Basic Tire Knowledge

A starting point to answer your questions about tires. Discover everything from how to read your sidewall to how your tires can carry your whole vehicle.

Load

The contact area of each tire is equivalent to the size of a hand but it can carry the weight of the vehicle and its passengers.

Shock Absorption

When driving on unpaved roads, do you know what ensures a comfortable drive? Tires! Tires are formulated using 50% elastic rubber with inner air pressure serving as a shock absorption tool to help minimize bumpy rides.

Vehicle Handling, Driving Force, and Braking Power

Tires are the only part of the vehicle that comes into contact with the road. When initiating, driving, braking, or parking your vehicle tires successfully help complete your command.

Steering Wheel Movement

Tires communicate the controls of the driver. Steering and reversing operations are dictated by the tires.

The sidewall provides valuable information about the tire including the specifications, the brand, and the type of construction. All numbers are standardized and recognized by tire manufacturers around the world.

Codes:

  1. Section Width(mm)
  2. Aspect Ratio(Section height as a percentage of the section width).
  3. Rim Diameter(in)
  4. Load Index
  5. Speed Rating
 

Load Index and Speed Rating

Load index corresponds to the load capacity while speed rating is designated using letters from J to Z and represents the maximum speed of the tire. These two factors are interdependent. Please refer to the tables below for the load index and speed rating.

Load Index (Maximum Load)

LI lbs kg
71 761 345
72 783 355
73 805 365
74 827 375
75 853 387
76 882 400
77 908 412
78 937 425
79 963 437
80 992 450
LI lbs kg
71 761 345
72 783 355
73 805 365
74 827 375
75 853 387
76 882 400
77 908 412
78 937 425
79 963 437
80 992 450
LI lbs kg
71 761 345
72 783 355
73 805 365
74 827 375
75 853 387
76 882 400
77 908 412
78 937 425
79 963 437
80 992 450
LI lbs kg
71 761 345
72 783 355
73 805 365
74 827 375
75 853 387
76 882 400
77 908 412
78 937 425
79 963 437
80 992 450

Speed Rating (Maximum Speed)

  J K L M N P Q R S T H V W Y
mph 62 68 75 81 87 93 100 106 113 118 130 150 168 188
72 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 210 240 270 300

Run flat tires also known as safe tires or zero pressure tires are designed to perform after a puncture or complete loss of tire inflation pressure has occurred. These tires allow you to drive up to 80km at 80km/h to help you reach a safe place.

Comparison between Run Flat Tires and Ordinary Tires:

CHALLENGE 1

BLAZING SUN

 
CHALLENGE 2

THUNDERSTORMS

Summer thunderstorms produce water on road surfaces and causes tire skidding.

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  1. A strong bead ring is found on the inner part of the tyre, where the tyre and rim join together. The bead ring securely fastens the tyre with the rim to ensure safety and minimize deformation.
  2. When a partial amount of pressure is applied, the strong bead ring can withstand up to 3 tons before it detaches from the tyre.
  3. It will take more than 6 tons of force to break the bead ring.

Tire valve helps maintain stable tire pressure by inflating or deflating the tire

The tire valve may be small, but it is an extremely important vehicle component that helps improves safety and tire life. The valve also ensures stable tire pressure is attained by allowing you to adjust the pressure. A valve cap is an essential part of the valve that provides added protection and prevents dust from seeping in.

The tire valve is made of rubber and after long term usage it will deteriorate. Overtime, normal driving practices will exert pressure on the valve causing damage or wear. Although a tire valve is not expensive, it plays an important part in tire performance and safety.

Giti Tire recommends replacing tyre valves whenever new tires are installed.

Tire valve helps maintain stable tire pressure by inflating or deflating the tire.

1

When treveling on the road, tires are the only part of the vehicle that comes into contact with the ground.

2

The contact area of each tire is equivalent to the size of a hand.

3

Carrying a weight of 2000kg.

Proper Tire Pressure:

  1. Safer
  2. Durable
  3. Fuel-Efficient

Improper Tire Pressure:

When air pressure is decreased by 25%, tire life is shortened by 20%

Danger Rapid of Air Leak:

  1. Fuel consumption is increased by a barrel each year
  2. Weaker handling and gripping power
  3. Breaking distance in wet road conditions increases by 9.5 meters (equivalent to the distance of two cars placed side by side)
HAZARD #1

EXTERIOR TIRE DAMAGE

Leads to air leaks, flat tires, shorter tire life, and affects safe travels.

Carefully check your tire's appearance. If problems appear, replace the tires immediately.

Bulges on Tire
Patches
Cracks
 
HAZARD #2

EXCESSIVE TREAD WEAR

Leads to reduced handling, braking, and water dispersion abilities

Measure the tread depth. If less than 1.6 mm, replace the tires immediately.

