How To Read Tyre Markings

Are you confused by the mysterious tyre size on the side wall of your tyres?
Fear not, we are here to demystify the art of Tyre-ography. With over 40 years in the wheel and tyre industry, we understand that buying new tyres can be a big investment and we want to ensure that you are completely satisfied with your purchase. That's why we are going to start with the basics: THE TYRE SIZE.

This is usually a series of numbers and letters that look something like "225/50R16." Don't let the numbers and letters intimidate you, they're just a secret code for the tyre's dimensions. Decode it like this: "225" is the width of the tyre in millimeters, "50" is the aspect ratio (or how tall the sidewall is compared to the width), "R" means it's a radial tyre, and "16" is the diameter of the wheel in inches.

Easy peasy, right?

Next, let's move on to the load index. This is a number that tells you how much weight the tyre can safely carry. The higher the number, the more weight it can handle. For example, if you see "91" on your tyre, that means it can carry 615 kg.

Finally, let's talk about the speed rating. This is a letter that tells you the maximum speed the tyre can handle. For example, if you see "H" on your tyre, that means it can handle speeds up to 130 mph. But let's be real, who needs to go that fast? Unless you're trying to escape the in-laws, stick to the speed limit and you'll be just fine.

In conclusion, reading Tyre markings may seem like a daunting task, but with a little bit of knowledge, it's as easy pie. So, the next time you're at Malas and you see a bunch of confusing numbers and letters, just remember W – for width, A - for aspect ratio, R - for radial, D – for diameter, L - load index, and S - speed rating (WARDLS).

If you found the blog helpful, let us know as we’d love to hear from you. If you're in need of brand-new Tyres, be sure to check out www.malas.co.za, for a wide selection of high-quality options.

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