5378-1. Specifications
8
Vehicle specifications
Intended outboard side-
wall
(a)The sidewall that contains a whitewall, bears
white lettering, or bear s manufacturer, brand,
and/or model name molding that is higher or
deeper than the same molding on the other
sidewall of the tire, or
(b)The outward facing sidewall of an asymmetri-
cal tire that has a par ticular side that must
always face outward whe n mounted on a vehi-
cle
Light truck (LT) tire
A tire designated by its manufacturer as primar-
ily intended for use on lightweight trucks or mul-
tipurpose passenger vehicles
Load ratingThe maximum load that a tire is rated to carry
for a given inflation pressure
Maximum load ratingThe load rating for a tire at the maximum per-
missible inflation pressure for that tire
Maximum permissible
inflation pressureThe maximum cold inflation pressure to which a
tire may be inflated
Measuring rimThe rim on which a tire is fitted for physical
dimension requirements
Open spliceAny parting at any junction of tread, sidewall, or
innerliner that extends to cord material
Outer diameterThe overall diameter o f an inflated new tire
Overall width
The linear distance between the exteriors of the
sidewalls of an inflated ti re, including elevations
due to labeling, decorations, or protective bands
or ribs
Passenger car tire
A tire intended for use on passenger cars, multi-
purpose passenger vehicles, and trucks, that
have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of
10,000 lb. or less.
PlyA layer of rubber-coated parallel cords
Ply separationA parting of rubber compound between adjacent
plies
Tire related termMeaning
5388-1. Specifications
Pneumatic tire
A mechanical device made of rubber, chemi-
cals, fabric and steel or other materials, that,
when mounted on an aut omotive wheel, pro-
vides the traction and co ntains the gas or fluid
that sustains the load
Radial ply tire
A pneumatic tire in whic h the ply cords that
extend to the beads are laid at substantially 90
degrees to the centerline of the tread
Reinforced tire
A tire designed to operate at higher loads and at
higher inflation pressures than the correspond-
ing standard tire
Section width
The linear distance between the exteriors of the
sidewalls of an inflated tire, excluding elevations
due to labeling, decoratio n, or protective bands
SidewallThat portion of a tire between the tread and
bead
Sidewall separationThe parting of the rubber compound from the
cord material in the sidewall
Snow tire
A tire that attains a traction index equal to or
greater than 110, compared to the ASTM E-
1136 Standard Reference Test Tire, when using
the snow traction test a s described in ASTM F-
1805-00, Standard Test Method for Single
Wheel Driving Traction i n a Straight Line on
Snow-and Ice-Covered Su rfaces, and which is
marked with an Alpine Symbol ( ) on at least
one sidewall
Test rim
The rim on which a tire is fitted for testing, and
may be any rim listed as appropriate for use
with that tire
TreadThat portion of a tire t hat comes into contact
with the road
Tread ribA tread section running circumferentially around
a tire
Tread separationPulling away of the tread from the tire carcass
Tire related termMeaning
