4918-1. Specifications
8
Vehicle specifications
Extra load tire
A tire designed to operate at higher loads 
and at higher inflation pressures than the 
corresponding standard tire
GrooveThe space between two adjacent tread ribs
Innerliner
The layer(s) forming the inside surface of a 
tubeless tire that contains the inflating 
medium within the tire
Innerliner separationThe parting of the innerliner from cord 
material in the carcass
Intended outboard sidewall
(a) The sidewall that contains a whitewall, 
bears white lettering, or bears manufac-
turer, 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 
asymmetrical tire that has a particular side 
that must always fa ce outward when 
mounted on a vehicle
Light truck (LT) tire
A tire designated by i ts manufacturer as 
primarily intended for use on lightweight 
trucks or multipurpose 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 
permissible 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 splice
Any parting at any junct ion of tread, side-
wall, or innerliner that extends to cord 
material
Outer diameterThe overall diameter of an inflated new tire
Overall width
The linear distance bet ween the exteriors 
of the sidewalls of an inflated tire, including 
elevations due to labe ling, decorations, or 
protective bands or ribs
Tire related termMeaning 
         
        
        4928-1. Specifications
Passenger car tire
A tire intended for use on passenger cars, 
multipurpose 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
Pneumatic tire
A mechanical device made of rubber, 
chemicals, fabric and steel or other materi-
als, that, when mount ed on an automotive 
wheel, provides the tr action and contains 
the gas or fluid that sustains the load
Radial ply tire
A pneumatic tire in which the ply cords that 
extend to the beads are laid at substan-
tially 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 
corresponding standard tire
Section width
The linear distance bet ween the exteriors 
of the sidewalls of an  inflated tire, exclud-
ing elevations due to labeling, decoration, 
or protective bands
SidewallThat portion of a ti re between the tread 
and bead
Sidewall separationThe parting of the rubber compound from 
the cord materia l 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 as 
described in ASTM F-1805-00, Standard 
Test Method for Single Wheel Driving Trac-
tion in a Straight Line on Snow-and 
Ice-Covered Surfaces, and which is 
marked with an Alpine Symbol ( ) on at 
least one sidewall
Tire related termMeaning