| BLK | Black tire sidewall. | LT | LIGHT TRUCK - light truck tire. |
| REINFORCED(=RF) | Reinforced - for tires with increased load capacity. | LRO | LOW PLATFORM TRAILER - low platform trailer. |
| RRBL | RECESSED RAISED BLACK LETTERS - recessed embossed black marks. | VSB | VERTICAL SERRATED BAND - vertical jagged band. |
| ORBL | OUTLINED RAISED BLACK LETTERS - highlighted raised black letters. | ZR | Tires designed for speeds in excess of 240 |
| BSW | BLACK SIDE WALL - black letters on the sidewall of the tire (in the designation of the tire brand). | OWL | OUTLINE WHITE LETTERS - contour white letters on the sidewall of the tire. |
Reinforced tire marking:
| SSR | RUNFLAT (Self-Supporting Runflat Tire) - developed by Continental. The tire has a special rubber reinforcement in the side wall, which takes on the weight of the car in the event of a loss of pressure in the tire. | MFS | MAXIMUM FLANGE SHIELD - The system of maximum bead rim protection protects tires from damage on curbs and sidewalks - a rubber profile located on the lower part of the wall above the rim flange forms a buffer zone. |
| RF | RUNFLAT is a technology that allows your car to continue moving after a puncture or flat tire. | RUNONFLAT | RunOnFlat tires, formerly known by the acronym EMT, allow you to continue driving with partial or complete loss of pressure. |
Tires for cars of some brands are marked with special symbols:
Other designations.
In addition to the above, there may be other symbols on the sidewall of the tire that carry a lot of useful information:
| TUBE TYPE | Chamber design (obligatory use of the tire together with the chamber). | TUBELESS | Tubeless tire design. |
| ML | Tire with rim protection for Mercedes or Audi. | WITH | Reinforced tire. |
| FR | Flange Rotector - a tire with rim protection. | EMT | RUN FLAT by Goodyear. |
| ALL STEEL | Tire with steel cord breaker and carcass. | REGROOVABLE | Cutting of the tread pattern is allowed. |
| TREADWEAR 380 | The wear resistance coefficient is determined in relation to the "base tire", for which it is equal to 100. | TRACTION A TEMPERATURE A TREADWEAR 200 | U.S. DOT classification standards for traction, heat resistance, and wear resistance. |
| TOUS TERRAIN | All season tire. | R+W | Road + Winter - road + winter (universal) tire. |
| RETREAD | Refurbished tire. | RADIAL | Tire with radial construction. |
| TRACTION A | adhesion coefficient. It has the values A, B, C. Tires with coefficient A have the highest amount of grip in their class. | E17 | The tire complies with European standards (the presence of a European homologation certificate, the number indicates the country). |
| INSIDE or SIDE FACING INWARDS | The inner side of the tire installation with an asymmetric tread pattern (this inscription is inward). | OUTSIDE or SIDE FACING OUT | The outer side of the tire installation with an asymmetric tread pattern (this inscription is facing out). |
| PLIES: TREAD | Tire tread composition. | SIDEWALL | Tire sidewall composition. |
| MAX LOAD | MAX PRESSURE | Maximum tire pressure, Kpa and PSI. | |
| RIGHT | Tire with asymmetric tread pattern, which is installed on the right side of the car. | LEFT | A tire with an asymmetric tread pattern that is mounted on the left side of the car. |
| ROTATION | Direction of rotation of a tire with a directional tread pattern (in this case, an arrow is applied on the sidewall of the tire showing the direction of rotation of the tire). | DA (stamp) | Minor manufacturing defects that do not interfere with normal operation. There may also be an additional speed limit stamp, for example, no higher than 140 km / h. |
| TEMPERATURE A | Temperature regime. An indicator that characterizes the ability of a tire to withstand temperature effects. It is divided into three categories - A, B and C. | M+S (mud and snow), Winter (winter), Rain (rain), Water or Aqua (water), All Season | Tires designed for use in specific weather conditions. |
| TWI D | Projector wear indicator pointer. The indicator itself is a protrusion at the bottom of the tread groove. When the tread wears down to the level of this ridge, it's time to change the tire. | DOT | Tire certification in accordance with the requirements of the US Department of Transportation. Includes several codes and contains information about the manufacturer, design and size of the tire. |
| MADE IN***** | The country of origin of the tire. | Stud* | spikes. |
* - abbreviation OD, DD, MD, AD, spike. - means that the tires are studded with an oval stud (OD), a diamond-cut stud (DD), a plastic stud (MD), or a cylindrical aluminum stud with a carbide core (AD, stud.)
