Six Simple Steps to Read an OTR tire

1. Tire Manufacturer
   Every tire manufacturer places its company name on the tire. Usually this is the most obvious text or logo on a tire, regardless of the type of tire. Of course, we used a Magna for this example.
2. Range Name
   Not every tire is developed for the same purpose so to differentiate the tire ranges, each model is named differently. In most cases, this is, Together with the tire brand’s name, the most prominent text on a tire. In this case, our MA02 model is displayed.
3. Tire Width
   When selecting a tire, it is not only important to pay attention to the purpose the tire is designed for. Arguably the most important selection is choosing a tire that actually fits your vehicle. Rims come in all kinds of sizing so you need a corresponding size tire. As you can see, the featured Magna MA02 is constructed in size 26.5R25. That means the tire has a 26.5 inch width.
4. Construction
   Tyres can be constructed in various ways. each method has it’s own purposes. In this case, the R in 26.5R25 indicates that the tire is constructed as a Radial.
5. Wheel Diameter
   Like we mentioned earlier, tires need to fit a rim and we already discussed the width. The 25 in 26.5R25 means this particular Magna MA02 fits a rim diameter of 25 inches.
6. TRA Code
   At number 6, you can read the TRA Code. TRA is an international benchmark that was developed by the Tire and Rim Association (TRA) and has been validated by various other international reputable associations such as the International Standard Organization (ISO), the European Tire and Rim Technical Organization (ETRTO) and the Japan Automobile Tyres Manufacturers (JATMA). In our example, the tire has an E3+ TRA code, which stands for Earthmover (E) with a normal tread depth (3). This code corresponds with a standardized table, developed by the above mentioned organizations.

If you want to look more closely at all the tire markings, you can read this article on how to read extra tire markings.