To find the right set of tyres, all the important specifications are summarized in the tire markings on the sidewall. We explain exactly how to decipher these markings here.
The information on the outer sidewall of your current tires includes the tire manufacturer, tire type, speed rating, manufacturing date (DOT number), and more. These details can also be found in the registration certificate part I.
Please note: The specifications may differ between the front and rear axles.
If you're new to tire markings, the letters and letter combinations can initially seem confusing. For example: M stands for a maximum speed of 130 km/h, which often applies to emergency and spare tires, typically labeled RF (Runflat Tires). Tires marked with H are approved for up to 210 km/h. There are many other gradations in between...
No worries! Our graphic makes it easy to understand what the numbers and letters on your tire mean.
Fabricant de pneus (marque)
Désignation du profil / Type de pneu
What Deviations Between Vehicle Registration and Tires Are Allowed?
Deviating from the principle that the designations in the vehicle papers and on the tire must match, the following exceptions apply:
- Load Index (LI): The load index of the mounted tire may be higher than the corresponding entry in the vehicle papers. Example: Vehicle registration 195/65 R 15 91 T, tire marking: 195/65 R 15 89 T.
- Speed Symbol: It may be "higher-rated" than the corresponding entries in the papers. Example: Vehicle registration 205/55 R 16 91 H, permissible tires marked: 205/55 R 16 91 V.
- Winter/All-Season Tires: The speed index may apply to lower maximum speeds than those listed in the vehicle papers for summer tires. In these cases, a sticker indicating the M+S marking with a snowflake symbol must be placed within the driver's view. Example: Vehicle registration 195/65 R 15 89 H (summer tires), permissible are also tires marked: 195/65 R 15 89 Q M+S marking with snowflake symbol. In this case, the vehicle's maximum permissible speed is limited to the tire's speed rating and must be strictly observed.
- P Tyres: Tyres marked with a "P" were manufactured in the USA or Australia. The "P" indicates their intended use as "Passenger Car" tires. They are thus intended for standard passenger vehicles. They may be used if they are marked in accordance with ECE-R30, meaning their operational marking must comply with the form shown in this information sheet. If the marking deviates from ECE-R 30 (e.g., no load index, no speed index), the tire manufacturer must provide written confirmation of the tire's compliance with the corresponding ECE standards. This confirmation must always be carried by the driver. If "P" tires are listed in the papers (especially for US models), ECE-R 30 approved tires may also be used, provided the marking on the tire matches the vehicle papers, except for the missing "P."
- ZR and VR Tyres: If these are still listed in the papers of older vehicles, similarly sized W tires (up to 270 km/h) with sufficient load capacity may be used, provided the vehicle's maximum speed does not exceed 260 km/h (according to vehicle registration number 6) and no additional type or manufacturer restrictions (number 33) are listed. In case of doubt, consult the vehicle or tire manufacturer.
If you want to mount tires with dimensions not listed in the vehicle papers, please contact us. We can inform you if additional tire dimensions have been subsequently approved or if other wheel-tire combinations are permissible.
The width is indicated in millimeters (e.g., 195 mm). Standardized tire sizes allow most tires to be mounted on rims of different widths. These differences in width may mean that only certain manufacturers' tires can be fitted on specific vehicles (brand binding). The use of snow chains may also be restricted to specific tire brands. Please refer to the information in the vehicle papers and the owner's manual.
This refers to the ratio of the tire's height to its width as a percentage. A /50 means the tire height is half the tire width. With decreasing ratio numbers, the tire sidewall becomes lower—a typical appearance for sporty vehicles (225/45...).
