Tire Sidewall Labeling - Buick Encore GX 2023 Owner's Manual

Use only radial ply tires of the same size,
load range, and speed rating as the
original equipment tires.
Winter tires with the same speed rating as
the original equipment tires may not be
available for H, V, W, Y, and ZR speed rated
tires. If winter tires with a lower speed
rating are chosen, never exceed the tire's
maximum speed capability.

Tire Sidewall Labeling

Useful information about a tire is
molded into its sidewall. The examples
show a typical passenger vehicle tire
and a compact spare tire sidewall.
Passenger Tire Example
(1) Tire Size The tire size is a
:
combination of letters and numbers
used to define a particular tire's width,
height, aspect ratio, construction type,
and service description. See the Tire
Size illustration in this section.
(2) TPC Spec (Tire Performance Criteria
Specification) Original equipment tires
:
designed to GM's specific tire
performance criteria have a TPC
specification code molded onto the
sidewall. GM's TPC specifications meet
or exceed all federal safety guidelines.
(3) DOT (Department of
Transportation) The Department of
:
Transportation (DOT) code indicates that
the tire is in compliance with the U.S.
Department of Transportation Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards.
DOT Tire Date of Manufacture
four digits of the TIN indicate the tire
manufactured date. The first two digits
represent the week and the last two
digits, the year. For example, the third
week of the year 2020 would have a
4-digit DOT date of 0320. Week 01 is
the first full week (Sunday through
Saturday) of each year.
(4) Tire Identification Number (TIN)
The letters and numbers following the
DOT (Department of Transportation)
code are the Tire Identification Number
(TIN). The TIN shows the manufacturer
and plant code, tire size, and date the
tire was manufactured. The TIN is
molded onto both sides of the tire,
although only one side may have the
date of manufacture.
(5) Tire Ply Material
and number of plies in the sidewall and
under the tread.
(6) Uniform Tire Quality Grading
(UTQG) Tire manufacturers are
:
required to grade tires based on three
The last performance factors: tread wear,
:
traction, and temperature resistance.
For more information see Uniform Tire
Quality Grading 0 299.
Vehicle Care 287
:
The type of cord
: