Hi Dave,
Here's something from my archives (I think most of it is current yet), FWIW:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tire Codes - Load Table.txt ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TIRE CODES - LOAD TABLE INFORMATION
Tire Code Information from "Getting A Grip" article in
Rider Magazine, Apr 2000, by Arden Kysely.
[other refs:
http://www.yokohamatire.com/customer...eedrating.aspx
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/...TireCodes.html
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete...eral/speed.htm ]
Tire Manufacturing Date Information from "Retiring Rubber"
Tech Q&A, Rider Magazine, Jun 00, by Andrew MacDonald.
[note: the paint dot (yellow on Dunlops) on the tire indicates the lightest part of the tire and should be mounted next to the valve stem]
Tire Codes (metric):
example: 160/70-17 73V (ST1100 Bridgestone Exedra G548)
160 - width in mm, mounted, at widest point
70 - aspect ratio in percent (height/width)
17 - rim size in inches
73 - partial load index number
V - sustained speed rating
Sustained Speed Ratings (common):
code up to (in mph)
R - 106
S - 112
T - 118
U - 124
H - 130
V - 149
Z - >149
W - 168
Y - 186
Computing Load Range from tire codes:
1 - Look up the weight figures for both the front and rear tire
load index numbers in the Partial Load Index Table.
2 - Add the weight figures from the table for the front and rear
tires. This is the weight limit for the bike with these tires.
Determine the actual load to be carried by adding:
1 - Wet weight of the bike (gas, oil, non-OEM accessories)
2 - Driver's "ready to ride" weight
3 - Passenger's "ready to ride" weight
4 - The "Load" (everything else)
[Do not exceed the Weight Limit determined above]
[1991 ST1100 GVWR: 1,078 lbs {from the data plate}]
_____________________________
EDIT: following table redone for clarity:
Partial Load Index Table:
Index Weight*
54 - 467
55 481
56 494
57 507
58 520
59 536
60 551
61 567
62 584
63 600
64 617
65 639
66 661
67 677
68 694
69 716
70 736
71 761
72 783
72 783
73 805
74 827
75 853
76 882
77 908
78 937
79 963
80 992
*weight in lbs
_____________________________
Tire Date Of Manufacture:
The tire industry standard for marking the date of manufacture:
The last digits of a tire's serial number, located in the elliptical
circle on the sidewall, indicate the date of manufacture by
week and year. The first two numerical digits indicate the
week of the year: 01 to 52. Prior to 2000 there was only one
additional digit, indicating the year of manufacture (0 to 9).
Newer tires now have two additional digits (00 to 0x).
Within the serial number is a small triangle lying on its side.
It indicates the decade of manufacture by which direction its
tip points: to the left for even numbered, and to the right for
odd numbered decades.
Examples from a set of Bridgestone Exedras:
Front G547, serial number: PCC519 *
This tire was manufactured in the 51st week of 1999.
Rear G548, serial number: CAE508 *
This tire was manufactured in the 50th week of 1998.
*location of the triangle, tip pointing to the right.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ end of file ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HTH
Regards, John