"R" stands for "Radial," which is the standard construction today, with radially arranged carcass threads. Until the 1960s, diagonal tires were the standard. If still produced for special cases (e.g., classic cars), a "D" or "-" appears instead of "R." Note: Only one type of tire construction may be mounted. Mixed tires—i.e., diagonal and radial tires on one vehicle—are not permitted according to StVZO § 36. Example: 195/65 R15
The rim diameter is measured diagonally from one rim edge to the opposite rim edge, usually specified in inches ("). The most common sizes range from 15" to 22". Example: 225/45 R17
The load index (also known as Load Index or Carrying Capacity Index) indicates the maximum load a tire can support. Check your vehicle documents or the sidewall of your current tire. Example: If your current tire reads 195/55 R16 87 V, the number 87 refers to a load index of 87. However, this does not represent 87 kg—it is just a code that needs to be converted. A quick look at our table below will help. A load index of 87 corresponds to a load capacity of 545 kg.
|
Load Index
|
Load per Tyre [kg]
|
|
Load Index
|
Load per Tyre [kg]
|
|
Load Index
|
Load per Tyre [kg]
|
|
19
|
77,5
|
|
81
|
462
|
|
143
|
2725
|
|
20
|
80
|
|
82
|
475
|
|
144
|
2800
|
|
21
|
82,5
|
|
83
|
487
|
|
145
|
2900
|
|
22
|
85
|
|
84
|
500
|
|
146
|
3000
|
|
23
|
87,5
|
|
85
|
515
|
|
147
|
3075
|
|
24
|
90
|
|
86
|
530
|
|
148
|
3150
|
|
25
|
92,5
|
|
87
|
545
|
|
149
|
3250
|
|
26
|
95
|
|
88
|
560
|
|
150
|
3350
|
|
27
|
97,5
|
|
89
|
580
|
|
151
|
3450
|
|
28
|
100
|
|
90
|
600
|
|
152
|
3550
|
|
29
|
103
|
|
91
|
615
|
|
153
|
3650
|
|
30
|
106
|
|
92
|
630
|
|
154
|
3750
|
|
31
|
109
|
|
93
|
650
|
|
155
|
3875
|
|
32
|
112
|
|
94
|
670
|
|
156
|
4000
|
|
33
|
115
|
|
95
|
690
|
|
157
|
4125
|
|
34
|
118
|
|
96
|
710
|
|
158
|
4250
|
|
35
|
121
|
|
97
|
730
|
|
159
|
4375
|
|
36
|
125
|
|
98
|
750
|
|
160
|
4500
|
|
37
|
128
|
|
99
|
775
|
|
161
|
4625
|
|
38
|
132
|
|
100
|
800
|
|
162
|
4750
|
|
39
|
136
|
|
101
|
830
|
|
163
|
4875
|
|
40
|
140
|
|
102
|
850
|
|
164
|
5000
|
|
41
|
145
|
|
103
|
875
|
|
165
|
5150
|
|
42
|
150
|
|
104
|
900
|
|
166
|
5300
|
|
43
|
155
|
|
105
|
925
|
|
167
|
5450
|
|
44
|
160
|
|
106
|
950
|
|
168
|
5600
|
|
45
|
165
|
|
107
|
975
|
|
169
|
5850
|
|
46
|
170
|
|
108
|
1000
|
|
170
|
6000
|
|
47
|
175
|
|
109
|
1030
|
|
171
|
6150
|
|
48
|
180
|
|
110
|
1060
|
|
172
|
6300
|
|
49
|
185
|
|
111
|
1090
|
|
173
|
6500
|
|
50
|
190
|
|
112
|
1120
|
|
174
|
6700
|
|
51
|
195
|
|
113
|
1150
|
|
175
|
6900
|
|
52
|
200
|
|
114
|
1180
|
|
176
|
7100
|
|
53
|
206
|
|
115
|
1215
|
|
177
|
7300
|
|
54
|
212
|
|
116
|
1250
|
|
178
|
7500
|
|
55
|
218
|
|
117
|
1285
|
|
179
|
7750
|
|
56
|
224
|
|
118
|
1320
|
|
180
|
8000
|
|
57
|
230
|
|
119
|
1360
|
|
181
|
8250
|
|
58
|
236
|
|
120
|
1400
|
|
182
|
8500
|
|
59
|
243
|
|
121
|
1450
|
|
183
|
8750
|
|
60
|
250
|
|
122
|
1500
|
|
184
|
9000
|
|
61
|
257
|
|
123
|
1550
|
|
185
|
9250
|
|
62
|
265
|
|
124
|
1600
|
|
186
|
9500
|
|
63
|
272
|
|
125
|
1650
|
