What Does 205/55 R16 91V Mean on a Tire?
Customize the numbers below to match your car's tire sidewall for an instant breakdown of width, aspect ratio, rim diameter, weight capacity, speed limit, and DOT expiration date.
Tire measures 205 mm (8.1") wide from sidewall to sidewall.
Sidewall height is 55% of width (112.8 mm tall). Lower = sportier; higher = softer ride.
R = Radial ply construction. Fits a 16-inch wheel. Total diameter: 24.9".
Supports up to 1.356 lbs (615 kg) per tire at full inflation.
Certified up to 149 mph (240 km/h). Performance touring vehicles.
How Old Are My Tires? Decode the 4-Digit DOT Stamp
Look on your tire sidewall for the letters DOT followed by a series of characters ending in 4 numbers inside a small oval.
Other Tire Sidewall Letters & Symbols Decoded
Mud + Snow (All-Season Tread)
Indicates the tread pattern has grooves and voids wider than a summer tire to clear light mud and slush. However, M+S is strictly a geometric tread design label — it is NOT tested for severe ice braking.
Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake
Official severe snow service certification. Proves the tire passed standardized acceleration and traction testing on packed snow at least 10% better than a reference M+S tire.
Extra Load / High Load Reinforced
Built with a stiffer, reinforced internal sidewall casing allowing higher air pressure and heavier vehicle weight than a Standard Load (SL) tire of the exact same size.
Manufacture Week & Year (e.g. 3423)
The final 4 digits inside the oval after "DOT" reveal exact tire age: the first two digits are the week of the year (01–52), and the last two digits are the year (e.g., "3423" = 34th week of 2023).
Run-Flat Tire Technology
Engineered with ultra-thick self-supporting sidewalls so you can keep driving safely for up to 50 miles (80 km) at 50 mph (80 km/h) after a complete puncture with 0 PSI.
Passenger Metric vs Light Truck
"P" (or no letter) means Passenger car comfort construction. "LT" means Light Truck heavy-duty 8-ply or 10-ply steel construction built for towing heavy trailers and hauling cargo.
Treadwear, Traction & Temperature Grade
US government grading: "420" compares tread lifespan (4.2x longer than a 100 baseline tire); the first letter (AA, A, B, C) rates wet straight-line stopping grip; the second letter (A, B, C) rates high-speed heat dissipation.
Automaker Factory Homologation Codes
Custom-tuned compound engineered specifically for one carmaker: MO = Mercedes-Benz, ★ (Star) = BMW, N0–N4 = Porsche, AO = Audi, T0–T2 = Tesla (includes acoustic polyurethane foam inside).