Modern cars come in an almost infinite number of different variants, with different performance, weight and form factors.
This means that there are also an infinite number of different tires that are adapted for different purposes, but sorting out which tires are suitable for which purpose can be tricky.
Here we clarify the concepts.
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How do I see the tire size?
The dimensions of a tire are partly about its width and partly about its profile, which is the height of the side of the tire from the rim.
The tire size format is a three-digit number followed by a slash and a two-digit number. The first number is the tire’s width in millimeters, while the second is the tire’s profile as a percentage of the tire’s width.
A common tire size is 205/55. This tire is 205 millimeters wide with a profile that is 55 percent of the tire’s width.
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What rim does the tire fit on?
The tire size is usually followed by a letter combined with a number, which shows how the tire is constructed and what size rim it is designed for.
If the tire dimension is followed, for example, by R17, it means that the tire is of the radial type, and fits on a 17-inch rim.
The letter these days is almost always “R”, as virtually all modern tires are of the radial type.
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What type of car is the tire suitable for?
In many cases, modern tires also have a letter indicating the type of car the tire is suitable for. The letter is usually in connection with the tire dimension.
If the tire is marked with a P, it is suitable for a passenger car, while LT stands for light truck. Tires marked with C are more robust and fit light vans, trucks and trailers.
As SUVs become more and more popular, the tire markings HL and XL are also becoming more common. These mean that the tire has a higher load capacity than is normal for its dimension.
A tire can also be marked with a T, in which case it is a spare wheel.
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