124
General
New tyres
Bear in mind that tyres are perishable goods - after a
few years they begin to harden while their friction
properties deteriorate little by little. Try to use fresh
tyres when changing.
This is especially important for winter tyres.
The week and year of manufacture is indicated with
4 digits (e.g. 1502 indicates tyres manufactured
week 15, 2002)
General about wheels and tyres
All tyres have a dimension designation, such as 215/55R16 93W.
These tyre size designations, which are used by all tyre manufacturers,
can be interpreted as follows:
215 section width (mm)
55 relationship between the section height and width (%)
R means radial tyre
16 wheel rim diameter in inches (")
93 code digits for maximum permissible tyre load, in this case 650 kg
W specifies that the tyre is manufactured for speeds up to
270 km/h (168 mph).
Your car is fully approved, which means that you may not deviate from
those dimensions and performance ratings indicated in the vehicle registra-
tion. The only exception from these regulations concerns winter tyres and
studded tyres, which may have different dimensions and a different speed
rating than indicated in the registration. If you select tyres with different
dimensions, do not drive at speeds faster than those permitted. The most
common speed ratings are indicated in the following table:
Q 160 km/h, used most often with studded tyres
T 190 km/h
H 210 km/h
V 240 km/h
W 270 km/h
Note: maximum permissible speeds indicated.
When you change tyres: be sure to use the same type (radial), dimension,
designation, and brand on all four wheels. Otherwise, there is a risk that
the handling characteristics of the car could change. Check with your dealer
regarding dimensions which are available for your car. Keep in mind that
the road surface can determine how fast you may drive, not the tyre speed
rating.
English 