The Rubber Manufacturers Association of Canada (Rubber Association of Canada) and the Rubber Manufacturers Association have adopted a special test method of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). This test evaluates tires in real snow conditions. After much debate and discussion, all tire manufacturers agreed to adopt this standard proposed by ASTM, along with a special snowflake symbol against a mountain. The adoption of the new standard was announced in February 1999.
These designations are not applied to the tire sidewall! This information is used by manufacturers in the name of tires.
| BCS | BLACK CIRCUMFERENCIAL SERRATION | Black peripheral teeth. | BL | BLACK LETTERS | Black signs. |
| BSL | BLACK SERRATED LETTERS | Black jagged marks. | BSB | BROKEN SERRATED BAND | Intermittent jagged line. |
| ENWL | EXTRA NARROW WHITE LETTERS | Very narrow white marks. | ROBL | RAISED OUTLINED BLACK LETTERS | Embossed outlined black characters. |
| OWL | OUTLINED WHITE LETTERS | Circled white marks. | OBL | OUTLINED BLACK LETTERS | Circled black marks. |
| OGL | OUTLINE GOLD LETTERS | Circled golden signs. | ORBL | OUTLINED RAISED BLACK LETTERS | Circled embossed black characters. |
| ORWL | OUTLINED RAISED WHITE LETTERS | Circled embossed white characters. | OWL | OUTLINED WHITE LETTERS | Circled white marks. |
| RBL | RAISED BLACK LETTERS | Embossed black marks. | RWL | RAISED WHITE LETTERS | Embossed white signs. |
| RRBL | RECESSED RAISED BLACK LETTERS | Recessed embossed black characters. | SBL | SERRATED BLACK LETTERS | Jagged black marks. |
| SRBL | SERRATED RAISED BLACK LETTERS | Serrated embossed black marks. | SOWL | SLANTED OUTLINED WHITE LETTERS | Slanted outlined white signs. |
| SVSB | SLANTED VERTICAL SERRATED BAND | Vertically inclined toothed strip. | VSB | VERTICAL SERRATED BAND | Vertical jagged stripe. |
| WL | WHITE LETTERS | White signs. | WS | WHITE STRIPE | White stripe. |
In addition to the name of the manufacturer, brand, tire model and its size, the following additional markers may be indicated on the sidewalls of a car tire:
| Designation | Description |
|---|---|
| # | Continental designation. OE tire tread version → Find Continental tires |
| Icon "snowflake" - the tire is designed for use in harsh winter conditions → Choose winter tires | |
| ACUST (Acoustic) | Michelin designation. The tire is made using proprietary technology to reduce noise in the car. |
| AS All Season | All season tire → Find all season tires |
| Aquatred Aquacontact Rain Water Aqua | Designation variant: pictogram "umbrella". Special "rain" tire. Manufacturers use different designations. |
| A.W. Any Weather | The tire is intended for use in all weather conditions. |
| C | (Commercial) - the index indicated after the diameter designation determines that the tire is intended for light trucks and minibuses → Select tires for commercial vehicles |
| CMS | Special tires for mining and construction equipment (Construction Mining Service) |
| ContiSeal CS |
proprietary ContiSeal technology, which prevents pressure loss during a puncture or cut by using a viscous material on the inner surface of the tire. → Choose tires with ContiSeal technology |
| ContiSilent | Continental designation. The tire is made using proprietary technology ContiSilent to reduce noise in the car. → Choose tires with ContiSilent technology |
| DOT | Designation of the American quality standard (Department of Transportation). |
| E | Continental designation. The tire is optimized for rotational resistance for original equipment. |
| E n | The letter E and the number in the "circle" - the tire meets the European requirements of ECE (Economic Commission for Europe). Number n- code of the country. Below this designation, as a rule, a numerical approval number is indicated. |
