what does this symbol mean?

Tire sidewall markings

What each code and symbol moulded on a tire’s sidewall means: the size, load and speed, the DOT date code, the quality grades and the winter marks.

The codes and symbols moulded on a tire’s sidewall. In the US, FMVSS No. 139 requires each sidewall of a new light-vehicle radial tire to show the DOT symbol, the size, the maximum inflation pressure and the maximum load.

Tire size 9 symbols

Load and speed 11 symbols

DOT code 2 symbols

Quality grades (UTQG) 3 symbols

Winter and all-season 2 symbols

Other markings 7 symbols

Reading the size

Ford’s example is P215/65R15 95H. In the size, P is a passenger tire, 215 the width in millimetres, 65 the sidewall’s height as a percentage of that width, R radial and 15 the rim diameter in inches. LT, T and ST begin light truck, temporary spare and trailer tire sizes. A size with no letter, Yokohama explains, is a European (ETRTO) size.

Load and speed

The 95H is the service description: the load index, a code for the tire’s maximum load, and the speed rating, a letter for its speed category. H is 210 km/h (130 mph). Neither is required by law, NHTSA notes, unlike the maximum load and pressure.

The DOT code and its date

DOT certifies that the tire meets federal safety standards. The tire identification number after it has 13 symbols under 49 CFR 574.5, ending in a four-digit date code, week then year: 0109 is the first full week of 2009. Tires made before July 2000 may have three digits. FMVSS No. 139 requires the full number only on the sidewall meant to face out. NHTSA reports that some vehicle and tire manufacturers recommend replacing tires six to 10 years old; the USTMA says service life is not determined by age.

Quality grades

Under 49 CFR 575.104, passenger car tires carry three grades: TREADWEAR, a number in multiples of 20; TRACTION, AA, A, B or C, for stopping on wet pavement; and TEMPERATURE, A, B or C, for heat resistance.

Winter marks

The USTMA describes M+S as limited mud and snow service and sets tread-pattern criteria for it. The three-peak mountain snowflake is backed by a snow test: FMVSS No. 139 defines a snow tire as one that reaches a traction index of at least 112 against a reference tire and carries the symbol.

Approval marks and others

An E-mark, an E and a number for the approving country (E11 is the UK), shows approval under UN Regulation 30 or 54, the Australian Tyre Industry Council explains. Smaller marks include TWI pointing to the wear bars, a rotation arrow, OUTSIDE on asymmetric tires, run-flat letters, TUBELESS, and red and yellow dots for match mounting.

Sources

  1. Standard No. 139: New pneumatic radial tires for light vehicles, 49 CFR 571.139 (FMVSS 139), U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (Electronic Code of Federal Regulations), S5.5(b)–(d); S3 (Snow tire); S5.5(a), (g); S5.5.1(b)
  2. 2024 Ford Escape Owner’s Manual, Ford Motor Company, Wheel and Tire Information, p. 385
  3. Tire Safety: Everything Rides On It, DOT HS 809 361, U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (GovInfo), Tire Fundamentals, Passenger Car Tires; Load Index; Speed Rating
  4. How to Read Tire Markings and Sidewall Codes, Michelin North America, How to Read a Tire Size
  5. Sizing Information, Yokohama Tire Corporation, Sizing Information
  6. Frequently Asked Questions, Carlisle Transportation Products (The Carlstar Group), FAQ
  7. Replacement Tire Selection Manual, Ref. No. P-06-01, August 2006, Bridgestone Americas, p. 5, Size Description
  8. Tire Care and Safety Guide, U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA), pp. 5, 7, 8, 20-21
  9. 49 CFR 574.5: Tire identification requirements, 49 CFR 574.5, Office of the Federal Register, eCFR (NHTSA regulation), 574.5(a)(1), (b)(3)
  10. Tire Identification and Recordkeeping; final rule (64 FR 36807, July 8, 1999), 64 FR 36807, Federal Register, via govinfo.gov, Summary; B. The Petitions
  11. Tires, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Tire aging
  12. 49 CFR 575.104: Uniform tire quality grading standards, 49 CFR 575.104, Office of the Federal Register, eCFR (NHTSA regulation), 575.104(a), (d)(2), Figure 2
  13. Tire Information Service Bulletin Vol. 10 No. 8: USTMA Snow Tire Definition for Passenger and Light Truck Tires, TISB 10/8, U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA), TISB 10/8
  14. Advisory Bulletin 14: What are E (or e) markings on a tyre, ATIC Advisory Bulletin 14 (2020), Australian Tyre Industry Council (ATIC), pp. 1-2
  15. Car Tyre Load and Speed Markings, TyreSafe, What do tread wear indicators look like?
  16. Keep ’Em Rollin’ in the Right Direction, MOTOR magazine (Hearst), Rolling rotation
  17. MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles, 5. Axles, wheels, tyres and suspension, MOT inspection manual, section 5.2, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, GOV.UK, 5.2.3 Tyres
  18. Run flat tyres: what they are and how to identify them, Pirelli (UK), How to identify run flat tyres
  19. Mounting Your Tires, Yokohama Tire Corporation, Mounting your tires
  20. What is mount and balance tires? Concentric mounting, Bridgestone Americas (Firestone Commercial), Concentric mounting

Last reviewed September 29, 2026 by Rory Hansen. How we research