Do you Really know TIRES?
We all, all to often voice our opinions about a trie Manfacture becouse we had trouble with a spicifc tire, this is stereo typical bias. so please let me try to educate you what to look for and help you with you decision in buying/ordering your tires.
First thing we need to know is how wide is your RIM this is a measurement made with OUT the tire on or with a tool that measures the rim at the point where the tire seats.... this width will tell you how and what options you have for tire section. for example if you have a rim width of 6" you can NOT get a tire size that will have a rim with of 7"8"9"ect.. if you do so you will effect the cornering drastically and dangerously..
we all at some point in time up size our tire.. what you should know is the tire size in on the DOOR STICKER is manufacture recommended.. if for some you do decide to size up take in account that if God forbid anything ever happens and there is a fatal in an accident you are in involved in this change makes you liable.
reading a tire size
for this I will be working with a tire size of 255/75R17.
the first Letter if present depicts the service use Ex. P = Passenger, LT = light truck, "T" trailer use only, M&S Mud and Snow LIGHT use.. M&S does NOT mean off roading is just means it will work slightly well in those environments.
Following the letter, if there is one, are three numbers that give the tire's cross-section width in millimeters. For example, 225 means that the tire measures 225 millimeters across, from the widest part of the outer sidewall to the widest part of the inner sidewall. this is NOT the tread width on the road. The measurement is taken when the tire is mounted on a wheel of a particular size.
The next two numbers tell you the ratio of the tire's height to its width. For example, a 75 indicates that the height, measured from the tread to the rim, is 75 percent of the cross-section width.
To convert millimeter measurements to inches, divide the number by 25.4, which is the number of millimeters per inch. For example, if you divide 225 millimeters by 25.4, you arrive at 8.86 inches, which is the cross-section of the tire in the example. To determine the sidewall height, which is 50 percent of the width, divide 8.86 inches by 2, which equals 4.43 inches.
Next is another letter that gives you information about how the tire is constructed. An "R" means radial, which is the most commonly used type of tire. "D" indicates a diagonal inner construction; these tires are used as spares and for light-duty trucks. "B" means the tire is belted, with reinforcing belts under the treads. Belted tires are generally not used anymore. An "F" following any of these letters means that the tire is a "run-flat." This extra designation isn't mandatory and might not be marked on your tires
The final two numbers and one letter indicate the tire's load-bearing capacity and speed rating, which have been mandatory since 1991. The numbers are assigned according to an index, wherein the lowest rating, 71, equals 761 pounds, and the highest rating, 110, equals 2,337 pounds. The letter is assigned according to the tire's maximum speed capability. For example, an "L" indicates 75 mph or 120 kph, while a "V" denotes 149 mph or 240 kph
NOW if your not asleep yet this next step is utmost important and it will tell you how old the new tire is... you you can buy a brand new 3-4 year old tire.
Look for the Tire Identification Number branded on the sidewall of the tire to determine the tires age. The Tire Identification Number is preceded by DOT, which stands for Department of Transportation, and is 10 to 12 digits in length. You may have to check both sides of the tire to find the complete Tire Identification Number.
Locate the last three or four digits of the Tire Identification Number. Previous to 2000, three digits determined the tire age. Tires made since 2000 use four numbers to determine a tires age
Determine the year the tire was manufactured by decoding the last two digits. For example, if the last two digits are "07", then the tire was manufactured in 2007
Determine the week the tire was manufactured by decoding the first two numbers that makeup the last four digits in the Tire Identification Number. For example, if the last four digits of the Tire Identification Number are 2807, then the tire was manufactured during the 28th week of 2007.
Determine the year the tire was manufactured by decoding the last digit of the Tire Identification Number. For example, if the last digit is "3", then the tire was manufactured during the 3rd year of the decade. The problem with this system was that you could not determine during which decade the tire was made.
Determine the week the tire was manufactured by decoding the first two numbers that makeup the last three digits in the Tire Identification Number. For example, if the last three digits of the Tire Identification Number are 403, then the tire was manufactured during the 40th week of 1993 (or 1983).
Shop for newly manufactured tires by decoding the Tire Identification Numbers. A good rule of thumb is to purchase tires that are less than six years old for optimum safety
Board yet?
good luck