Learning to Read the Tires on Your Used Car

If you are looking for a little light reading, try your tires! Many car owners would be surprised to discover the wealth of information contained in the numbers and letters found in little raised black letters on the side of tires.If you know what these symbols mean when shopping for used cars in Belton, TX, then you can learn all about your tires before you even leave the car lot.

There is a government mandated and industry system that has been developed for tires codes so that no matter where you buy your tires,you can find the information on the sidewall.In fact,tire dealers are required by law to have a leaflet available that explains the tire grades and ratings.You may or may not find that leaflet in the glove compartment of your used car,but you can always read the codes printed on the tires and find detailed explanations online.

Dealers working auto sales in Belton, TX can also explain the codes if you ask for the information.

What can you learn? Plenty! Following is a quick summary of the tire codes and what they tell you.Assume you are shopping the auto sales in Belton, TX and find a tire that reads P215/65R1589H M+S:

Type of vehicle – a P means the tire was made for a passenger vehicle while a LT would mean it may be used on a light truck; a T means the tire should only be used as a temporary tire or spare tire to get you a short distance to a car repair shop in the event of a flat tire

Tire Width – the 215 means the tire is 215mm wide from sidewall to sidewall

Aspect Ratio - the 65 indicates the tire height is 65% of the width of the tire; using the two numbers by multiplying 215 x .65 you get 139mm which is the sidewall height

Type of Tire Construction - the R indicates the tire is a radial tire while LT would indicate a tire built for a light truck; B means belted bias while D means diagonal bias

Wheel Diameter – the 15 indicates a wheel diameter of 15 inches (so you know what size wheels your tires will fit)

Load Index - the 89 is actually a code that refers to the amount of weight the tire can handle when fully inflated; you need to access a table to convert codes to weight and the table ranges from 0 to 279 (information not required by law)

Speed Rating – also not required by law, this letter code tells you the safest maximum speed for the tire with H representing 130 mph; there is a table with other codes like R for 106 mph and T for 118 mph

M+S = letter codes to indicate tires were made for mud and snow meaning they are all season tires

It's amazing how much information you can glean from the tires on the used cars in Belton, TX. It always pays to know what you are buying and when it comes to tires, you can let the tires do the talking.

If you are interested to know something more on Auto Sales Belton, TX and Used Cars Belton, TX than more details please visit our website www.shelleysautosales.net