| Flat Base - a tire without a protective belt (without rim protection). | |
| FR MFS CPJ | – Tire with rim protection. Some manufacturers use, along with the designation FR(Flange Protector) or instead, other special designations. For example, MFS(Maximum Flange Sheild - maximum rim protection system) for tires from the Goodyear group. Continental uses labeling ML for tires with rim protection homologated for installation on Mercedes or Audi vehicles. Michelin uses the CPJ marking for tires in the US market. → Choose tires with rim protection |
| G3 | Continental designation. Tire tread with only 3 grooves. |
| G4 | Continental designation. Tire tread with only 4 grooves. |
| Inside | Side Facing Awards. Asymmetric tire inner side marker. |
| L | (Low Section Tire) - designation of a low profile tire (indicated instead of the digital designation of the tire profile) |
| LT | (Light Truck) - designation of a tire designed for light trucks and minibuses (similar to C, mainly used for USA and Canada) |
| M+S M&S | Mud + Snow - "mud plus snow" - the tire is designed for severe operating conditions. It is used for marking both winter tires and tires for SUVs and all-season tires. The M+S marking is not a sign of a winter tire. |
| Max load | The maximum allowable load on each wheel of the car, in kg. |
| Max Pressure | The maximum allowable tire pressure, in kPa. |
| outside | Side Facing Out. Outside marker of an asymmetric tire. |
| OWL RWL ROWL | Outline/Raised While Letters - Lettering on the sidewall is printed in outline or embossed white letters. |
| Radial | Radial tire. |
| RBL | Raised Black Letters - The lettering on the sidewall is printed in embossed black letters. |
| RF Reinforced | Reinforced tire, has an increased load index. Letter WITH at the end of the size (after the diameter) indicates a reinforced light truck tyre. |
| rotation | Analogue: "arrow" (direction indicator). Marking of the main direction of rotation of the tire. |
| Run Flat RFT SSR ROF RunOnFlat flat run ZP XRP DSST HRS |
A technology marker that allows the operation of a tire with a loss of internal pressure due to a puncture or cut (RunFlat System Component). Manufacturers use different designations for RSC technology. For example, Michelin uses ZP (Zero Pressure Technology), Continental - SSR, Nokian - Flat Run, Goodyear - ROF or RunOnFlat, Bridgestone - RFT, Dunlop - DSST, Kumho - XRP (eXtended Runflat Performance), Hankook - HRS (Hankook Runflat system). The technological methods used by manufacturers to implement the "anti-puncture" system may also be different. There are generally accepted designations for individual manufacturers: RSC (RunFlat System Component) - for all Run Flat tires installed on BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce cars; MOE (Mercedes Original Extended) - for Mercedes-Benz cars; AOE (Audi Original Extended) - for Audi cars. In addition, combinations of designations for "anti-puncture" tires can be used in the tire designation (for example, ZP MOE - Michelin tires with Zero Pressure technology for Mercedes cars; SSR MOE - Continental tires with SSR technology for Mercedes cars, etc.). → Pick up RunFlat tires |
| SAG | Super All Grip is an off-road tire. |
| SC | Continental designation. The tire is made of a special soft compound. |
| SEAL SLFS (Selfseal) Seal Inside |
The tire is made using SEAL technology, which prevents pressure loss in the event of a puncture or cut by using a viscous material on the inside surface of the tire. SelfSeal is Michelin's proprietary technology for sealing punctures through a special viscous layer in the inner cavity of the tire, including natural rubber. → Choose tires with SelfSeal technology SealInside (Seal Inside) - Pirelli proprietary technology that allows you to continue driving without reducing air pressure even after being punctured by a foreign object. |
