Along with the manufacturer’s name and the name of the tyre (e.g. Bridgestone Ecopia), there’s always a set of numbers and letters that relate to the size of the tyre. Here’s a rundown on what those numbers mean:
Example: 195/65R15 91V
- 195 is the width of the tyre in millimetres.
- 65 is the aspect ratio or tyre profile.
- R means it is radial construction.
- 15 is the diameter of the wheel rim in inches.
- 91V is the load and speed rating for the tyre.
What’s a tyre’s profile?
This relates to the depth of the sidewall (the wall at the side of the tyre). The profile is expressed as a percentage of the tyre’s width. Eg. Our 195/65R15 tyre has a profile or sidewall that is 65% of the 195mm (width). A low-profile tyre is generally 50% or below, down to as little as 30% with ultra-low profile tyres. Higher performance vehicles are usually fitted with tyres that have lower profiles.
While low profile tyres give you greater control and better handling on corners, they can give a slightly harder ride. Also, going to a lower profile on the same size wheels will alter your speedometer reading so you’ll need to fix that up before you hit the road.
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