page_title: Tire code
section_title: Additional marks
hierarchical_section_title: Tire code / Additional marks
caption_attribution_description: English: Part of DOT code representing the week and year of manufacturing Deutsch: Teil des DOT Codes, der Woche und Jahr der Herstellung angibt
context_page_description: Automobile tires are described by an alphanumeric tire code or tyre code, which is generally molded into the sidewall of the tire. This code specifies the dimensions of the tire, and some of its key limitations, such as load-bearing ability, and maximum speed. Sometimes the inner sidewall contains information not included on the outer sidewall, and vice versa.
  The code has grown in complexity over the years, as is evident from the mix of SI and imperial units, and ad-hoc extensions to lettering and numbering schemes. New automotive tires frequently have ratings for traction, treadwear, and temperature resistance.
  Most tires sizes are given using the ISO Metric sizing system. However, some pickup trucks and SUVs use the Light Truck Numeric or Light Truck High Flotation system.
context_section_description: There are numerous other markings on a typical tire, these may include:
  M+S, or M&S: Mud and Snow; A tire that meets the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) and Rubber Association of Canada (RAC) all-season tire definition.  These are commonly found on all-season tires, with self-cleaning tread and average traction in muddy or very  snowy conditions, and for low temperatures. Spike tires have an additional letter, "E" (M+SE).
  M+T, or M&T: Mud and Terrain; Designed to perform in mud or on other terrain that requires additional traction such as on rocks, in deeper snow, and in loose gravel.
  Mountain Snowflake Pictograph: Winter passenger and light truck tires that meet the severe snow service requirements of Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) and Rubber Association of Canada (RAC).
  BSW: Black SideWall
  BSB: Broken Serrated Band
  WSW: White SideWall
  OWL: Outline White Lettering
  ORWL: Outlined Raised White Lettering
  RWL: Raised White Lettering
  VSB: Vertical Serrated Band
  BSL: Black Serrated Letters
  E4: Tire approved according to the ECE-regulations, the number indicating the country of approval.
  030908: Approval number of the tire
  DOT code: All tires for use in the USA have the DOT code, as required by the Department of Transportation (DOT).  It specifies the company, factory, mold, batch, and date of production (two digits for week of the year plus two digits for year; or two digits for week of the year plus one digit for year for tires made prior to 2000). Although not law, some tire manufacturers do not suggest using a "new" tire that has been sitting on the shelf for more than six years (Ford Motor Company) or 10 years (Cooper Tire citing a tire association recommendation).  JATMA, the Japanese Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association recommends that all tires be inspected at five years, and all tires that were manufactured more than ten years previous be replaced.
  TL: Tubeless
  TT: Tube-type, tire must be used with an inner-tube
  Made in ...: Country of production
  C: Commercial; tires for light trucks (Example: 185 R14 C)
  B: Bias belted; tires for motorcycles (Example: 150/70 B 17 69 H)—diagonal construction with belt added under the tread
  SFI, or Inner: Side Facing Inward; inside of asymmetric tires
  SFO, or Outer: Side Facing Outward; outside of asymmetric tires
  TWI: Tread Wear Indicator - a device, such as a triangle or a small Michelin Man icon, located where the tread meets the sidewall, and indicating the location of the raised wear bars in the tire tread channels - TWI is also used to refer to the raised wear bars themselves.
  LL: Light Load; tires for light usage and loads
  SL: Standard Load; tire for normal usage and loads
  XL: eXtra Load; a tire that allows a higher inflation pressure than a Standard Load tire, which increases the tire's maximum load
  RF: Reinforced—for Euro-metric tires, the term 'reinforced' means the same thing as 'Extra Load'
  RFT: Run-Flat Tire; Tires designed for vehicles without spare tires. Reinforced sidewalls allow the tire to be driven "flat" for a distance specified by the manufacturer (usually 50 miles).
  ZP: Zero-Pressure; Michelin's branding for their run-flat models.
  Arrows: Some tread designs are "directional", and designed to perform better when driven in a specific direction. Such tires will have an arrow showing which way the tire should rotate when the vehicle is moving forwards.
  MO: Original tires for Mercedes-Benz
  MOE: Mercedes-Benz Original Extended
  N-x: Original tires for Porsche where "x" is a "0" for the first approved in that size, "1" the second, ...
  Star: Original tires for BMW
  RSC (inside a circle): BMW Runflat System Component
  TPC: General Motors OE Fitments
  AMx: Aston Martin OE Fitments
  "100T": Commonly appears after tire size. Meaning: Standard Load Inflation Table (100) & Speed Rating (T)
  "J": Jaguar Original Manufacturer fitment
  To facilitate proper balancing, most tire manufacturers also mark red circles (uniformity) and/or yellow dots (weight) on the sidewalls of their tires to enable the best possible match-mounting of the tire/wheel assembly.
caption: Tire manufactured in 10th week of 2001
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