Your tire treads have extremely important jobs to do, including maintaining traction and evacuating water and other liquids out from under the tires during operation. Under normal conditions, treads perform these tasks quietly and efficiently, but if the tread style on your vehicle doesn't match your driving style or vehicle uses, the treads can suffer premature and uneven wear. The good news is that you can protect your future tires from this fate if you take note of the performance information provided on the sidewalls of tires you wish to acquire.
When reading tire-codes, look for:
- Vehicle Type: This is a letter, "P" for passenger vehicles or "LT" for light-trucks.
- Width: This is a number, usually expressed in millimeters.
- Construction: A letter that stands for ply-type. Most tires are radials, the symbol for which is "R."
- Profile: The profile is the ratio between the sidewall height and the section width.
- Diameter: A number that represents the diameter of the wheel-rim.
- XL: Extra-load, signifying tires that have extra-carrying capacity.
These codes are just the tip of the iceberg, and understanding all of them can be a chore. Luckily, here at our facility in the Grapevine, TX area, we have experienced and certified tire service technicians who can explain them to you in detail. Come by Grapevine Lincoln today for help deciphering your tire codes.