Tyre and wheel designations/date of manufacture (VW Polo 4)

Example of tire designation

• 195 — tire width in mm.
• /70 — height to width ratio (the height of the tire cross-section is 70% of the width).

If there is no special indication of the ratio of transverse dimensions (for example, 155 R13), then we are talking about the normal ratio of height and width, which for radial tires is 82%.

• R - radial design (radial tire).
• 14 - rim diameter in inches.
• 89 - permissible load characteristic.

Please note: If there is an M+S designation between the numbers 14 and 89, then this is a tire with a winter tread pattern.

• H is the letter designation of the permissible maximum speed, H: up to 210 km/h.

The letter indicating the maximum permissible speed is located at the end of the tire size designation. Speed symbols are valid for both summer and winter tires.

Letter designation of speed

Please note: If the tire designation is followed by the word reinforced, this means that the tire is of a reinforced design, for example for Van and Transporter vehicles.

Date of tire manufacture

The date of manufacture is indicated on the tire in the manufacturer's code.

Example: DOT CUL2 UM8 4803 TUBELESS

• DOT — Departament of Transportation (ministry of Transport)
• CU — manufacturer's abbreviation
• L2 — tire size
• UM8 — tire design
• 4803 - production date - 48th week of 2003

Note: If instead of a 4-digit number a 3-digit number is specified, followed by a symbol <, then this means that the tire was manufactured in the last decade. Designation 509<, for example, should be read as follows: 50th week of 1999.

• TUBELESS — tubeless tire (TUBETYPE — tube tire)

Please note: Since 10/98 new tyres must additionally bear the ECE test number on the sidewall (Economic Commission for Europe). This number indicates that the tires comply with the ECE standard. Tires manufactured from 10/98 without an ECE number do not have permission to operate.

Example of disc wheel designation:

5½J x 15 H2, ET38, LK 4/100

• 5½—inner rim width in inches.
• J is a letter designation of the height and contours of the rim (B is a low rim shape).
• x is the letter designation of a solid deep rim.
• 15 — rim seat diameter in inches.
• H2—the rim profile has a hump on the outside and inside (protective bead that prevents the tire from slipping off the rim).
• ET38 — rim fitting depth: 38 mm. This size in millimetres indicates how far the rim mounting surface is from its central plane.
• LK 4/100 - in this example the rim is secured with four bolts located around a circle with a diameter of 100 mm.