Tyres

We sell a comprehensive range of all the leading tyre brands, both locally manufactured and imports: Dunlop, Michelin, Pirelli, Bridgestone-Firestone, Continental, Kuhmo, Goodyear and BF Goodrich. Different motorists have different tyre needs. From off road, to high performance, to Ultra high performance tyres. WE are committed to providing you with the optimum product for your specific need.

Marking on your tyre

All tyres made in South Africa or imported into this country must comply with the SABS internationally agreed standard of showing when the tyre was manufactured.

This is done by having three numbers in an oval on one side of the sidewall of the tyre. The first two numbers represent the week of manufacture and the last number represents the year of manufacture; therefore a tyre marked 339 was made in the 33rd week of 1999. If there is a triangle after the 9 it indicates that the tyre was made in the 90's. Since the year 2000, four numbers have been used for the date, e.g. 1101 will be the eleventh week of the year 2001.

Remember to check the date of manufacture when buying second-hand cars (especially the spare tyre) as tyres are normally under warranty for a period of 5 years from the date of manufacture. The sidewall marking would look similar to the illustration below.

Tyre sidewall marking

Tyre size markings are standardised throughout the world. Although millimetres and inches are used (even combined in the case of radials) they don't relate exactly to the dimensions of the tyre, they identify the type of tyre and give an approximation of its dimensions. Tyre markings enable one to know the type of tyre involved, this is important because it is detrimental to mix types i.e. SR steel radial with HR steel radial.

The size markings of a tyre denote the physical dimensions of the tyre and indicate the configuration or shape of the tyre casing.

• 195/60 R15 88V. The significance of each number and letter is as follows:-
• 195 mm in width
• /60 = Profile - percentage of width = 60%
• R = Radial
• 15 = Rim diameter in inches
• 88 = Load Index per tyre at the speed rating
• V = Speed Rating

Some off-road tyres use the above type size markings while others still use the older American markings, for example – 31x10.5R 15 LT. The significance of these markings are as follows:-

• 31 = The outside diameter of the tyre in inches
• 10.5 = The section width of the tyre, in inches
• R = Radial Construction
• 15 = Rim diameter in inches
• LT = Light Truck

Speed-ratings-symbols

Car tyres in South Africa are produced to various speed ratings/symbols. These are designated 'S', 'T', 'H', 'V', 'W', 'Y', and 'Z'.From a safety point of view and to comply with some insurance requirements, high speed steel radial tyres (HR, VR, ZR) fitted as original equipment should NOT be replaced with lower speed rated steel radial tyres (TR) and definitely not with textile radial tyres.

Speed-category

The speed category marking shown below indicates tyre speed capabilities above 240km/h.