Tires & Wheels

Tyre Labelling

• External Noise: The external noise rating of a tyre is displayed as a small icon indicating the degree to which the tyre meets any current and new SA tyre noise legislation.
• Wet Grip: The “wet grip” rating of a tyre tells you how quickly your car will come to a stop, when braking in wet weather. Like the fuel efficiency rating “wet grip” is displayed as a rating from A to G, with A being the highest grip and G being the lowest. A high wet grip rating means you can brake faster in dangerous situations – helping you avoid collisions and making your car safer to drive
• FUEL EFFICIENCY: The fuel efficiency of a tyre will be displayed as a rating from A to G. Tyres rated “A” for fuel efficiency are the most efficient and tyres rated “G” are the least efficient. Using fuel efficient tyres will significantly reduce your car’s fuel consumption making it a lot cheaper to operate.

How to read a tyre

Every tyre sold in South Africa carries a standardised sidewall marking that tells you exactly what the tyre is designed for. Understanding these markings helps you choose the right tyre for your vehicle and ensures you stay compliant with South African road safety regulations under the National Road Traffic Act (NRTA) 93 of 1996.

Take a tyre marked 235/55 R17 99W as an example — here’s what each part means:

235 — Width This is the tyre’s width measured in millimetres from sidewall to sidewall. The wider the number, the broader the tyre’s contact patch with the road.

55 — Profile (Aspect Ratio) This is the height of the tyre’s sidewall expressed as a percentage of its width. In this case, the sidewall height is 55% of 235mm. A lower profile number means a shorter, sportier sidewall — common on performance vehicles and bakkies with larger rims.

R — Construction Type R stands for Radial, which is the construction method used in virtually all modern tyres. You may occasionally see ZR on high-performance tyres, which simply indicates the tyre is rated for speeds above 240 km/h.

17 — Rim Diameter This is the diameter of the wheel rim the tyre is designed to fit, always measured in inches. For passenger vehicles on South African roads this typically ranges between 14 and 22 inches depending on the vehicle.

99 — Load Index This number represents the maximum load each tyre can carry when properly inflated. A load index of 99 corresponds to 775kg per tyre. It is a legal requirement under the NRTA that tyres fitted to your vehicle must meet or exceed the load rating specified by your vehicle manufacturer — fitting under-rated tyres is an offence and can void your insurance.

W — Speed Rating The speed rating indicates the maximum sustained speed the tyre is designed to handle at full load. A W rating corresponds to a maximum speed of 270 km/h. South African law requires that the speed rating of your tyres must be equal to or higher than your vehicle’s top speed as specified by the manufacturer. The only exceptions apply to certain 4×4 and off-road fitments where the manufacturer specifies an alternative rating.

Important: Fitting tyres that do not meet your vehicle’s minimum load index or speed rating is a contravention of the National Road Traffic Act and may result in your vehicle being declared unroadworthy. If you’re unsure which tyre specification is correct for your vehicle, our fitment team will advise you at no charge.