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How to Read a Tire Size

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    If you have a car or truck and are in need of some directions on how to read tire size then this article will show you how. Knowing the proper tire size can save you money, if you get the wrong size then you will end up having to pay twice as much as you would if you had gotten the right size. When buying tires, it is important that you get the right one because there are certain factors that determine how the tire will fit on your car. You also need to know what tire size is proper for your car in order to make the wise decision when it is time to purchase tires. Luckily, determining the right tire size for your car is pretty easy.

    All you have to do is know the load index that is on your car. This is located under the hood by the oil change, but if you do not see it then you can easily find it with a quick look under your car. The next figure that tells us how to read the load index is MP3/CD compatible. This tells us that the tire’s load index is based on the maximum weight of the vehicle. In other words, the lower the load index is then the lower the tire should be in order to provide you with the highest level of traction.

    Another factor that helps determine the proper tire size is the overall width of your vehicle. The overall width of your car or truck is measured with inches. To find the width of your vehicle simply measure from the tire’s edge to the ground, and then the width of your vehicle in both width measurements. Then add twenty inches to both measurements to get the overall height of your automobile. The next factor that will help you determine how to read tire size is the difference between the actual tire size and the tire size that are on your automobile.

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