How to Read Your Tires
1: The peaked mountain with snowflake symbol indicates a snow tire.
2: M+S (Mud and Snow) indicates an all-season tire.
3: P stands for passenger vehicle (or you may find L for Light-duty vehicle).
4: 195 is the width of the tire in millimetres.
5: 60 is the “aspect ratio” - the ratio of the height of the sidewall to the width, expressed as a percentage.
6: R means the tire has radial construction.
7: 15 represents the wheel diameter in inches.
8: 87 is the load index.
9: Q is the speed rating.
The maple leaf symbol is the national tire safety mark of Canada. It means the manufacturer certifies that the 
tire meets Transport Canada requirements.
The identification number is
the reference number used by
the manufacturer to identify
specific tires.
The four digit code identifies the date of fabrication.
Below is a list of speed ratings along with the corresponding speeds they represent. Remember, the speeds are test speeds, not recommended speeds. Speeds are in US imperial format:
Q- Up to 100mph
R- Up to 106mph
S- Up to 112mph
T- Up to 118mph
U- Up to 124mph
H- Up to 130mph
V- Up to 149mph
W- Up to 168mph
Y- Up to 186mph
Z- 149mph and over
The load index refers to the load-carrying capacity of a tire, or how much weight a tire can support. For example, if a tire has a load index of 89, it can support 1,279 pounds (from below chart) at maximum air pressure. Multiply that by four (4 x 1,279 = 5,116 pounds) to get your maximum load-carrying capacity. It is not recommended to install tires with a lower load index than what came on your car from the factory:
| Load Index |
Load (lbs) |
Load Index |
Load (lbs) |
Load Index |
 Load (lbs) |
||||
| 0 | 99 |  |
50 | 419 | |
100 | 1764 | |
|
| 1 | 102 | |
51 | 430 | |
101 | 1819 | |
|
| 2 | 105 | |
52 | 441 | |
102 | 1874 | |
|
| 3 | 107 | |
53 | 454 | |
103 | 1929 | |
|
| 4 | 110 | |
54 | 467 | |
104 | 1984 | |
|
| 5 | 114 | |
55 | 481 | |
105 | 2039 | |
|
| 6 | 117 | |
56 | 494 | |
106 | 2094 | |
|
| 7 | 120 | |
57 | 507 | |
107 | 2149 | |
|
| 8 | 123 | |
58 | 520 | |
108 | 2205 | |
|
| 9 | 128 | |
59 | 536 | |
109 | 2271 | |
|
| 10 | 132 | |
60 | 551 | |
110 | 2337 | |
|
| 11 | 136 | |
61 | 567 | |
111 | 2403 | |
|
| 12 | 139 | |
62 | 584 | |
112 | 2469 | |
|
| 13 | 143 | |
63 | 600 | |
113 | 2535 | |
|
| 14 | 148 | |
64 | 617 | |
114 | 2601 | |
|
| 15 | 152 | |
65 | 639 | |
115 | 2679 | |
|
| 16 | 157 | |
66 | 639 | |
116 | 2756 | |
|
| 17 | 161 | |
67 | 677 | |
117 | 2833 | |
|
| 18 | 165 | |
68 | 694 | |
118 | 2910 | |
|
| 19 | 171 | |
69 | 716 | |
119 | 2998 | |
|
| 20 | 176 | |
70 | 739 | |
120 | 3086 | |
|
| 21 | 182 | |
71 | 761 | |
121 | 3197 | |
|
| 22 | 187 | |
72 | 783 | |
122 | 3307 | |
|
| 23 | 193 | |
73 | 805 | |
123 | 3417 | |
|
| 24 | 198 | |
74 | 827 | |
124 | 3527 | |
|
| 25 | 204 | |
75 | 852 | |
125 | 3638 | |
|
| 26 | 209 | |
76 | 882 | |
126 | 3748 | |
|
| 27 | 215 | |
77 | 908 | |
127 | 3858 | |
|
| 28 | 220 | |
78 | 937 | |
128 | 3968 | |
|
| 29 | 227 | |
79 | 963 | |
129 | 4079 | |
|
| 30 | 234 | |
80 | 992 | |
130 | 4189 | |
|
| 31 | 240 | |
81 | 1019 | |
131 | 4289 | |
|
| 32 | 247 | |
82 | 1047 | |
132 | 4409 | |
|
| 33 | 254 | |
83 | 1074 | |
133 | 4541 | |
|
| 34 | 260 | |
84 | 1102 | |
134 | 4674 | |
|
| 35 | 267 | |
85 | 1135 | |
135 | 4806 | |
|
| 36 | 276 | |
86 | 1168 | |
136 | 4938 | |
|
| 37 | 282 | |
87 | 1201 | |
137 | 5071 | |
|
| 38 | 291 | |
88 | 1235 | |
138 | 5203 | |
|
| 39 | 300 | |
89 | 1279 | |
139 | 5357 | |
|
| 40 | 309 | |
90 | 1323 | |
140 | 5512 | |
|
| 41 | 320 | |
91 | 1356 | |
141 | 5677 | |
|
| 42 | 331 | |
92 | 1389 | |
142 | 5842 | |
|
| 43 | 342 | |
93 | 1433 | |
143 | 6008 | |
|
| 44 | 353 | |
94 | 1477 | |
144 | 6173 | |
|
| 45 | 364 | |
95 | 1521 | |
145 | 6393 | |
|
| 46 | 375 | |
96 | 1565 | |
146 | 6614 | |
|
| 47 | 386 | |
97 | 1609 | |
147 | 6779 | |
|
| 48 | 397 | |
98 | 1653 | |
148 | 6844 | |
|
| 49 | 408 | |
99 | 1709 | |
149 | 7165 | |
|
|
|
|
150 | 7385 |