Consumers should be aware of tire size, load, speed, tread wear, traction, and pressure. The numbers on tires indicate size, load index, speed rating, tread wear rating, and traction rating. Higher pressure and tread wear ratings can result in better gas mileage.
There are some automotive tire specifications that are important for consumers to be aware of. Some of these specifications are non-negotiable, such as tire size. The ones that an average consumer should consider are size, load, speed, tread wear, traction, and pressure.
Automotive tires come with a series of numbers on them. These numbers indicate the various sizes of that particular tire. For example, a tire might read: 245/65/17 105H.
The first three numbers represent the size of the tire. The first number, 245, is the width of the tire in millimeters. The second number, 65, indicates the aspect ratio. In this example, the 65 means that the height is 65% of the width. Multiply 0.65 X 245 to find that the height is 159.25 mm. The third number, 17, indicates the diameter of the rim. The size of the tire that a car left from the manufacturing plant is the size the car should be as long as no major modifications have been made to the vehicle.
The second half of the numbers on automotive tires list the load index and speed ratings. Load indicates how much a vehicle can carry, a measurement that is of particular interest to those with trucks. The charge rate must be found in a special charge rate chart. In this case, 105 means it can hold 2,039 lbs (924 kg) per tire. Multiply 2039 x 4 to find that the maximum load capacity is 8,156 lbs. (3,700 kg).
The final letter stands for speed ratings, or how fast a tire can travel before it bursts. Ratings are: S-112 mph (180 kph), T-118 mph (190 kph), U-124 mph (199 kph), H-130 mph (209 kph), V-149 mph (240 kph), W – 168 mph (270 kph), Y-186 mph (299 kph).
The tread wear rating on car tires indicates how thick and strong the tread is. The higher the tread wear rate, the longer a tire will last. Ratings range from 100 to 600. The base rating is 100, while all the numbers above show how long the tire will last compared to that base. A tire with a 600 rating is expected to last six times longer than a base tire.
The traction rating gives an idea of how car tires will handle on various terrains. Some tires are rated for snow and mud in particular. For those in a snowy or rainy climate, it’s essential to make sure you buy “four season” tires.
The final measurement that consumers should consider is the pressure rating. Automotive tires with a higher maximum pressure tend to get better gas mileage, as do those with a higher tread wear rating. The belief is that harder surfaces mean less resistance on the trail, and therefore less effort to move forward.
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