Furthermore, OEMs aren't identical across the board, and they can even differ among a specific brand's different styles or trims. The tires were specially manufactured to emphasize and highlight your vehicle's features. For example, a Jeep's OEM tires are significantly different that a hybrid's OEM tires.
Your OEM tires will have a lower number because their made of softer rubber. If the tires that came on your car had a 200 tread wear index and you replaced them with 400, you should get twice the mileage on your second set of tires.
The number is the load rating, or the amount of weight that it can handle. The letter is the speed rating, or the maximum speed the tire is built for. Consult a load and speed index to find out what your tire's specific rating means.
Tire Speed Rating ChartFor tires with a maximum speed capability higher than 240 km/h (149 mph), a "ZR" may appear in the size designation. Tires with a maximum speed capability higher than 300 km/h (186 mph), require a "ZR" in the size designation.
It may be tentative, but tires do have an expiration date. There is a general consensus that most tires should be inspected, if not replaced, at about six years and should be absolutely be swapped out after 10 years, regardless of how much tread they have left.
The federally-mandated Tire Identification Number (TIN) molded into the sidewall has the code. The TIN will tell you the tire plant, the tire size code, the manufacturer's code and the date of manufacturer code.
An original equipment manufacturer (OEM) traditionally is defined as a company whose goods are used as components in the products of another company, which then sells the finished item to users.
The Uniform Tire Quality Grade is a comparative assessment applied to most car tires (excluding winter tires) to help consumers make informed decisions. The manufacturers grade the tires themselves for temperature, traction, and tread wear.
Inner-Edge Tread WearInner-edge tire tread wear is the most common tread wear problem most technicians see. The angles causing this type of wear are typically negative toe and camber. For parts, there are three component sources of the inner-edge tread wear: bushings, springs and loads.
In addition to having a better inventory, car dealerships often get their tires at significant discounts. This means they can turn around and sell them to you at a cheaper price than other retailers. Because of this, you can usually end up spending less on tires from a dealership than you would from a big box retailer.
If you've just bought a new car, there's a very good chance your tires won't last as long as you'd expect. Though they may be brand new, it boils down to the fact that the tires you get when you buy your new car usually aren't designed by a major manufacturer brand like Firestone, Michelin, or Goodyear.
Michelin® offers the best tires for Toyota to meet your safety and performance needs for every season and function.
Wheels and tires are not interchangeable words. Tires are a part of the wheel setup. For instance, your vehicle has a set size of rims, but you can buy different sizes of tires to fit those rims, as long as the middle of the tires is the correct size.
