Tire Technology - Sidewall

How To Read A Sidewall:
P-Metric (example 1) P215/65R15 95S
P =	Passenger Car
215 =	Section width measured in millimeters (25.4 millimetes per inch)
65 =	Aspect Ratio, which means the sidewall height is 65 percent of the section width.
R =	Radial Carcass Construction
15 =	Rim Diameter
95 =	Load Index
S =	Speed Rating - View Speed Rating Chart Below

A. Passenger car tire. B. Width of tire diameter. C. Ratio of height to width. D. Radial. E. Diameter of wheel in inches. F. Load index & speed symbol G. U.S. DOT safety standard code. H. Max. cold inflation & load limit. I. Treadwear, traction and temperature grades. J. Tire ply composition and materials used.
The image on the right breaks down all the different components that make up the basic tire from the outer tread into the inner bead wires.

Speed Rating Chart:
Speed Symbol A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7 A8 B C D E F G J	Speed (km/h) 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 50 60 65 70 80 90 100	Speed (mph) 3 6 9 12 16 19 22 25 31 37 40 43 50 56 62	Speed Symbol K L M N P Q R S T U H V W Y ZR*	Speed (km/h) 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 240 270 300 Open Ended	Speed (mph) 68 75 81 87 93 99 106 112 118 124 130 149 168 186 Open Ended
* Contact Les Schwab Tire Centers for top speed capability.