Tyres for all
vehicle types

Tyre care

How to maximise the life of your tyres and stay safer on the road.

Bridgestone takes pride in offering professional services and advice to assist you with choosing the right tyres for your vehicle.

It is very important for you to know how to maintain the tyres you purchase to ensure the effectiveness and safety of those tyres.

Check your tyres weekly, either yourself or use a tyre specialist.

Check your tyre pressure using an accurate tyre gauge and when your tyres are cold. For heavy loads or sustained high-speed operations, increase the inflation pressures according to your vehicle’s recommendations.

Rotate your tyres regularly.

For maximum tyre life, you should rotate your tyres every 5,000 – 8,000 km, or according to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations. Tyres can wear differently depending on their position on the vehicle due to vehicle loading or suspension and steering set up. Rotating your tyres will give a more even, safer wear pattern and prolong tyre life.

Ensure your tyres are correctly inflated.

Under or over-inflation is dangerous and can lead to excessive tread wear. Look for the manufacturer’s recommended tyre pressure, listed on the sticker usually located on the driver’s side door pillar or fuel flap, or have a tyre specialist inflate it for you.

Check the age of your tyres.

There is no set rule for at what the age tyres should be replaced. However, some car makers advise against using tyres over six years old. Over time heat, sunlight and ozone can affect the tyre compound. To check the age of your tyres, look at the Tyre Identification Number (TIN). The last four digits indicate the week and year the tyre was made, for example a tyre with TIN XXX4804 was manufactured in the 48th week of 2004.

Tread Depth

Tread depth indicators.

Get a professional wheel alignment regularly.

Have a professional wheel alignment every six months or 10,000 km, whichever comes first. Misaligned wheels will cause your tyres to wear excessively and irregularly. Having correctly aligned wheels is also essential for safe handling and braking; it can even help to reduce driver fatigue.

The tread on your tyres is what maintains your driving control, grips the road, disperses water and keeps you safe.

A worn tyre increases the time it takes you to brake in the wet, as well as your chance of losing control.

Tyre Wear

Examples of irregular shoulder wear, shoulder wear and centre wear.

Understanding tyre size

Made easy with these tips from the experts.

1. Width
205 indicates the section width of a tyre in millimetres.

2. Aspect ratio
60 is a tyre’s aspect ratio which is its height from the base of the tread to the rim. This number represents a percentage of the tread width. For example, the height of this tyre is 60% of its width. Low profile tyres have smaller aspect ratio percentages.

3. Tyre construction
R means that the tyre has radial ply construction, meaning the way in which it has been constructed. Most passenger tyres are constructed this way so you will rarely find a car tyre without an R.

4. Rim
15 indicates the diameter of the wheel rim. So if you are buying wheels for existing tyres, this is the size in inches you will require.

5. Load index
91 is a code which indicates the maximum load capacity of the tyre. See load index table for passenger car tyre load index ratings.

6. Speed symbol
V is a code which indicates the speed at which a tyre can be safely operated, subject to the tyre being in sound condition, correctly fitted and with the recommended inflation pressure. See speed symbol table for passenger tyre speed symbol ratings.

Passenger car tyre load index ratings

Load index	81	82	85	86	87	88	90	92	95	96
Max load/tyre (kg)	462	475	515	530	545	560	600	630	690	710

Passenger tyre speed symbol ratings*

Speed symbol	N	P	Q	R	S	T	H	V	W	Y
Max speed (km/h)	140	150	160	170	180	190	210	240	270	300

*For a full list of speed symbol ratings, consult your local Bridgestone dealer.

Tyre type definitions

LWT - Line White Tubeless

OWT - Outline White Letters Tubeless

RBT - Raised Black Letters Tubeless

RFT - Run Flat Technology

RWT - Raised White Letters Tubeless

TL - Tubeless

TT - Tube type

OD - Overall Diameter of the unloaded tyre in millimetres

Tyre Glossary

All you need to know about tyres and more.

Alignment
Alignment basically means that all four tyres are consistent with each other and are positioned to optimise contact with the road. It consists of three elements – caster, camber and toe.

Air Pressure
The pressure of the air inside a tyre. Tyre pressure is measured in psi (see psi).

Aspect Ratio
Aspect ratio is section height divided by section width and multiplied by 100. The higher the figure, the higher the tyre’s section height, the smoother the ride. The lower the figure, the greater a tyre’s section width and the safer the tyre – best for high speed cars.

Balancing
Balancing a wheel (or tyre) ensures that the weight is evenly distributed. This prevents vibration and uneven tyre wear.

Camber
Camber is the angle that the tyre tilts – 0 degrees means the tyre is perfectly perpendicular to the road. If it tilts in at the top towards the vehicle, the camber is negative. Positive camber is when the tyre tilts away from the vehicle at the top.

Casing
The casing of a tyre is the outside part of a pneumatic tyre (i.e. not the inner tube).

Cold Inflation Pressure
The pressure of a tyre before the vehicle is driven and the tyre is warmed up.

Innerliner
An innerliner is a lining inside a tyre that prevents air leaking.

Load Index
The maximum weight a tyre can safely carry.

Markings
Tyre markings are the symbols on a tyre’s sidewall to indicate (for example) load index.

PSI
PSI is ‘pounds per square inch’ and is a standard measurement of pressure. Basically, it’s the amount of force exerted over one square inch. Normal tyre pressure is 32 psi.

Rim
Rim and wheel are often used interchangeably – it is the part that the tyre sits on.

Rolling Resistance
The force required to maintain forward momentum in a straight line at a constant speed.

Run Flat Technology tyres
Run Flat Technology tyres are designed to withstand punctures, thereby allowing the driver to continue to drive even when the tyre is completely deflated. The safety benefits are that it avoids the need for drivers to stop by the side of the road to change tyres and giving drivers ample time to make it home or to the nearest tyre replacement centre, provided they drive within the accepted speed limit and safe distance.

Sidewall
The part of a tyre between the edge of the wheel and tread.

Sipes
Small slots in a tyre’s tread.

Speed Rating
The maximum speed a tyre can travel, corresponding to its load index.

Tyre
The rubber part that sits on the wheel.

Tyre Size
Tyre size is actually a set of numbers and letters that define a tyre’s specifications, such as section width (from sidewall to sidewall), aspect ratio, speed rating and diameter of the wheel the tyre is made to fit on.

Tread
The raised part of the rubber on a tyre.

Treadwear Indicator
Features built into a tyre to let the driver know that the tyre is worn sufficiently to necessitate changing.

Underinflation
When a tyre is not inflated enough – it can result in a shorter lifespan and reduce fuel economy. Steering and cornering will be negatively affected and rolling resistance will be increased.

Winter Tyres
Winter tyres are specifically designed to be used on winter roads – ice, snow and water.

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Tyres for all vehicle types

Tyre care

Tyres for all
vehicle types