| Steel | The tire structure contains a metal cord. |
| SUV | Sport Utility Vehicles is a tire for sport utility vehicles and SUVs. Often, a tire for heavy four-wheel drive vehicles is marked in this way. → Pick up SUV tires |
| temperature index | A, IN, WITH- temperature index, heat resistance of rubber at high speeds on the test bench (A - the best indicator). It is used mainly in American labeling. |
| Traction Index | A, IN, WITH- grip index, the ability of the tire to brake on a wet roadway. It is used mainly in American labeling. |
| Treadwear Index | Wear index, relative expected mileage compared to a specific US standard test. It is used mainly in American labeling. |
| Tubeless TL | Tubeless tire. |
| Tube Type TT | The tire is operated only with a tube. |
| TWI | Indicators of the location of wear indicators, can be applied with an arrow. |
| XL extra load |
Reinforced tire, load index higher than conventional tires of the same size → Select reinforced tires |
| date | Four numbers in an "oval" - date of manufacture tires. The first two digits indicate the week of manufacture from the beginning of the year, the last two - the year of manufacture. |
| spike type | AD- the tire is studded with an aluminum spike; BD- the tire is studded with a stud "Diamond Plus" (Continental marking); DD- the tire is studded with a spike with a rectangular core with a diamond edge; HD- the tire is studded in accordance with the new European regulations (Continental marking); MD- the tire is studded with a plastic spike with a hard-alloy core; OD- the tire is studded with a spike with an oval core; SD- the tire is studded with a spike with a hard-alloy core. |
Colored markings on the tire
Yellow marker on the tire sidewall (circle or triangle) determines the position of the lightest point on the tire. Alignment with the heaviest place on the disc (usually the nipple attachment point) during installation new tire improves wheel balance.
Red marker on the sidewall of the tire (circle or triangle) determines the place of maximum power inhomogeneity. Such a mark is usually applied to automobile tires of the primary (factory) vehicle configuration.
Colored longitudinal lines, printed on the tread, are used solely to facilitate the identification of the tire model (for example, in storage conditions).
digital stamp(usually white, in the center of a circle or triangle) on a car tire is the personal marker of the inspector who carried out the final inspection of the tire at the factory.
Tire marking of car manufacturers
Some tires are marked with an alphanumeric code that indicates some features in the context of their use for installation on vehicles of specific manufacturers or brands. Tires with this special marking differ from the standard of their model. Their characteristics are optimized for maximum performance on target vehicles.
When describing tires that have a special marking of the automaker, they often say "the tire is homologated" (from the English omologation - bringing technical characteristics and parameters in line with the requirements of standards or requests). It is not uncommon for leading car manufacturers to homologate specific tire models for their vehicles, including original fittings. The homologation marker, in addition to the target indication, speaks of the high quality of the tire, since in the process of improving the tire, it undergoes serious tests for compliance with world standards and the standards of the automaker.
Some automaker specific markings limit the use of tires for a specific vehicle, while others indicate general technical features of use. For a correct understanding of the special markings, it is worth contacting specialists before buying. The following table shows the decoding of the most common designations.
