Motorcycle Tyre Markings Explained

Those various numbers and markings on a motorcycle tyre sidewall can be confusing initially. This page will explain what those motorcycle tyre markings mean along with weight and speed tables that you can compare the tyre markings on your motorcycle to those in the table charts below.

Tyre Sidewall Markings and Numbers

Let’s take a look at the tyre sidewall markings that are important.

Motorcycle tyre wall number and markings explained
Motorcycle tyre wall markings explained

1. Tyre Width

This number denotes the width of the tyre in millimetres from sidewall to sidewall. In this example, it’s 180 mm. The exact width may vary slightly due to manufacturing and tuning characteristics at +/- of 4%.

2. Profile Height

This number is the tyre height and is calculated as a percentage of the tyre width. So in this example, the tyre profile height is 55% of the tyre width (180 mm), making it 99 mm.

3. Speed Rating and Construction

The speed rating of the tyre is represented by the letter ‘Z’ and is rated above 240 kph / 149 mph. Other speed ratings can be found in the table below. The “R” denotes that the tyre is of radial type construction. The other type of tyre construction is ‘cross-ply’ and if the tyre and if this was the case, the ‘R’ would be replaced with a hyphen.

4. Rim Size

The number ’17’ relates to the rim size, so in this instance, it’s 17 inches.

5. Tyre Use

The ‘M/C’ simply means that the tyres intended use is on motorcycles.

6. Load and Speed Indexes

In this example, the number ’73’ informs us that the tyre has a maximum rating of 365 kg at maximum pressure. The the ‘W’ informs us that the tyre has a speed of 168 mph (270 km/h). The top speed is always related to the ‘slowest’ tyre on your motorcycle and if exceeded, risks tyre failure. Always replace a tyre with the same speed ratings so that you do not reduce the capability of your machine. See the chart tables below for all applicable load and speed ratings.

7. Direction of Rotation

The arrow denotes the direction of rotation. If the tyre is placed the wrong way round, your motorcycle will fail the MOT.

8. Tyre Age

Since the year 2000, the production date of any tyre can be found on a sidewall. We see the ‘DOT’ (Department of Transport) code and located at the end are four digits ‘0917’. The first two digits represent the week the tyre was manufactured and the last two digits represent the year. So in this example, the tyre was made in the 9th week of the year 2017.

Speed Index

The speed index is a rating system denoted by letters located on a tyre sidewall. The speed rating of each tyre is the maximum speed in which a tyre can sustain under load, indicated by its load index and under specific conditions detailed by the manufacturer.

If possible fit tyres to your motorcycle with identical speed ratings. Using a tyre with a lower speed rating can run the risk of invalidating your insurance policy.

RatingKm/hMph
B5030
C6037
D6540
E7043
F8050
G9056
J10062
K11069
L12075
M13081
N14087
P15095
Q160100
R170105
S180113
T190118
U200125
H210130
V240150
W270168
Y300186
ZR240+150+

Load Index

The load index is numerical code rating system that corresponds to the maximum weight that a tyre can support at the speed indicated by its speed rating and under specific conditions detailed by the manufacturer. The load index number can be located on the sidewall of your tyre.

IndexKgIndexKg
208060250
2182.561257
228562265
2387.563272
249064280
2592.565290
269566300
2797.567307
2810068315
2910369325
3010670335
3110971345
3211272355
3311573365
3411874375
3512175387
3612576400
3712877412
3813278425
3913679437
4014080450
4114581462
4215082475
4315583487
4416084500
4516585515
4617086530
4717587545
4818088560
4918589580
5019090600
5119591615
5220092630
5320693650
5421294670
5521895690
5622496710
5723097730
5823698750
5924399775
60250100800