Everything You Need To Know — Your Sidewall Has It
The side of your tire — known as the sidewall — contains all of the information you need to know about your tire. Whether your tire comes from Goodyear or some other manufacturer, all tires are required to show this information.

For examples of sidewall abbreviations, click here

Tire Type defines the proper use of the tire. For example, the “P” on the tire shown here means that this is a passenger car tire. If the tire had an “LT” designation, the tire would be for a light truck.

Tire Width is the width of the tire measured in millimeters from sidewall to sidewall. This tire width is 215 millimeters.

Aspect Ratio is the ratio of the height of the tire's cross-section to its width. On our example, 65 means that the height is equal to 65% of the tire's width.

Construction tells you how the layers of the tire were put together. The “R” stands for Radial which means the layers run radially across the tire. A “B” stands for bias construction which means that the layers run diagonally.

Wheel Diameter is the width of the wheel from one end to the other. The diameter of this wheel is 15 inches.

Load Index indicates the maximum load in pounds that the tire can support when properly inflated. You'll also find the maximum load elsewhere on the tire sidewall, both in pounds and kilograms.

Speed Rating tells you the maximum service speed for a tire. “H” means that the tire has a maximum service speed of 130 mph. This rating relates only to tire speed capability and is NOT a recommendation to exceed legally posted speed limits. Speed Rating Chart

DOT means that the tire complies with all applicable safety standards established by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Next to this is a tire identification or serial number — a combination of numbers and letters up to 12 digits.

UTQG stands for Uniform Tire Quality Grading, a rating system developed by DOT. For more information on UTQG, continue here.