| Additional marking | Manufacturer, model car | Comments | The ability to install tires WITHOUT additional marking on cars of this manufacturer | Possibility to install tires With additional marking on cars of other car manufacturers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| * | BMW, Mini | Find tires with BMW homologation |
Yes, | |
| *BM1 | BMW X5 | Recommended for installation on BMW X5 | Yes, 4 tires are recommended. | Yes, 4 tires are recommended. |
| *BMW M M3 | BMW M (M3, Z4M, M5, M6) |
For BMW M and Z series vehicles. |
Not recommended | Yes, 4 tires are recommended. |
| A | Toyota Auris |
All new cars have a special marking on the tires. Tires bearing this marking are recommended for optimum performance. |
Yes | Yes |
| AO AO1 AOE | Audi | Tires bearing this marking are recommended for optimum performance. AOE - for marking Runflat tires. |
Yes | Yes |
| AR | Alfa Romeo | Some new cars have special tire markings. Tires bearing this marking are recommended for optimum performance. |
Yes, 4 tires are recommended. | Yes, 4 tires are recommended. |
| B | Bentley Continental GT |
Michelin marking. For Bentley Continental GT only. |
Not recommended | Yes, 4 tires are recommended. |
| C1 | Chrysler Viper | Michelin marking. All new cars have a special marking on the tires. |
Not recommended | Not recommended |
| DT DT1 DT2 | All | All new cars have a special marking on the tires. Michelin marking for tires with a modified tread pattern. Tires bearing this marking are recommended for optimum performance. |
Yes | Yes |
| F | Ferrari | Pirelli label. Tires bearing this marking are recommended for optimum performance. |
Yes | Yes |
| G1 | All | All new cars have a special marking on the tires. Michelin marking for tires of specific sizes with modified geometry. Be sure to use the same tires on the same axle. Tires bearing this marking are recommended for optimum performance. |
Yes | Yes |
| J J1 JRS JLR | Jaguar | Tires bearing this marking are recommended for optimum performance. The JLR designation uses Michelin for tires homologated for Jaguar and Land Rover. Find tires with Jaguar homologation |
Yes | Yes |
| K1 K2 | Ferrari | Michelin marking. All new cars have a special marking on the tires. It is mandatory to use 4 tires due to the specificity of these cars. Find tires with Ferrari homologation * For Pirelli, the marking K1, KA, K... is an internal designation for individual versions, while it is recommended to install tires of the same type on one axle. |
Yes, 4 tires are recommended. | Not recommended |
| LR | Land Rover | Tires bearing this marking are recommended for optimum performance. Find tires with Land Rover homologation |
Yes | Yes |
| MC MC1 | McLaren | Tires bearing this marking are recommended for optimum performance. |
Yes | Yes |
| MO | Mercedes | Tires bearing this marking are recommended for optimum performance. |
Yes, 4 tires are recommended. | Yes, 4 tires are recommended. |
| MO1 | Mercedes AMG |
Michelin marking. Recommended installation of 4 tires. Find tires with Mercedes homologation |
Yes, 4 tires are recommended. | Yes, 4 tires are recommended. |
| MOE MO Extended ME | Mercedes | Marking Michelin, Continental, Bridgestone, Pirelli, etc. Tires with run flat technology for Mercedes vehicles. |
Yes | Yes, 4 tires are recommended. Not recommended for use on vehicles not equipped with a pressure control system. |
| MOS MO-S | Mercedes | For tires with Silent technology. Tires bearing this marking are recommended for optimum performance. |
||
| MOV MO-V | Mercedes | For marking tires specifically for Merecedes Van. Tires bearing this marking are recommended for optimum performance. |
||
| MGT | Maserati | Tires bearing this marking are recommended for optimum performance. Find tires with Maserati homologation |
||
| N0 N1 N2 N3 N4 ND0 NA0 NF0 | Porsche | All new cars have a special marking on the tires. It is mandatory to use 4 tires due to the specificity of these cars. Find tires with Porsche homologation |
Not recommended (except Porsche 911 (type 991) / Boxster/Cayman (type 981) | Yes, 4 tires are recommended. |
| POL | Volvo Polestar | For Volvo Polestar vehicles. | Installation of 4 tires is recommended. | Installation of 4 tires is recommended. |
| RO1 | Audi Quattro, RS6, RS4, R8... | For Audi RS series cars. Recommended installation of 4 tires. Find tires with Audi homologation |
Yes, 4 tires are recommended. | Yes, 4 tires are recommended. |
| RP | All | All new cars have a special marking on the tires. Tires bearing this marking are recommended for optimum performance. |
Yes | Yes |
| S1 | All | Special Michelin marking for tires with reduced rolling resistance. Tires bearing this marking are recommended for optimum performance. |
Yes | Yes |
| T0 T1 | Tesla | Tires bearing this marking are recommended for optimum performance. | Yes, 4 tires are recommended. | Yes, 4 tires are recommended. |
| TPC | Cadillac ATS-V | Tires bearing this marking are recommended for optimum performance. | Yes, 4 tires are recommended. | Not recommended. |
| V1 | All | The marking is most often found on tires from the Goodyear group. Indicates a new rubber compound with improved performance. |
Yes | Yes |
| VO | Volkswagen Tuareg | For 255/60R17 106V. Tires bearing this marking are recommended for optimum performance. |
Yes | Yes |
| VOL | Volvo | Tires bearing this marking are recommended for optimum performance. Find tires with Volvo homologation |
Question, what are the best non-studded tires to buy or studded, faces many car owners. For the most part, the majority of drivers, according to statistics, tend to buy studded tires, despite the fact that their prices are practically the same. However, the rating of winter studded and non-studded tires, published on our website, shows that quite a few people prefer non-studded tires, which have good performance on relatively clean dry or wet pavement.
