Tyre Info

Information & Advice on Car Tyres

All of the car tyre advice and information that is listed below can give you the means to find out what type of tyre is suitable for your vehicle and driving style.

Tyre Size Info

Prior to purchasing a new tyre, you need to check what size your current one is.

You don’t need to carry out any measurements yourself, the tyre size should be displayed around the tyres sidewall.

The diagram on the left gives you an example of how the measurements should appear. In this instance, it will be in succession 195/55 R16 87V, this means:

205 = width (mm)
55 = profile (mm)
R16 = rim diameter (inches)
91 = maximum carrying load
W = speed rating

The above measurements can be entered into our tyre finder so you can find the most suitable one for your vehicle.

Tyre Labelling

Since the 1st July 2012, European regulations state that it’s a legal requirement in the EU for tyres to be labelled with performance information in a graded diagram.

It aims to help you understand how different tyres can impact your vehicle, safety and driving style. Fuel economy, braking in wet conditions and external noise categorises the performance grading.

You will find that fuel economy performance is graded A to G which is the same as household appliances. A is the highest grade and G is the lowest. As tyres contribute towards the amount of fuel that your vehicle consumes, it means that you could save around 80litres of fuel over their lifetime, resulting in a significant cash saving.

Like fuel economy performance, braking performance is graded from A to G too. So, the lower the grade, the longer the braking difference. This means that lower grades are much better and safer as there is a significant different between each grade – on average one or two car lengths.

The final performance label gives a breakdown of the external noise that will come from the tyre whilst you’re driving. It’s measured by decibels and is illustrated by black sound waves. There are three levels which are:

• One black wave – the noise level is low
• Two black waves – the noise level is average
• Three black waves – the noise level is higher than what is permitted in the EU

All of the information above shows the sheer importance of tyre labelling and how it can significantly impact your safety and other motorists around you.

Carrying Load Rating

The load index of your tyre can determine the maximum weight that the tyres can carry. In order to find the load index, see the tyre size info section.

It is essential not to exceed the maximum weight as it could make your insurance void.

In order to find the load that your tyres can carry, see the table below:

Tyre Speed Ratings

To find out the maximum speed that your tyre is able of maintaining you need to find the tyre speed rating. For a recap on how to find this, see the tyre size info section.

You need to ensure that your tyres speed rating is suitable for your vehicle as it could result in your insurance being void if you exceed it.

When you have the tyre speed rating, see the table below: