Typical tire symbols

Full-size tire

Compact spare tire

1. Tire size
2. DOT and Tire Identification Number (TIN)
3. Uniform tire quality grading
   For details, see “Uniform Tire Quality Grading” that follows.
4. Location of treadwear indicators
5. Tire ply composition and materials
   Plies are layers of rubber-coated parallel cords. Cords are the strands which form the plies in a tire.
6. Radial tires or bias-ply tires
   A radial tire has “RADIAL” on the sidewall. A tire not marked “RADIAL” is a bias-ply tire.
7. TUBELESS or TUBE TYPE
   A tubeless tire does not have a tube and air is directly put into the tire. A tube type tire has a tube inside the tire and the tube maintains the air pressure.
8. Load limit at maximum cold tire inflation pressure
9. Maximum cold tire inflation pressure
   This means the pressure to which a tire may be inflated.
10. Summer tires or all season tires
    An all season tire has “M+S” on the sidewall. A tire not marked “M+S” is a summer tire.
11. “TEMPORARY USE ONLY”
    A compact spare tire is identified by the phrase “TEMPORARY USE ONLY” molded on its sidewall. This tire is designed for temporary emergency use only.

• Typical DOT and Tire Identification Number (TIN)
• Tire size
• Tire section names
• Uniform Tire Quality Grading
• Glossary of tire terminology