Q: I recently bought P205/70R15 95 T tires for my car. I know what most of these letters and numbers mean, but what does the “T” stand for?
A: The “T” is a speed rating, which ranges from “N” through “Z” with “N” being the lowest rating for a temporary spare with an 87-mph limit and Z the highest, capable of speeds up to and above 185 mph. The normal car tire is rated “S”, good for 112 mph. Your T tires are rated to 118 mph, but even if you never drive above the speed limit, a higher-rated tire will give you improved traction and better steering response.
Here’s what the rest of the code on your P205/70R15 95 T tire means:
P: indicates passenger car. You also may see “LT” for light truck and “T” for temporary spare.
205: The nominal width of the tire in millimeters.
70: Indicates the relationship of the tire sidewall height to the width of the tire.
R: Indicates a radial belted tire. You also may see “B” for belted bias and “D” for diagonal bias.
15: The wheel (rim) diameter in inches that is required for this tire. The most common are between 12 and 18 inches.
95: Load index. This can range from 71 to 110 (where 71 equals 761 pounds, and 110 equals 2,337 pounds).