Studded tires are more stable in various conditions and if you do not have much experience, then it is better to give preference to them. With them, it is more difficult to get stuck in uncleared yards and “climb” on an icy slope.
If you have experience in using non-studded tires, and the car will be operated in urban conditions, when the roads are watered with anti-icing agents, then you can buy winter tires without studs. In this case, you need to use a more careful driving style on icy roads, especially at negative temperatures close to zero degrees.
When choosing winter tires, it can be useful to read the opinions of other users on the page
Tire marking decoding
In the description of each tire model there are columns "SIZE" And "INDICES". In this article, we offer you a decoding of these values.
Consider an example. In the graph "SIZE" value specified 185/70R14, in which:
185 - tire width in mm., 70 - the ratio of the height of the tire (from the landing rim to the outer edge of the wheel) to its width in percent,
The smaller this figure, the wider the tire looks, the "squatter" and more dynamic the car. However, all these advantages are good only on dry roads with ideal coverage.
R- radial cord construction, cord threads in carcass layers have a radial (meridional) arrangement, i.e. directed from side to side,
14
- mounting size of the rim in inches ( 1 inch=2.54cm).
In the graph "INDICES" the indices of the maximum load per tire in kilograms and the speed index are indicated - the maximum permissible speed in km / h, as well as additional indices characterizing the properties of a particular tire.
Below are tables of load and speed indices:
|
IN |
IN |
IN |
|||
|
71 |
345 |
112 |
1120 |
154 |
3750 |
|
72 |
355 |
113 |
1150 |
155 |
3875 |
|
73 |
365 |
114 |
1180 |
156 |
4000 |
|
74 |
375 |
115 |
1215 |
157 |
4125 |
|
75 |
387 |
116 |
1250 |
158 |
4250 |
|
76 |
400 |
117 |
1285 |
159 |
4375 |
|
77 |
412 |
118 |
1320 |
160 |
4500 |
|
78 |
425 |
119 |
1360 |
161 |
4625 |
|
79 |
437 |
120 |
1400 |
162 |
4750 |
|
80 |
450 |
121 |
1450 |
163 |
4875 |
|
81 |
462 |
122 |
1500 |
164 |
5000 |
|
82 |
475 |
123 |
1550 |
165 |
5150 |
|
83 |
487 |
124 |
1600 |
166 |
5300 |
|
84 |
500 |
125 |
1650 |
167 |
5450 |
|
85 |
515 |
126 |
1700 |
168 |
5600 |
|
86 |
530 |
127 |
1750 |
169 |
5800 |
|
87 |
545 |
128 |
1800 |
170 |
6000 |
|
88 |
560 |
129 |
1850 |
171 |
6150 |
|
89 |
580 |
130 |
1900 |
172 |
6300 |
|
90 |
600 |
131 |
2000 |
173 |
6500 |
|
91 |
615 |
132 |
2060 |
174 |
6700 |
|
92 |
630 |
133 |
2120 |
175 |
6900 |
|
93 |
650 |
134 |
2180 |
176 |
7100 |
|
94 |
670 |
135 |
2240 |
177 |
7300 |
|
95 |
690 |
136 |
2300 |
178 |
7500 |
|
96 |
710 |
137 |
2360 |
179 |
7750 |
|
97 |
730 |
138 |
2430 |
180 |
8000 |
|
98 |
750 |
139 |
2500 |
181 |
8250 |
|
99 |
775 |
140 |
2575 |
182 |
8500 |
|
100 |
800 |
141 |
2650 |
183 |
8750 |
|
101 |
825 |
142 |
2725 |
184 |
9000 |
|
102 |
850 |
143 |
2800 |
185 |
9250 |
|
103 |
875 |
144 |
2900 |
186 |
9500 |
|
104 |
900 |
145 |
3000 |
187 |
9750 |
|
105 |
925 |
146 |
3075 |
188 |
10000 |
|
106 |
950 |
147 |
3150 |
189 |
10300 |
|
107 |
975 |
148 |
3250 |
190 |
10600 |
|
108 |
1000 |
149 |
3350 |
191 |
10900 |
|
109 |
1030 |
150 |
3450 |
||
|
110 |
1060 |
151 |
