16/03/2021
Considering getting new tyres for your used car?
Here are some pro-tips from VPBR experts:
Picture 1 shows how to read your tyre. Swipe for detailed information and illustrations.
Picture 2: As a first step, check out what your manufacturer recommends. This can be found by opening the driver side front door and look for this small plate on the pillar. It can be seen that the manufacturer of this Honda Accord recommends 185/70R14. This can be a good starting step.
Now what does this 185/70R14 mean?
185 is the maximum width of the tyre in milimetres(mm). When the vehicle is fully loaded its width can expand maximum upto 185 milimetres(mm).
70 is the ratio among width and height of the tyre from its rim. It means that the height of the tyre is precisely 70% of the 185mm. Lower ratio improves road grip, but it reduces comfort to some extent.
R – refers to the method the tyre is produced. The letter “R” is found on all modern car tyres. It indicates the radial structure of tyre cosntructed with steel wires.
14 represents the diameter of the rim. It is a measurement in inches(“). This number should be remembered as it is the measurement of the rims. It has to match exactly to what is mentioned in the car manual.
This Honda Accord has aftermarket alloy rims which are size 15, hence the tyre size in Pictures 3 and 4. It can be seen that the aspect ratio has been lowered to 65 from 70 to adjust for a higher rim size (15) which is fine.
Picture 4: The date/year of manufacture of the tyre. This should be the same on all tyres when purchasing. It says 0516. This means the tyre was made in the 5th week of the year 2016.
Finally, look at Picture 2 again. The 88S means that the tyre should have a load rating of 88 and the S means tyres should be approved for speeds up to 180 KM/H. This is completely fine since this particular vehicle is electronically limited to 180 KM/H by its ECU. Look at Picture 5 for speed rating chart.
Feel free to engage with us on any queries!
