To conclude, tire monitoring systems are a valuable tool for the driver of a vehicle, but should not eliminate the periodic air pressure check needed to keep tires properly inflated. What do the numbers mean on the sidewall of a tire?
As our example, the tire information used will be P245/70R16 106S The first letter designates the tire type. P for a passenger vehicle tire, LT for a light truck tire and T for a temporary or spare tire. The next three numbers denote the tire width in millimeters, measured from sidewall to sidewall. In this example, the width of the tire is 245 mm. The next pair of numbers is the aspect ratio. It tells the height of the tire from the bead to the top of the tread and is a percentage of the tire width. In the example, the tires height is 70% of 245 mm, or 171.5 mm. High performance tires usually have a lower aspect ratio than other tires. This is because tires with a lower aspect ratio provide better lateral stability. Tires with a lower profile have shorter, stiffer sidewalls so they resist cornering forces better. The letter R indicates that the tire was made using radial construction. Older tires were made using bias ply construction. The number 16 specifies, in inches, the wheel diam