1.6mm
 
HAZARD #3

IMPROPER TIRE PRESSURE

Leads to uneven tire wear, reduced handling and comfort, increased fuel consumption, and even tire blowouts

Check the air pressure of all tires (including the spare). Standard tire pressure recommendations can be found in the owner's manual or on the driver side car door.

When faced with complex road conditions, do you know how to choose the right tires for your car?

Selecting Suitable Tires for Different Road Conditions is Essential!

Friction Generated By Tyre Pattern and Ground Is a Source of Power for Tires

Fine Tread Pattern (HT)

Comfort Low Noise

Exaggerated Tread Pattern (MT)

Strong Off-Road Capabilities

Rough Pattern with Attention to
Details (AT)

Balancing Off-Road
Capabilities and Comfort

When you speed reaches
100km/h

Your tire rolls
14 times per second

Calculated using the most common
tire size 195/65R15

Every tyre is designed with a tread wear indicator (TWI) which is a raised section molded into the grooves of a tyre. In passenger car tires, the TWI is around 1.6 mm and the tyre shoulder is labeled with TWI or the △ symbol.

TWI indicates the tread wear limit and helps vehicle owners understand the tread wear so they know when to replace the tires. When the tread is leveled with the TWI, the tread pattern will be separated and the tires need to be replaced immediately.

△ symbol TWI (Tread Wear Indicator)
!

Note: When tread wear limit is reached, handling, braking, and water evacuation will significantly be decreased. Extremely dangerous!

Replace Tires Immediately If:

Sidewall Bulges

Please replace tires immediately to avoid tire blowouts

Multiple Cuts

Increases probability of tire leak.

Sidewall Cracks

Tire shows signs of deterioration

If your tires have any of the conditions mentioned above, it is recommended that you visit the nearest Giti Professional Service Center to replace the tires!

The sidewall of a tire contains information for your safety and knowledge. Being able to read sidewall markings will help you better understand the performance of each tire and provide information for mounting and servicing the tire.

Codes:

  1. Section Width(mm)
  2. Aspect Ratio
  3. Rim Diameter(in)
  4. Load Index
  5. Speed Rating

Passenger Car Tire Specifications: (195/60R15 88V)

  • 235: Section Width (mm)
  • 45: Aspect Ratio
  • ZR: Speed Rating
  • 17: Rim Diameter (in)
  • 97W: Load Index and Speed Rating

Under specified conditions, speed rating is a letter representing the maximum speed at which the tire can carry a load corresponding to its load index (except for passenger car and motorcycle tires with speeds greater than 210 km/h).

Under specified conditions, load index is a numerical code representing the maximum load the tire can carry corresponding to its speed rating (except for passenger car and motorcycle tires with speeds greater than 210 km/h).

Speed rating is represented with a letter from J to Z and is the maximum speed corresponding to its load index.

Please refer to the following speed rating table (Maximum Speed).

  J K L M N P Q R S T H V W Y
mph 62 68 75 81 87 93 100 106 113 118 130 150 168 188
kmh 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 210 240 270 300

Extreme Performance Summer


Extreme Grip

Wet

Dry

Handling

Sports

Champiro SX2

More Details

Hi, how can we help?

Frequently Asked Questions

You can download a product brochures from any of our stores, visit a store near you.
You can locate stores near you, here(not available).

You can also download brochure on each product detail page, sample here.

Simply click the button

Locate GT Radial stores near you using our Dealer Locator.

If you are not sure of what size is installed on your vehicle, please confirm first by checking the sidewall.

Here is a simple guide of how to check your tire size.

You can shop tires by size here,

Please contact see Warranty page for warranty information.

Each tire has designated speed rating. Click here to see Speed Rating Guide.

Email Us

You may also email your questions by using our form

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For All Inquiries, please talk to our Customer Service

+65 6249 5370 Phone Support Hours:
Monday - Friday : 7:00am - 9:00pm CST

Send us email

If you have questions with the website? Please email our Technical Support

You may visit GT Radial dealers near your location

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GT Radial Tire Warranty Information

Thank you for trusting in GT Radial. With the proper care and maintenance, we believe that your GT Radial tires will serve you well while you Experience the Performance.

To show you that we trust in our tires as much as (if not more than) you, GT Radial offers the following warranties:

  • A
    GT Radial 5-Year Limited Time and Limited Mileage Warranty

    All our tires come with a 5-year Limited Time and Limited Mileage Warranty, under which your tires are covered against manufacturing faults. Upon falling within the terms of the warranty, your tires will be replaced free of charge.

You may read the full Terms & Conditions here.

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