Pontiac 2004 GTO - Manual (Page 245)

Tire Size
The following illustration shows an example of a typical
passenger car tire size.
(A) Passenger (P-Metric) Tire: The United States
metric tire sizing system uses the letter “P” to designate
a passenger vehicle tire. The European metric tire
sizing system does not use the letter “P” to designate a
passenger vehicle tire.
(B) Tire Width: The three-digit number indicates the
tire section width in millimeters from sidewall to sidewall.
(C) Aspect Ratio: A two-digit number that indicates
the tire height-to-width measurements. For example, if
the tire size aspect ratio is “70,” as shown in item “C” of
the illustration, it would mean that the tire’s sidewall is
70% as high as it is wide.
(D) Construction Code: A letter code is used to
indicate the type of ply construction in the tire. The
letter “R” means radial ply construction; the letter “D”
means diagonal or bias ply construction; and the
letter “B” means belted-bias ply construction.
(E) Rim Diameter: Diameter of the wheel in inches.
(F) Service Description: These characters represent
the load range and the speed rating of a tire. The
load range represents the load carry capacity a tire is
certified to carry. The speed rating is the maximum
speed a tire is certified to carry a load. Speed ratings
range from “A” to “Z”.
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