156GENERAL MAINTENANCEKnowledge of the tyre inscription and
its meaning makes it easier to choose the
right tyres. Radial tyres have the following
inscription on the tyre wall:
e.g. 175 / 80 R 14 88 T
175 = Tyre width in mm
80 = Height/width ratio in %
R = Tyre design code for Radial
14 = Wheel diameter in inches
88 = Ply rating
T = Speed code
The following speed categories apply to
tyres:
Code letter Q - max. 160 km/h
Code letter R - max. 170 km/h
Code letter S - max. 180 km/h
Code letter T - max. 190 km/h
Code letter H - max. 210 km/h
Code letter V - max. 240 km/h
The tyres may be damaged if you drive
at more than the maximum speed for the
particular tyre.
The date of manufacture is also indicted
on the tyre wall (possibly only on the inside
of the wheel).
DOT 40.04 means that the tyre was manu-
factured in the 40
th calendar week of 2004.
Warning
Tyres which are more than 6 years
old, should only be used in excep-
tional cases and by adopting a cau-
tious style of driving.
If the car is retrofitted with tyres or wheels
other than the factory-fitted type, pay at-
tention to the following points:
Warning
For technical reasons, it is not per-
mitted on any account to use tyres
or wheels on your car which have not
been approved by the manufacturer
for the particular model.
Wheels and wheel bolts are matched
to each other. If different wheels are fit-
ted to the car (e.g. light alloy wheels or
wheels fitted with winter tyres), it is
then necessary to use the matching
wheel bolts of the correct length and
shape of spherical cap. In view of the
fact that the wheels and wheel bolts,
including security bolts, are matched
for all the wheels approved by the
manufacturer (sheet steel, steel and
light alloy wheels), never use wheel
bolts which are not approved by the
manufacturer. These are universal for
all types of approved wheels and are
tightened in the same way as described
in the section DO-IT-YOURSELF.
Using tyres and/or wheels which
have not been approved by the ma-
nufacturer for your model of car can
be detrimental to the safety of the
vehicle. It may also affect official ap-
proval for use of the vehicle on pub-
lic roads!
