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How do I Choose the Right Tyre?

Find out your vehicle’s tyre size

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Find your size on your tyre

 

  • Look at the sidewall of any one of your tyres and make note of the numbers and letters on it.
  • The information will allow you to research tyres that fit your car.
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What do these letters and numbers mean? 

Tyre Width or Section Width

Tyre width (or thickness) in millimetres is measured from the widest point of a tyre’s outer sidewall to the widest point of its inner sidewall.

Aspect Ratio

Aspect ratio is the relationship between a tyre’s sidewall height and the tyre's width. The lower the ratio, the smaller the sidewall height, which means better cornering but a rougher ride.

Construction

This indicates the tyre’s internal construction. They can be “Radial” like most tyres, or D, for “Diagonal construction” or B, for “Belted”.*

Wheel Diameter

The number is in inches and indicates the diameter of the wheel on which the tyre is designed to fit.

Load Index

This indicates how much weight the tyre is certified to carry at maximum safe inflation. The numbers refer to a chart that specify the load capacity that the tyre can carry. For example, 97 = 1,609 pounds.

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Speed Rating chart

This indicates the maximum safe speed at which a tyre is certified to carry a load under specified conditions. Speed ratings range from A (lowest) to Y (highest), with one exception: H falls between U and V. To find the maximum speed for your tyre, refer to the speed rating chart. Exceeding the lawful speed limit is neither recommended nor endorsed.

Find your tyre size in your vehicle owner’s manual or on your car door

  • Find the information in your vehicle owner’s manual in the glove compartment or on the tyre information sticker in your driver or passenger door.
  • These documents usually contain all the information relating to your tyre size and specifications, as well as the appropriate tyre pressure.

See the “Find the tyre size on your tyre” section for a full description of the numbers and letters.

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What are OE tyres?

OE stands for “Original Equipment”, meaning that the tyres were approved by your vehicle manufacturer to be fitted as standard on your vehicle.

Some vehicle manufacturers, such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes and others, equip their vehicles with tyres that are specifically made for their brand. These tyres have a special OE marking on the sidewall. In this case, Michelin recommends replacing the tyres on your vehicle with tyres with the specific OE marking.


Table of OE markings by vehicle brand:

* = BMW, Mini
MO = Mercedes
AO = Audi
VO = Volkswagen
N0, N1, N2, N3, N4 = Porsche
MO1 = AMG
RO1 = QUATTRO

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