The size of a car tire is one of the important things that must be considered by vehicle owners. The parameters used for tire inflation are adjusted to the tire diameter, tire width, or in other words, must comply with the specifications set by the car manufacturer.
If the tire size is not appropriate, it can affect the car's performance, such as stability, handling, and fuel efficiency.
1. How to Know the Right Car Tire Air Size
To be able to find out the size of the car tire wind, you can see it directly through the manual or the placard that is on the inside of the car door. Alternatively, you can directly ask the official dealer where you bought the car.
As for how to read the code contained in the manual or placard you can do the following steps.
1. The first letter means the type of tire used
Each tire has its own unique code. One of them is the first letter on a car tire. For example, the letter P means Passenger, meaning that the tire is intended for cars that carry passengers.
Apart from P, there are also other commonly encountered codes, such as R (Radial), LT (Light Truck), ST (Special Trailer - for transporting goods), and T (Temporary - spare tire).
2. The first three numbers are the width of the car tires
After the first letter, the next code is the first three digits. This number shows the thickness of the car tire in millimeters when it is fitted with wheels.
So, if the number listed is 195/50 R16, then the width of the car tire is 195 millimeters.
3. The two numbers after the slash are the tire ratio
After 3 numbers, there are a slash and two numbers. This number means the percentage of tire height to its thickness. The bigger the number, the bigger the car wall will be. While the slash is a code separator.
4. Middle Letter Represents Tire Construction
In the car tire code, there is a letter in the middle like R. This letter is a tire construction that covers the tire radially (R stands for Radial).
5. Two numbers after the letter indicate the diameter of the rim
The next two numbers after one letter indicate the wheel diameter which is calculated in inches. For example R15, the number 15 means the size of the mounted car tire rim.
6. The Last Two Numbers Show the Pile Load Limits
For example 185/65 R15 93V. The number 93 that exists is the limit of the pedestal that can be supported by the tires or if calculated in kilograms, 93 has a maximum load of 600-800 Kilograms. The other common sizes are as follows.
- 70 = has a maximum load of 335 kg
- 75 = has a maximum load of 387 kg
- 80 = has a maximum load of 450 kg
- 90 = has a maximum load of 600 kg
- 100 = has a maximum load of 800 kg
7. One Last Letter Means Tire Speed
The last letter on the tire is the speed rating or tire speed. These letters are usually in the form of V, S, and Y. V has a maximum speed of 240 KM/hour, S has a maximum speed of 210 KM/hour, while Y has a maximum speed of 300 KM/hour.
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2. The Danger of Less Car Tire Pressure
Image Source: Freepik/jcomp
You need to pay close attention to the size of the car tire wind. Car pressure that is less or too low can cause tires to deform when used, reduce the performance of car tires, and make your tires wear out quickly so you need to replace them more quickly. In addition, low car tire pressure can have fatal consequences such as increasing the risk of accidents due to power or brakes not working optimally, especially when you are driving on wet or slippery roads.
3. The Danger of Excessive Car Tire Pressure
Car tire pressure is the air contained in the tires. This pressure must be appropriate and should not be excessive. This is because tire pressures that are too high can cause the car you are driving to feel uncomfortable due to tires that are not flexible enough when exposed to shocks or vibrations on the road.
In addition, excessive car tire pressure can also cause the car to slip, harden the car's suspension, lose control when driving at high speed, to bursting the car tire.
To ensure that the tire pressure is appropriate, you can use a tire pressure gauge available at auto supply stores and repair shops. For even more practice, you can visit a car repair shop or a car tire filling place that uses nitrogen.
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4. List of Car Tire Pressure Based on Ring
Car tire pressure is determined by several factors. These include the weight of the vehicle, the size of the tires, and the condition of the road to be traversed. Generally, car tire pressure is determined by the size of the existing ring.
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Ring Car Tires 14: 28-30 psi
Cars with a ring size of 14 usually include LCGC car types, small sedans, and city cars.
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Ring Car Tires 15: 28-32 psi
Types of cars that use ring 15 are Daihatsu Xenia, Suzuki APV, Honda Jazz, Toyota Vios, and Suzuki Ertiga.
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Ring Car Tires 16: 30-35 psi
Some well-known car brands that use ring 16 are Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, Mazda 2, Nissan Kicks, Toyota C-HR, and Volkswagen Polo.
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Ring Car Tires 17: 32-35 psi
Cars with size 17 generally are SUVs, single cabins, supercars, double cabins, and other super luxury cars.
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Ring Car Tires 18: 32-36 psi
Several types of cars that use this car ring are hatchbacks, sedans, and SUVs. The car brands are Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3, Hyundai Elantra, Subaru Impreza, and Honda CR-V.
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Ring Car Tires 19: 34-39 psi
Some types of cars that may use ring 19 car tires include Audi A4, Mercedes Benz C-Class, Volkswagen Atlas, BMW 3 Series, and Volvo S60.
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Ring 20 car tires: 36-41 psi
As for car tires with ring 20, they are used by several brands such as Subaru Ascent, Toyota Land Cruiser, Lexus LS, Mercedes Benz E-Class, Volvo S90, and Mazda CX-9.
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Ring 21 car tires: 38-43 psi
Car brands that use ring 21, for example, are Subaru Forester, Toyota 4Runner, Volkswagen Arteon, BMW 7 Series, Lexus LS, and Volvo XC90.
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Ring 22 Car Tires: 40-45 ps
To find out the right car pressure and according to your car, be sure to check the manual given by an authorized dealer. The book contains the size of a car tire that is in accordance with the recommended wind pressure.
5. Standard Car Tire Pressure
Normal car tire pressure depends on the type of car and the weight it bears. The standard car tire pressure in Indonesia ranges from 28 - 33 psi. Basically, the size of the car tire wind has been determined by the existing standards of each car manufacturer.
The following are the standard car tire pressure standards that are commonly found in Indonesia:
- SUV Car Type: 35 - 40 psi
- Sedan Car Type: 30-33 psi
- City Car Type: 30-36 psi
- MPV Car Type: 33-36 psi
6. Tips for Maintaining Car Tire Pressure
Apart from making sure that the tire pressure is in accordance with the specifications, you also need to maintain the existing air pressure so that you can continue to drive safely and comfortably.
Image Source: Freepik/seni..
Here are tips for maintaining car tire pressure:
1. Check car tire pressure regularly
Check tire pressure at least once a month or every time you are going on a long trip.
2. Measure the pressure using the proper gauge
Measuring air pressure on tires cannot be done haphazardly. For example, just pressing the tire and guessing whether the pressure is right or not. Car tire pressure must be measured using a special tool that you can get at an auto repair shop or repair shop.
3. Make sure the car pressure is in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations
As previously mentioned, each brand and type of car has a different tire size. Make sure your car's pressure is in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.
4. Adjust the wind pressure with the load to be borne
The pressure in the car tires must be adjusted according to the weight of the existing load. For example, you plan to go on a vacation trip with your family or carry heavy items. Make sure that the existing air pressure has followed the recommendations in the manual or if you have trouble understanding it, you can ask it directly to your car's authorized dealer.
5. Avoid inflating while the tires are still hot
Inflating tires while the tires are still hot can cause a car tire to explode. This can happen because the air pressure inside the tire is higher, so if given additional air, the pressure inside will increase rapidly.
Therefore, make sure to fill up the car tire pressure when the tires are cold to avoid accidents due to exploding tires.
BFI friends, this is a review regarding how to determine the size of a car tire. Make sure to always use the appropriate car tire size and fill the existing air pressure as recommended, so that your car can continue to work optimally.
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