09 Wheels and tires
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09
1. 215: the width of the tire (in millimeters)
from sidewall edge to sidewall edge. The
larger the number, the wider the tire.
7. M+S or M/S = Mud and Snow, AT = All
Terrain, AS = All Season
11. Treadwear, Traction, and Temperature
grades: see Tire specifications – Uniform
Tire Quality Grading (p. 304) for more
information.
8. U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number
(TIN): This begins with the letters "DOT"
and indicates that the tire meets all fed-
eral standards. The next two numbers or
letters are the plant code where it was
manufactured, the next two are the tire
size code and the last four numbers rep-
resent the week and year the tire was
built. For example, 1510 means that the
tire was manufactured during week 15 of
2010. The numbers in between are mar-
keting codes used at the manufacturer's
discretion. This information helps a tire
manufacturer identify a tire for safety
recall purposes.
2. 65: The ratio of the tire's height to its
width in percent.
12. Maximum permissible inflation
pressure: the greatest amount of air
pressure that should ever be put in the
tire. This limit is set by the tire manufac-
turer.
3. R: Radial tire (the designation RF and the
symbol indicate that the vehicle is
equipped with optional self-supporting
run flat tires4.
4. 15: The diameter of the wheel rim (in
inches).
5. 95: The tire's load index. In this example,
a load index of 95 equals a maximum
load of 1521 lbs (690 kg).
6. H: The tire's speed rating, or the maxi-
mum speed at which the tire is designed
to be driven for extended periods of time,
carrying a permissible load for the vehi-
cle, and with correct inflation pressure.
For example, H indicates a speed rating
of 130 mph (210 km/h).
9. Tire Ply Composition and Material
Used: Indicates the number of plies indi-
cates or the number of layers of rubber-
coated fabric in the tire tread and side-
wall. Tire manufacturers also must indi-
cate the ply materials in the tire and the
sidewall, which include steel, nylon, poly-
ester, and others.
NOTE
The tire's load index and speed rating may
not appear on the sidewall because they
are not required by law.
10. Maximum Load: Indicates the maximum
load in pounds and kilograms that can be
carried by the tire. Refer to the vehicle's
tire information placard located on the B-
Pillar for the correct tire pressure for your
vehicle.
4
Self-supporting run flat tires may not be available on all models
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