Tire Markings - Mitsubishi ECLIPSE Owner's Manual

Cord: the strands forming the plies in the tire.
Rim: a metal support for a tire or a tire and tube assembly
upon which the tire beads are seated.
Rim diameter: nominal diameter of the bead seat.
Groove: the space between two adjacent tread ribs.

Tire Markings

Size Designation
EXAMPLE:P215/65R15
Passenger car tire size based on U.S.A. design
P
standards
215 Section width in millimeters (MM.)
Aspect ratio in percent (%)
65
Ratio of section height to section width of tire.
Construction code
R • "R" means radial construction.
• "D" means diagonal or bias construction.
15 Rim diameter in inches (in)
NOTE
European/Japanese metric tire sizing is based on
European/Japanese design standards. Tires designed
to these standards have the tire size molded into the
sidewall beginning with the section width. The letter
"P" is absent from this tire size designation. Exam-
ple: 215/65R15 96H.
LT (Light Truck) -metric tire sizing is based on
U.S.A. design standards. The size designation for
LT-metric tires is the same as for P-metric tires
except for the letters "LT" that are molded into the
sidewall preceding the size designation. Example:
LT235/85R16.
Temporary spare tires are high pressure compact
spares designed for temporary emergency use only.
Tires designed to this standard have the letter "T"
molded into the sidewall preceding the size designa-
tion. Example: T145/80D18 103M.
Vehicle care and maintenance
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