3550 |
||
|
111 |
1090 |
152 |
3650 |
|
Speed index |
Maximum speed, km/h |
|
L |
120 |
|
M |
130 |
|
N |
140 |
|
P |
150 |
|
Q |
160 |
|
R |
170 |
|
S |
180 |
|
T |
190 |
|
U |
200 |
|
H |
210 |
|
V |
240 |
|
W |
270 |
|
Y |
300 |
|
Z |
Over 240 |
It is possible to specify additional characteristics:
"TL"- tubeless tire,
FR- tire with rim protection,
RF, XL- reinforced tire with increased load capacity,
Letter "E" enclosed in a circle - the European safety standard,
"dot"- American safety standard.
Letters "M+S""mud" (Mud) + "snow" (Snow) - winter and universal tires.
"A.W."- "any weather" (Any weather) - all-weather tires,
the same "AS"- "all seasons" (All Seasons).
Some firms use symbols-drawings instead of letters: sun, rain, snowflake.
The arrow on the sidewall of the wheel indicates the direction of rotation for rain rubber. If it rotates in the opposite direction, then water, instead of being removed from under the tire, will be pumped under it.
In addition to all these, three more digits are put on the tire: the week and year of manufacture,
- studded tires
We hope that this information will help you choose the best tires for your car.
When ordering discs from 4 pcs. premium shipping is free. (Alutec, ATS, Antera, Borbet, BBS, MAK, OZ Racing and Rial)
Some tire models have an additional sidewall element located in the bead area called the rim guard. It can be made in the form of a protruding rubber band or a special seal in the same area.
The purpose of these technical solutions is to protect the disc rim from contact with, for example, curbstones during a parking maneuver, since such contacts can lead to chips, abrasions and other surface damage to the disc.
Sports image
In addition to the function of reducing the negative impact of foreign objects on the wheel, the wheel rim protection has an aesthetic effect, endowing the visual combination of tire and wheel with a more sporty image.
Currently, the rim protection is an independent element of the tire, which does not have a generally accepted marking on the tire and / or in the designation of the tire article. In this regard, a number of manufacturers add their own markings indicating the presence of rim protection, while other manufacturers do not indicate this at all. There are several approaches that tire manufacturers use to protect the rim on tires:
- Applicable on a specific model, for all sizes that are available
- Applicable for certain geometric dimensions (e.g. low profile dimensions)
- It is used for certain sizes selected according to image features (for example, for sizes supplied as original equipment for sports cars)
Consultation needed
Due to the variety of approaches to the formation of a tire offer equipped with rim protection, as well as the lack of a single marking, it is necessary to consult (or seek clarification from the tire manufacturer) if it is necessary to choose a tire with this protective element.
For example, MICHELIN uses rim protection for sports models:,.
Attention! The rim protection is an independent structural element of the sidewall of the tire, it is not necessary for use on tires made according to the technology of self-supporting tires, as well as on tires with increased bearing capacity.