|
187
|
9750
|
|
64
|
280
|
|
126
|
1700
|
|
188
|
10000
|
|
65
|
290
|
|
127
|
1750
|
|
189
|
10300
|
|
66
|
300
|
|
128
|
1800
|
|
190
|
10600
|
|
67
|
307
|
|
129
|
1850
|
|
191
|
10900
|
|
68
|
315
|
|
130
|
1900
|
|
192
|
11200
|
|
69
|
325
|
|
131
|
1950
|
|
193
|
11500
|
|
70
|
335
|
|
132
|
2000
|
|
194
|
11800
|
|
71
|
345
|
|
133
|
2060
|
|
195
|
12150
|
|
72
|
355
|
|
134
|
2120
|
|
196
|
12500
|
|
73
|
365
|
|
135
|
2180
|
|
197
|
12850
|
|
74
|
375
|
|
136
|
2240
|
|
198
|
13200
|
|
75
|
387
|
|
137
|
2300
|
|
199
|
13600
|
|
76
|
400
|
|
138
|
2360
|
|
200
|
14000
|
|
77
|
412
|
|
139
|
2430
|
|
201
|
14500
|
|
78
|
425
|
|
140
|
2500
|
|
202
|
15000
|
|
79
|
437
|
|
141
|
2575
|
|
203
|
15550
|
|
80
|
450
|
|
142
|
2650
|
|
204
|
16000
|
Your new tires must not have a lower load index than what is specified in the vehicle documents. However, a higher value is permissible.
The speed index is a letter that indicates the maximum permissible speed of the tire. The following speed categories are associated with the respective letters. These are the typical speed indexes for passenger cars:
|
GSY
|
km/h
|
|
M
|
130
|
|
N
|
140
|
|
P
|
150
|
|
Q
|
160
|
|
R
|
170
|
|
S
|
180
|
|
T
|
190
|
|
U
|
200
|
|
H
|
210
|
|
V
|
240
|
|
W
|
270
|
|
Y
|
300
|
|
ZR
|
>240
|
Today, almost all passenger car tires are of the "tubeless" type. Installing a tube is not only unnecessary but also not allowed. Exception: Tires for classic cars are exempt from this construction type approval requirement.
Previous encoding system: The last 3 digits of the so-called "DOT" number indicate the manufacturing date. The first two digits represent the production week, and the last digit is the final number of the year. Example: 1121 = 11th week of 2021.
The abbreviation "TWI" (Tread Wear Indicator) is stamped multiple times around the sidewall of the tire. Instead of the TWI abbreviation, there may also be a triangular marking. This symbol indicates whether a tire is worn out—that is, if the tire tread no longer meets the required minimum depth. When the tire is worn to the point where the indicator is level with the tread, the tire must be replaced. The reason: Studies show that adhesion, especially on wet surfaces, significantly decreases when the tread depth falls below approximately 3 mm!
If you find the markings C, CP, XL, or HL on your tire sidewall, they indicate specific dimension categories:
- C Tires: These are transporter tires.
- CP Tires: These are tires for campers/motorhomes.
- XL Tires: These have a higher load capacity, necessary for vehicles such as vans. Many manufacturers have already transitioned to producing certain dimensions only in the XL version, as these tires do not differ from "normal" tires except in terms of load capacity.
- HL Tires: These are used on some electric vehicles, as the high battery weight requires more load capacity.
Winter tires are marked with "M+S" and the symbol of a snowflake on a mountain. This indicates that the tire type is suitable for the specific requirements of winter operation.
