It’s easy to believe that all tires are the same when you don’t take the time to think about them. In actuality, tires come in many different shapes and sizes, and they’re definitely not one-size-fits-all parts of your vehicle. If you know you need to replace a tire or want to get a wholly new set, you can use these tips for finding your tire size to ensure you get the right ones.

Finding Your Tire Size

You have a few options for finding the size of your tires, and none of them involve a lengthy search. All the methods for determining what size tires you have involve looking within your vehicle. You want to search for a string of numbers (and some letters) that will give you everything you need to know about what tires you have. Here are pointers on how to find your tire size:

Look at the Tire’s Sidewall

The code you’re looking for may be sticking up from the side of your tires themselves. Just examine their sidewalls. Sometimes, these numbers are harder to locate because they’re the same color and texture as the rubber on the rest of the tires.

Look at the Driver’s Side Doorjamb

Perhaps a slightly easier way to find your tire size is to look inside the doorjamb on the driver’s side of the vehicle. On most vehicles, you can find a sticker there that has your tire measurements and other useful information. The sticker is usually white or yellow.

Look in the Owner’s Manual

While not the simplest method of finding your tire size, locating the exact tire measurements in the owner’s manual that came with the vehicle is still a valid option. If your tires are too worn and your door jam sticker is missing for some reason, you can always trust the owner’s manual.

Understanding Your Tire Size

The letters and numbers you see indicate your tire’s measurement in a few different areas. Here’s how to decipher them:

1. Tire type: The first letter indicates the tire’s type. “P” is for passenger, “LT” is for light truck, etc.
2. Width: The first three numbers are the tire’s width from one sidewall to the other in millimeters.
3. Aspect ratio: This is a percentage that indicates the aspect ratio between the height and width of the tire’s cross-section.
4. Construction: Another letter will tell you the tire’s about construction. “B” is for bias, “R” is for radial, etc.
5. Rim diameter: These numbers will tell you the tire rim’s diameter, specifically in inches for US tires.
6. Load index: After the large space, the next few numbers indicate in pounds the tire’s load-carrying capacity.
7. Speed rating: The lower in the alphabet this letter is, the higher the top speed the tire can possibly handle.

Visit our tire shop in Lubbock if you need any help understanding or replacing your tires. Here at RNR Tire Express, we’re always happy to help any driver find the best tires for their vehicle.

Locations: Lubbock (N. University Ave), TX, Lubbock (S. University Ave), TX