We know that tyres aren’t the most fascinating things on the planet, but sometimes all it takes is a bit of knowledge on the subject and suddenly you discover that they aren’t so boring after all. If you look closely, you’ll notice that the sidewall of your car’s tyres have all sorts of info stamped into the rubber.

This is useful stuff to know and can tell you all sorts of things, like the tyre size, maximum inflation pressure and tyre wear – it even gives you the maximum speed you can drive on the tyre.
It also helps to know the size of your tyres when you call up to ask for quotes on a new set. At the very least, it helps to know what you’re kicking when that annoying guy from the office stalls you in the car park...

Here is the rubber lingo deciphered:

1. Manufacturer (trademark or logo).

2. Size: 205 = tyre width in mm; 55 = height-to-width ratio in percent; R = radial construction; 16 = rim diameter in inches (code); 4 91 = load index; W = speed index; 5 SSR= special designation SSR; for runflat tyres (self-supporting runflat).

3. Tubeless.

4. Manufacturer’s code: date of manufacture (week/year) – 2205 means the twenty-second week of 2005.

5. TWI: tread wear indicator. Bar-like protuberances at several points of the longitudinal tread grooves appear once tread depth wears down to 1.6mm.

6. Load index: how much you can pile into your car.

7. Tread.

8. Limit for maximum inflation pressure (now you can authoritatively tell the guy at the garage how many bars are needed to inflate your tyre).

9. Traction: A, B or C = wet braking capability of the tyre.

10. Temperature: A, B or C = temperature stability of the tyre at higher test speeds.

Got questions about your tyre’s sidewall? Send us a question at tellwh@womenshealthsa.co.za