What do the numbers and letters on a tyre mean?

What do the numbers and letters on a tyre mean? there's nothing more confusing than a tyre size and type, in this video we explain what everything means and what is important after the size, the load ratings and speed ratings,
Tyre load index:
www.pirelli.com/tyres/en-gb/c...
Tyre speed index:
www.pirelli.com/tyres/en-gb/c...
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[@joaare3795]

I have the same tyres mounted on my van and are very happy with them. In spring and autumn it is a relief not to think about sudden snowfall when away on a trip. I do run these tyres all year around although there are better tyres for winter use. Mine has been on for 40k km and will need to be changed within the next year/15k km.😉

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

Where are you based?

[@gonefilming2020]

Great and very helpful and spot on, mate! 😊👍I've mounted these BFG TAs in Canada as far back as the late 70s - they've been around a loooong time. Good point on the speedo: If you change wheels from stock to aftermarket alloys, you will likely change the circumference of the wheel and your speedo will possibly need to be recalibrated. Staying with this example, your speedo will be off (light) by about 9%. Something to remember, when you have to watch the speed limit. 🥴 That mud & snow icon with the mountain and the snow flake is now MANDATORY in winter conditions here in Germany. Cars with inter tyres having the old icon are deemed unfit and will get pulled off the road during checkstops. Tyres - like lots of things - do not like direct sun light. They have to withstand that through design, but it is also a life-limiting factor. I just happen to notice your mudflaps, which do appear to be original, but they look like they've been shortened? See you soon! 😁 P.S.: Nice paint job on the tyre sizing! 😜

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

See you soon mate 🫶😊

[@Urban_Geek]

Great video fella very informative they say you learn something new every day and i did thank you

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

Every day is a school day or so they say 😊👍

[@UrbanVanlife]

never knew half of this , may be 3/4 if I'm honest , the bit i did know and can confirm is that i knew it was a tyre , and can confirm we have 5 of them , and there all full top and bottom

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

I looked into it all when we were all up plating, but of late lots of people have been saying you can't fit the KO2 to a van as they are not commercially rated I think Light Truck covers that one! I can see them crawling back under their rocks 🤣 until the next time 😊👍

[@sida7855]

Great video. Have used BFG KO2 for many a year and they certainly are hard wearing. The downside to this is that they are prone to let go in the wet. Braking distance is increased and cornering can be interesting. Winters in the Highlands are a good test for them. I have had mud terrains as well and for year round use all terrains win. Muds are great for winter especially in deep snow but being a softer compound don't last as long.

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

Great to know 😊👍

[@dannyburnside739]

Great vid Sam, super helpful. Cheers.

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

Cheers mate

[@Basilbrush207]

Hi Sam Glad to see the van and tyres are doing well. Two points I picked up on with your explanation was firstly the 235 meaning. The first time you said it’s the size of the tyre width which is correct but the second time you said it was the tread width which is not quite correct. I thought this until I was ‘re-trained’ by VOSA as an enforcement officer. If you place a tape measure across the tread area you will not get 235mm. It refers to the entire width of the tyre when inflated including the sidewall ‘bulge’ if you get my meaning. Also the reduced load rating for a twin wheel fitment is due to the close fitment of the two tyres not allowing the heat that builds up while they’re rotating to dissipate as quickly as that of a single fitment due to the reduced airflow around the inner faces. Still a great video. Tread wear indicators are another ball game altogether they’re not all set at the same depth it depends on the manufacturer some are at 2mm some at 1.6mm. Michelins have a little Michelin man on the sidewall in line with where they are to make them easier to find and some manufacturers have the letters TWI on the sidewall instead. Where do you stop with all this info I don’t know. Most people have probably fogged over already but some may find it interesting. Asymmetric tyres rotational tyres what next? Out of interest though are your tyres marked rotational? as obviously this will restrict how much you can rotate them (I.e. not diagonally) without failing the MOT for ‘ not fitted in accordance with the manufacturer instructions. My Michelin cross-climates are which is why I ask.

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

Thanks for the heads up, everyday is a school day as they say, I do try to keep the info as general as possible as we could disappear down many rabbit holes, the KO2 are not marked up as directional so if needed I could swap them diagonally

[@johnpatterson5744]

Very neat and tidy job of painting the numbers.I’m considering a set of either Cooper STT Pro tyres or Grabber AT3 🤔 when it’s time to replace my set.👍

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

I do love the KO2 but I think I will be trying something different next time

[@bryzot7242]

Another great post Sam... can't beat tech talk...I never get tyred of it😁

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

Cheers pal

[@sasmicky71]

Niceone m8

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

😊👍

[@fionamooney8648]

Another very helpful video, thank you .

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

Cheers pal

[@gerhardlessing471]

Thanks, very informative video.

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

Cheers 👍

[@richardlees793]

Any reason why you didn’t go for a larger rim? 17” or 18” maybe?

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

I've had big wheels on big vans before they look great not not very practical for the places I take the van,

[@markbell7859]

Hi Sam i have general grabbers on mine as iv heard the bf goodrich can be a bit noisey are yours

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

You can hear them when breaking and slowing down but apart from that I don't notice any difference in noise

[@richiebainbridge2608]

Hi, do you still use the manufacturer recommended psi with those types of tyre ?

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

Good question, we tried lots of different pressures to begin with and settled for 58 psiwe run at 3.6 tons most days and we found 58 was the happy number

[@dannyburnside739]

What pressure do you run on your KO2's?

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

58psi I played around with different pressures mate it works well at that

[@dannyburnside739]

@@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife I'll try that, cheers.

[@Rob.1340]

👍🚐😎

[@TheCraftyBlindersvanlife]

😊🫶