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If you’ve had your VW for a while or your tires are worn from driving around Waukee and Des Moines, it may be time to replace them. But which tire size is right for you? Below, we’ll outline the Volkswagen tire sizes for each VW model. So if you’re wondering, “what size tire do I need for my Volkswagen?”, we have the answers for you below. But first things first, you should understand the numbers on Volkswagen tires.
A tire’s code uses a series of letters and numbers in order to inform you or your Johnston service center of the size, load index, speed rating, and type of tire your vehicle needs for maximum performance as you make your way around West Des Moines. Take this code for example:
While it may seem like gibberish, each section of code represents a piece of information to correctly identify the type of tire it is.
The “P” stands for “P-Metric tire,” meaning that it is used for passenger vehicles. If your tires read “LT,” this stands for “light truck,” and the tire is intended for light-weight pickup trucks. If the tire does not have a letter preceding the code, it is a European-style tire, or Euro-Metric tire, which has different load capacities.
Following the “P” is the “215” number, which stands for tire width in millimeters from sidewall to sidewall. So in our example, the width of this tire is 215 millimeters.
After the forward slash comes the aspect ratio code, indicated in our example by “65.” A tire’s ratio is the height of the tire’s cross-section to its width, so in our example, this tire has an aspect ratio where its height is equal to 65% of the tire’s width. The bigger the aspect ratio, the bigger the sidewalls will be.
The “R” indicates the tire’s construction, with “R” representing that it’s a radial.
“15” indicates the wheel size from one end to the other, which informs us of what tire can fit on this particular wheel. This code tells us that this tire is meant for a 15-inch wheel.
At the end of the code is “95H,” which is the load index and speed rating for the tire. The load index (“95” in this instance) indicates how much weight the tire can support when it’s properly inflated and can range from 75-105 for passenger vehicles. “H” represents the speed rating, which is how fast the tire can safely go based on its load capacity. This rating is ranked by various letters. In our example, a tire with an “H” rating can reach a maximum speed of 130 mph.
So, what size tire do I need for my Volkswagen? Now that you understand what the Volkswagen tire sizes mean, below you’ll find our guide for the correct tire size for each VW model:
If you are not sure which tire sizes are right for your VW vehicle, check your owner’s manual. You can find the sizes on the inside frame of the driver’s door or on the tire sidewalls as well. Be sure to contact us or reach out to our Lithia Volkswagen of Des Moines service center for more information on our parts and tires!
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