Tyre Size Read: How to Check Your Tyre Size

Tyre Attributes

From the beginning since the first tyre ever produced, tyres have been under permanent development. Inventors revolutionized the tyre so much in last 100 years and more. For example tyres originally were white in color but with time manufacturers started adding carbon to the rubber compound for better heat dissipation and for less wear and longer miles. From many decades now as the car manufactures started developing their cars to the limit as in performance, comfort and fuel efficiency, they realized that the tyres not only play a import role in enhancing these characteristics of the car but they are also one of the five major safety components of the car. And on the other hand where tyre manufacturers started making tyres for professional racing championships in which they learned more about tyres and improved tyre technology to its limit. And together car manufactures and tyre manufacturers collaborated to produce tyres for specific car models to enhance performance, comfort, safety as well as fuel efficiency. 

Let’s start with the tyre size

How do you know what’s the right tyre size for your car? Well! Car come equipped with tyres from the factory and the tyres that come along with the car are the best suitable for your car, as engineers come up with those sizes to provide a perfect balance between performance, comfort and fuel efficiency unless the car is meant for specific purpose which can ignore 2 out of these three characters. The tyre size can be found on the sidewall of the tyre and it is always written in this pattern i.e. 205/55 R16 Tyres and along with load index and speed rating, for example 205/55R16 94H. And tyres come in three weather types that is summer tyres, winter tyres and all-season tyre.

Let’s talk more about these attributes

Like told above the tyre size comes in this pattern 205/55R16, now what does it mean. It means 205 is the width of the tyre and it is measured in mm (mille meters) and 55 is the tyre height or profile which is also measured in mm (mille meters) and finally the R16 is the internal diameter of the tyre or the diameter of its wheel and it is measured in inches.

Now there are different Car Tyres for different weathers for better performance, reliability and comfort. Their names say it all, for instance summer tyres are the tyres made for summers that can withstand the heat and still provide sufficient grip and other capabilities. The winter tyre is for winters (for temperatures below 7Ÿ Celsius), these tyres are usually made from natural rubber so that the rubber won’t contract or stiffen in cold weather whereas the tread pattern would provide traction over slippery icy terrains and snow. The all-season tyres provide best of the both worlds but it is not meant for extreme conditions for both weathers.

What else

If you feel the need than you can also look at the other tyre options like run-flat tyres, reinforced tyres, XL tyres, off-road tyres or mud-terrain tyres and others that suit your specific needs. Basically run-flat tyres can run even after a blow out or a leak after a puncture for a limited period of time at a limited speed with having to change. These tyres can get you to a safe spot or a nearest repair shop in case of a blow out or a puncture. Reinforced tyres have a strong built so that they can pickup heavy loads, usually used in pickups and trucks. XL means Extra large, and off-road and mud-terrain tyres are for extreme off-roading vehicles depending upon the terrain.