Decoding the information on the sidewalll of your tyres
Ever wonder what does the coding on the sidewall of the tyres on your car means. Below is some information may be helpful.
| Key | Description |
| A | Manufacturers or brand name, and commercial name or identity. |
| B and J | |
| C | Denotes type of tyre construction. |
| D | M&S denotes a tyre designed for mud and snow. Reinforced marking only where applicable. |
| E | Load and pressure marking requirement (not applicable in the |
| F | ECE (not EEC) type approval mark and number. |
| G | North American Dept of Transport compliance symbols and identification numbers. |
| H | Country of manufacture. |
Also on the sidewall, you might find the following info embossed in the rubber.
The temperature rating - an indicator of how well the tire withstands heat buildup. "A" is the highest rating; "C" is the lowest.
The traction rating - an indicator of how well the tire is capable of stopping on wet pavement. "A" is the highest rating; "C" is the lowest.
The tread-wear rating - a comparative rating for the useful life of the tire's tread. A tire with a tread-wear rating of 200, for example, could be expected to last twice as long as one with a rating of 100. Tread-wear grades typically range between 60 and 600 in 20-point increments. It is important to consider that this is a relative indicator, and the actual life of a tire's tread will be affected by quality of road surfaces, type of driving, correct tire inflation, proper wheel alignment and other variable factors. In other words, don't think that a tread-wear rating of 100 means a 30,000 mile tyre.
Encoded in the US DOT information (G on the diagram above) is a two-letter code that identifies where the tyre was manufactured in detail. In other words, what factory and in some cases, what city it was manufactured in. It's the first two letters after the 'DOT' - in this case "FA" denoting Yokohama.
This two-letter identifier is worth knowing in case you see a tyre recall on the evening news where they tell you a certain factory is recalling tyres. Armed with the two-letter identifier list, you can figure out if you are affected. It's a nauseatingly long list, and I've not put it on this page.
The temperature rating - an indicator of how well the tire withstands heat buildup. "A" is the highest rating; "C" is the lowest.
The traction rating - an indicator of how well the tire is capable of stopping on wet pavement. "A" is the highest rating; "C" is the lowest.
The tread-wear rating - a comparative rating for the useful life of the tire's tread. A tire with a tread-wear rating of 200, for example, could be expected to last twice as long as one with a rating of 100. Tread-wear grades typically range between 60 and 600 in 20-point increments. It is important to consider that this is a relative indicator, and the actual life of a tire's tread will be affected by quality of road surfaces, type of driving, correct tire inflation, proper wheel alignment and other variable factors. In other words, don't think that a tread-wear rating of 100 means a 30,000 mile tyre.
Encoded in the US DOT information (G on the diagram above) is a two-letter code that identifies where the tyre was manufactured in detail. In other words, what factory and in some cases, what city it was manufactured in. It's the first two letters after the 'DOT' - in this case "FA" denoting Yokohama.
This two-letter identifier is worth knowing in case you see a tyre recall on the evening news where they tell you a certain factory is recalling tyres. Armed with the two-letter identifier list, you can figure out if you are affected. It's a nauseatingly long list, and I've not put it on this page.
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