Having trouble with some of the more technical tire and wheel terminology? Browse our glossary of terms for wheels and tires and brush up on some of the more popular concepts in tire and wheel tech.
The measure of force exerted by the air inside a tire, typically measured in pounds per square inch (PSI), or kilopascals (kPa).
The correct angle settings of a vehicle’s suspension components. The 3 alignment settings are caster, camber, and toe.
The relationship between a tire’s section height and its section width. It is calculated by dividing the section height by the section width. With the section height is half of the section width, the aspect ratio is 50. In a tire size description, it would be the 50 in “P195/50R15.” It is also referedd to as the tire’s profile or the series.
When opposite sides of a tire’s tread pattern are not identical.
Also known as rearspacing, this is the distance from the mounting pad to the back edge of the rim. Not to be confused with wheel offset.
The even distribution of weight on a mounted wheel and tire.
The part of the tire in contact with the wheel flange. It is made of high tensile steel wires shaped to fit the rim and hold the tire on the wheel. The steel wires are wrapped in woven fabric and held in place by the plies.
A tire constructed with plies laid out in alternating directions in angles about 30-40 degrees to the center line of the tire. The plies form a criss-cross pattern that is typically suited more towards off road driving.
The number of lug holes on the diameter of the imaginary circle that each lug hole is centered upon.
The arrangement of bolt holes on a wheel. Some wheels have more than one bolt pattern on the same wheel to accommodate multiple fitments.
The angle of the centerline of a tire and wheel relative to completely vertical.
Wheels that are made from liquid metal poured into a mold. Low pressure casting involves pouring the metal into a mold, while counter-pressure casting involves sucking the metal into a mold like a vacuum. Counter-pressure casting reduces impurities to make the wheel much stronger than a low pressure cast rim.
DOT is an acronym that stands for Department of Transportation. The 10-digit code after the DOT designation provides information such as the week and year the tire was produced, plus the manufacturer, plant, tire line, and size.
A situation wherein the center bore of the wheel is made to match up with the diameter of the automobile hubs; the wheel is then balanced by the center hold rather than the lug holes.
Hard plastic or aluminum rings mounted on a vehicle’s hub before the wheel. This ensures that the wheel is perfectly centered on the vehicle’s hub, and also lessens the possibility of vibration when the tire and wheel are perfectly balanced.
The most weight a tire is designed to carry. A tire’s load-carrying capacity is directly related to the tire’s size and how much inflation pressure is used. Listed maximum loads are rated with the tire inflated to an industry-assigned inflation pressure.
The distance from the mounting surface of the wheel to the true centerline of the rim. A positive offset means the wheel’s mounting surface is positioned in front of the true centerline of the rim and tire assembly, brining the tire into the fender well more. Conversely, a negative offset means the wheel is behind the true centerline of the rim and tire assembly, causing the tire to stick out away from the vehicle.
The diameter of an inflated tire without any load.
Changing the original stock tire size of your vehicle in order to enhance vehicle performance by allowing for fitment of larger wheels and tires. It is recommended that you keep the overall tire diameter within 3% of OEM tire size to prevent problems with transmission, gas mileage, and braking.
The most common measurement unit for tire pressure that stands for pounds per square inch. PSI is intended to measure the force exerted by the air inside a tire.
Tires built with perpendicular plies across the crown of the tire, effectively strengthening the tread for street driving. These tires also require belt plies going circumferentially around the tire for solidarity purposes.
The distance between bead seat to bead seat at bead seat radius.
The measurement between the flanges of a rim.
The distance between the sidewalls at the widest point of an inflated tire not under load.
The side portion of a tire between the tread and bead.
Small slits in a tire’s tread that help push water away from the crown of the tire for improved wet traction. They also provide biting edges for ice and snow traction.
Raised rubber compound segments in a tire’s tread. Blocks of varying sizes, shapes, and designs are typically used for a variety of effects, such as better wet traction, or stronger rock-crawling ability.
The distance from the top of the tread to the grooves in a tire. The measurement is taken at the centerline of a tire and is measured in thirty-secondths of an inch.
The arrangement of grooves, blocks, sipes, and channels on the tread of a tire that provide a varying degrees of effects on traction, tread life, and other tire factors.
The measured distance that extends from one bead seat to another across a wheel. The wheel diameter must be exactly the same as the tire rim diameter. Always make sure that the diameter stamped on the wheel and tire match exactly.
The distance between the wheel mounting surface where bolted to the hub of the drum and centerline of the rim. This determines a vehicle’s “track,” or distance between tires on each axle. Keep the wheel offsets as close to original as possible to avoid steering and wheel bearing difficulties.
The distance between the inside of the rim flanges rounded to the nearest half inch that helps to ensure that the wheel width is the appropriate size for your tire. Each tire has a minimum and maximum wheel width limit.
A condition where the wheel’s mounting surface coincides with the centerline of the wheel.
Now that you're a tire terminology pro, browse our selection of wheel and tire packages to find the right set of SUV, truck or Jeep tires for your vehicle.
Join our mailing list to receive information on new products, special events, discounts and more!
Sign up to receive deals by email!
Sign up to receive text alerts about new product releases, exclusive access to sales, and much more!
Sign up to receive deals by text!
By submitting, you agree to receive recurring autodialed marketing text msgs (e.g. cart reminders) to the mobile number used at opt-in from 4 Wheel Parts (4WP) on 21208. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Msg frequency may vary. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help and STOP to cancel. See Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy