2009 Volvo XC90 Owner's Manual - Page 172

07 Wheels and tires

Tire designations

07

172

1

2

3

4

5

6

12

11

10

8

7

9

G026442

Federal law mandates that tire manufacturers

place standardized information on the sidewall

of all tires (see the illustration).

The following information is listed on the tire

sidewall:

The tire designation (the following figures are

examples of a tire designation):

215

: the width of the tire (in millimeters)

from sidewall edge to sidewall edge. The

larger the number, the wider the tire.

65

: The ratio of the tire's height to its width.

R

: Radial tire.

15

: The diameter of the wheel rim (in

inches).

95

: The tire's load index. In this example, a

load index of 95 equals a maximum load of

1521 lbs (690 kg).

H

: The tire's speed rating, or the maximum

speed at which the tire is designed to be

driven for extended periods of time, carry-

ing a permissible load for the vehicle, and

with correct inflation pressure. For exam-

ple, H indicates a speed rating of 130 mph

(210 km/h).

NOTE

This information may not appear on the tire

because it is not required by law.

M+S

or

M/S

= Mud and Snow;

AT

= All

Terrain;

AS

= All Season

U.S. DOT

Tire Identification Number (TIN):

This begins with the letters "DOT" and indi-

cates that the tire meets all federal stand-

ards. The next two numbers or letters are

the plant code where it was manufactured,

the next two are the tire size code and the

last four numbers represent the week and

year the tire was built. For example, the

numbers 317 mean the 31st week of 1997.

After 2000 the numbers go to four digits.

For example, 2501 means the 25th week of

2001. The numbers in between are mar-

keting codes used at the manufacturer's

discretion. This information helps a tire

manufacturer identify a tire for safety recall

purposes.

Tire Ply Composition and Material Used:

Indicates the number of plies indicates or

the number of layers of rubber-coated fab-

ric in the tire tread and sidewall. Tire man-

ufacturers also must indicate the ply mate-

rials in the tire and the sidewall, which

include steel, nylon, polyester, and others.

2009 Volvo XC90 Owner's Manual - Page 172

2009 Volvo XC90 Manual

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