Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 139. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory
test wheel than the minimum
required by law.
Glossary of Tire Terminology
Tire label: A label showing the
OE (Original Equipment) tire sizes,
recommended inflation pressure
and the maximum weight the
vehicle can carry.
Tire Identification Number
(TIN): A number on the sidewall
of each tire providing information
about the tire brand and
manufacturing plant, tire size and
date of manufacture. Also referred
to as DOT code.
Inflation pressure: A measure
of the amount of air in a tire.
Standard load: A class of
P-metric or Metric tires designed
to carry a maximum load at 35 psi
(2.41 bar)[36 psi (2.5 bar) for
Metric tires]. Increasing the
inflation pressure beyond this
pressure will not increase the tire’s
load carrying capability.
Extra load: A class of P-metric or
Metric tires designed to carry a
heavier maximum load at 42 psi
(2.9 bar). Increasing the inflation
pressure beyond this pressure will
not increase the tire’s load
carrying capability.
kPa: Kilopascal, a metric unit of
air pressure.
PSI: Pounds per square inch, a
standard unit of air pressure.
Cold tire pressure: The tire
pressure when the vehicle has
been stationary and out of direct
sunlight for an hour or more and
prior to the vehicle being driven for
1 mi (1.6 km).
Recommended inflation
pressure: The cold inflation
pressure found on the Safety
Compliance Certification Label
(affixed to either the door hinge
pillar, door-latch post, or the door
edge that meets the door-latch
post, next to the driver's seating
position) or Tire Label located on
the B-Pillar or the edge of the
driver’s door.
B-pillar: The structural member
at the side of the vehicle behind
the front door.
Bead area of the tire: Area of the
tire next to the rim.
Sidewall of the tire: Area
between the bead area and the
tread.
Tread area of the tire: Area of
the perimeter of the tire that
contacts the road when mounted
on the vehicle.
Rim: The metal support (wheel)
for a tire or a tire and tube
assembly upon which the tire
beads are seated.
243
Focus (CDH) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, First Printing
Wheels and Tires
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