get to know them personally. In other words, if you had to go into a tire store and buy a new tire would you know what to ask for? There's really no excuse for not knowing this key component of tire maintenance since all the information you need is printed right there in front of you. Every automobile tire comes equipped with a code printed on the sidewall that provides you with all the information you need to know. The tire codes begin with a letter or letter combination.

P stands for passenger car.
LT stands for light truck.
ST stands for special trailer.
T stands for temporary.

After the letter or letters there will be a number, for instance P215. This number tells the width of the tire in millimeters and is measured from sidewall edge to sidewall edge. After this number you'll see a slash mark and another number, for instance P215/65. That number is the ratio of the tire's height to the tire's width. That number will be followed by a letter.

B means it has a bias belt.
D means it has a diagonal bias.
R means it is a radial tire.