Nominal section width: The second part of the code is a 3-digit number that describes the nominal section width of the tire in millimeters (mm). Tires with the T specification are usually spare tires that are not intended for everyday use. These types of tires are used for trailers such as boat trailers, utility trailers, and travel trailers. Tires with the LT specification are designed to carry heavy loads and are capable of towing trailers. Tires with the P specification are intended for use with cars, SUVs, crossovers, minivans, and smaller pickup trucks. Intended use: The first part of the code is made up of 1 or 2 letters (P, LT, ST, T) that describe the type of vehicle that the tire is intended to be used with. Each part of the code describes some characteristic of the tire refer to the figure below. Being able to read the tire code can be important, particularly when considering getting new wheels or tires, as being able to read the tire code is necessary for calculating things like tire size. Tire 1: / RĬar tires are described by an alphanumeric code, as shown in the figure below. Use this calculator to compare the sizes of two tires both numerically and visually.
