Tires 101 - Learn About Tires | BFGoodrich Tires

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TIRES 101

Everything printed on your tire means something, and once you can read it, buying and maintaining tires stops being guesswork. This section covers the four things worth knowing: how to read the sidewall code including the DOT date, how a tire is built, what your speed and load ratings actually control, and how to confirm the right size for your vehicle. Your correct size and pressure are in your owner's manual or on the OEM sticker inside the driver's door.
TIRE SPEED RATING & TREAD LIFE

Speed ratings are not just about speed. They correlate directly with ride comfort, treadwear, and cornering ability. Typically the higher the speed rating, the better the grip and stopping power, but the shorter the tread life. Ratings run from A at the lowest to Y at the highest, and the chart is not strictly alphabetical: H sits between U and V, a holdover from when H stood for high performance.

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READING A TIRE SIDEWALL

A tire’s sidewall is pretty much what it sounds like – the outer and inner “walls” on the sides of a tire, if facing a tire on its side. Every sidewall has its own unique information that is divided into four main sections:

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TIRE CONSTRUCTION

A radial tire is built from six main parts, and knowing what each does explains why some damage is repairable and some is not. The tread grips and resists wear. The carcass ply cords determine strength. The belts stabilize the tread. The beads clamp against the rim for an airtight fit. The sidewall absorbs impacts from curbs and rocks and carries all the printed specs.

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THE RIGHT TIRE FOR YOUR VEHICLE

Your correct tire size is printed in two places: the sidewall of the tires on your vehicle now, and the OEM placard inside your driver's side door. That same placard gives you the correct cold inflation pressure, usually in both psi and kPa. For an accurate reading, check when the tires have not been driven for three hours, because friction creates heat and heat raises pressure, giving you a false high number.

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