1 - M&S (snow and mud). The marking indicates that the tire has a tread designed for winter conditions, 2 - reinforced, the marking is introduced for reinforced tires 3 - load and pressure requirements (requirements not applicable in the UK), 4 - design type, 5 - load index, 6 - speed symbol, 7 - tire quality type marking, 8 - tread wear indicator (The marking does not fit on all tires), 9 - an obsolete form of tire size designation, including the symbol for speed (S), 10 - grades and ECE type approval code, 11 - tire design details (not required in the UK), 12 - manufacturer's name and trademark, 13 - commercial name, 14 - tire size designation. New form of ECE followed by load index and speed symbol, 15 - word "tubeless", if applicable, 16 is the country of origin, 17 is the North American Department of Transportation acceptance symbol, 18 is the North American tire identifier, 19 is the design of the tire (radial).
Tires are currently labeled according to standards agreed with the European Tire and Rim Organization (ETRTO). The conditions and requirements of today, determined by legislation, make manufacturers responsible for clearly defining the capabilities of a particular tire. For this purpose, a marking has been introduced that determines the maximum capabilities of the tire in terms of speed and load capacity, characteristic for certain operating conditions.
The numerical code identifies the tire's load capacity at speed, which is determined by the speed symbol and under conditions that are specified by the tire manufacturer. This code is called load index (L.I.).
The speed symbol determines the speed at which the tire can carry the load corresponding to its load index, under conditions that are specified by the tire manufacturer.
Tire performance includes load index (or two load indices in case of single/double installation) and the speed symbol.
Car tires
On a passenger tire, the marking usually includes one speed symbol and one numerical load index, for example, 185/65 R 14 86 N MXV2.
- 185 - Nominal section width in mm.
- 65 - Tire section indicator.
- R - Radial design.
- 14 - Nominal wheel diameter in inches.
- 86 - Load index (load capacity is 530 kg).
- H - Speed index (those. speed up to 210 km/h, approximately 130 mph).
- MXV2 - Tread pattern.
Reinforced tires
These tires, like passenger cars, have data on performance characteristics, load index and speed symbol. However, the performance characteristics include a higher load index and a lower speed symbol compared to standard automotive tires of equivalent sizes. For example, 185 R 14 Reinforced (reinforced) 94 R: 185 R 14 90 T.
High quality tires with W speed symbol
W is the new speed symbol introduced by ECE Regulation 30 for tires operating at speeds up to and above 240 km/h up to a maximum speed of 270 km/h.
As with the speed symbol V, the load index of these tires is set to a lower speed; there is a certain reduction in load capacity, expressed as a percentage, for every 10 km/h increase in speed, which in the case of the symbol W is 5%.
Below is a complete table of speed symbols, with percentage reductions in load capacity applied where applicable.
Please note that tires with the W speed symbol may also be marked ZR. As a result, the size can be determined in this way 225/50 ZR 16 83W or 225/50 R 16 83W.
- | Speeds, km/h | Tire load capacity: |
V Up to 240 km/h | 210 | 100% |
220 | 97% | |
230 | 94% | |
240 | 91% | |
W Up to 270 km/h | 240 | 100% |
250 | 95% | |
260 | 90% | |
270 | 85% |
If a tire has the ZR sign within the size marking and no other speed symbols, then the tire is designed for speeds exceeding 240 km/h.
Older tires with the VR sign in the size marking were designed for speeds up to and above 210 km/h.
Note: Tires bearing only the VR or ZR markings are excluded from Regulation 30 ECE.
Van and light truck tires
There is a large group of vehicles that, in terms of tires, can be divided into three large groups:
1. Light vans and pickups, which are a direct development of the passenger car.
2. Medium vans and light trucks, which are designed as such but very often use basic passenger car components.
3. Large vans and small trucks using the chassis of a traditional vehicle.
All cars, with the exception of the lightest vehicles in groups 2 and 3, use tires "WITH" for vans or (group 3) 17.5 inch truck tires/
With the exception of these relatively large vehicles, all other vehicles in this category use standard or reinforced car tires, with most of them being 13 and 14 inches.
Other tires for vans and light trucks
This includes various types of tires, which in the past were marked only by the number of layers. For example, 185 R 14, 185 R 14 PR6 and 185 R 14 PR8.
Modern tires in this category are labeled with performance characteristics, and often with an indication of the ply class. (Layer class markings are expected to be phased out).
Where, however, the tire can be used on a rear axle as a tandem, two load indices apply.
For example: 205 R 14 109/107 N
- 109 - Load index when the tire is used in a single version (1030 kg per tire)
- 107 - Load index when the tire is used in a dual version (975 kg per tire)