Volvo S80 Owner's Manual page 223

06 Maintenance and specifications
Wheels and tires
Tire designations
Federal law mandates that tire manufacturers
place standardized information on the side-
wall of all tires (see the illustration).
The following information is listed on the tire
sidewall:
06
The tire designation (the following figures are
examples of a tire designation):
1. 215: the width of the tire (in millimeters)
from sidewall edge to sidewall edge. The
larger the number, the wider the tire.
2. 65: The ratio of the tire's height to its
width.
3. R: Radial tire.
4. 15: The diameter of the wheel rim (in
inches).
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5. 95: The tire's load index. In this exam-
ple, a load index of 95 equals a maxi-
mum load of 1521 lbs (690 kg).
6. H: The tire's speed rating, or the maxi-
mum speed at which the tire is designed
to be driven for extended periods of
time, carrying a permissible load for the
vehicle, and with correct inflation pres-
sure. For example, H indicates a speed
rating of 130 mph (210 km/h).
NOTE
This information may not appear on the tire
because it is not required by law.
7. M+S or M/S = Mud and Snow, AT = All
Terrain, AS = All Season
8. U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number
(TIN): This begins with the letters "DOT"
and indicates that the tire meets all
federal standards. The next two num-
bers or letters are the plant code where
it was manufactured, the next two are
the tire size code and the last four
numbers represent the week and year
the tire was built. For example, the
numbers 317 mean the 31st week of
1997. After 2000 the numbers go to four
digits. For example, 2501 means the
25th week of 2001. The numbers in
between are marketing codes used at
the manufacturer's discretion. This in-
formation helps a tire manufacturer
identify a tire for safety recall purposes.
9. Tire Ply Composition and Material
Used: Indicates the number of plies
indicates or the number of layers of
rubber-coated fabric in the tire tread
and sidewall. Tire manufacturers also
must indicate the ply materials in the tire
and the sidewall, which include steel,
nylon, polyester, and others.
10.Maximum Load: Indicates the maxi-
mum load in pounds and kilograms that
can be carried by the tire. Refer to the
vehicle's tire information placard or the
safety certification label, located on the
B-Pillar or the driver's door or on the
inside of the fuel filler door on Canadian
models, for the correct tire pressure for
your vehicle.
11.Treadwear, Traction, and Tempera-
ture grades: See page 226 for more
information.
12.Maximum permissible inflation pres-
sure: the greatest amount of air pres-
sure that should ever be put in the tire.
This limit is set by the tire manufacturer.