While you might not be too concerned with the information on your tyres sidewall, there are a few things worth paying attention to. A common mistake many motorists make when checking their tyre pressures is to look at the pressure written on the sidewall. The pressure given here is the maximum pressure at the given load, however, and is not the pressure you want while driving!

The large code (195/65 R 15, for example) gives information about size, construction and capabilities. This information is needed when replacing tyres but of special note is the letter (R in our example) which indicates the construction of the tyre. Mixing different tyre constructions on the same axle is illegal and different constructions can damage some four wheel drive systems.

Tyres carry a DOT code, which shows that they comply with regulations and indicates the place and date of manufacture. The last four digits show the week and year of manufacture which is important as tyres become deemed unsafe after a set time as the rubber compound begins to degrade.