Ace Tyres

The maker's mark on a tyre

Some tyres carry a small code on the sidewall beside the size — N0, MO, AO, a star. It is the car maker's own approval. An OE mark means the car's maker tested and approved that build for the model. It is a plus on the marked tyre, never a mark against the one without it (Eoin, 19 Sept 2026: the chat was going heavy on the shelf tyre 'not being the right fit' — it is the right size and rating and fine for the car; say the mark's plus in one line and leave it there). When we can get the marked tyre for your car we recommend it first, even when we have another tyre of the same size on the shelf.

  • BMWMini*

    BMW and Mini

    the star is BMW's approval: built to BMW's rolling-circumference tolerance so the driven wheels turn as one through the differential (and the transfer case on an xDrive). BMW says star tyres on all four, never a star mixed with a non-star.

    Wider rears on: BMW 1 Series, 2 Series, 3 Series, 4 Series 4 Door, 4 Series, 5 Series, 6 Series, 7 Series and 30 more. Priced as a set.
  • AudiAO

    Audi

    Audi Original: developed with Audi for the model — steering precision, comfort and noise at the car's weight. On a quattro the rolling circumference has to match front to rear for the centre differential, and AO tyres are built to that tolerance.

    Wider rears on: Audi A6 e-tron, Q4 e-tron, Q6 e-tron, RS e-tron GT, RS3, A6 Sportback, Nuvolari, Q4 and 8 more. Priced as a set.
  • AudiAOE

    Audi

    Audi Extended: the Audi approval on a run-flat that keeps going after a puncture; the car has no spare and a pressure monitor, so it is never mixed with an ordinary tyre.

    Wider rears on: Audi A6 e-tron, Q4 e-tron, Q6 e-tron, RS e-tron GT, RS3, A6 Sportback, Nuvolari, Q4 and 8 more. Priced as a set.
  • AudiRO1, RO2

    Audi Sport

    Audi Sport's approval for the RS and R models: tested at the speeds and heat those cars reach, with a casing to carry the power (RO1 the first release, RO2 the revision).

    Wider rears on: Audi A6 e-tron, Q4 e-tron, Q6 e-tron, RS e-tron GT, RS3, A6 Sportback, Nuvolari, Q4 and 8 more. Priced as a set.
  • MercedesMO

    Mercedes-Benz

    Mercedes Original: developed with Mercedes for the model's weight, steering feel and noise — the casing and compound are matched to the car's suspension settings, so it drives as it was signed off. On a 4MATIC the mark keeps the axles' rolling circumference matched for the centre differential.

    Wider rears on: Mercedes C-Class, CL, CLA, CLA Class, CLS, E-Class, EQE, GLC and 22 more. Priced as a set.
  • MercedesMO1

    Mercedes-AMG

    the AMG version of the Mercedes approval: the same idea, tested on the performance models for higher speeds and heat, with a stiffer casing for the extra power.

    Wider rears on: Mercedes C-Class, CL, CLA, CLA Class, CLS, E-Class, EQE, GLC and 22 more. Priced as a set.
  • MercedesMOE

    Mercedes-Benz

    Mercedes Extended: the Mercedes approval on a run-flat that keeps going for about 80 km at 80 km/h after a puncture. MOE cars carry no spare and rely on the tyre-pressure monitor — never mixed with an ordinary tyre.

    Wider rears on: Mercedes C-Class, CL, CLA, CLA Class, CLS, E-Class, EQE, GLC and 22 more. Priced as a set.
  • MercedesMOV

    Mercedes-Benz vans

    the Mercedes approval for its vans (Vito, Sprinter, V-Class): built for the load and the long, loaded miles a van does.

    Wider rears on: Mercedes C-Class, CL, CLA, CLA Class, CLS, E-Class, EQE, GLC and 22 more. Priced as a set.
  • PorscheN0, N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, N6

    Porsche

    N-rated: Porsche tests candidate tyres on its own cars — steering response, high-speed stability, wet grip and how the tyre behaves with the engine's weight over the rear axle — and only a tyre that passes gets the N. The same-named tyre without it can have a different compound or casing. The number is the release of the approval (N0 the first, N1 a revision), so a set should carry the same one.

    Wider rears on: Porsche 911, 959, Boxster, Cayenne, Cayenne Coupé, Cayman, Macan BEV, Panamera and 3 more. Priced as a set.
  • PorscheNA0, NA1, NA2, NB0, NC0, ND0

    Porsche

    Porsche's newer N-rating, one letter a model line (NA Panamera, NB 911, NC Cayenne and Macan, ND the latest): tested by Porsche on that car for steering, stability and grip at its weight. On a Cayenne or Macan the mark also settles the front-to-rear rolling-circumference match the four-wheel drive needs, so front and rear should both carry it.

    Wider rears on: Porsche 911, 959, Boxster, Cayenne, Cayenne Coupé, Cayman, Macan BEV, Panamera and 3 more. Priced as a set.
  • PorscheNE0, NF0, NF1

    Porsche (electric)

    Porsche's approval for its electric cars: a casing built for the weight and the instant torque of the Taycan and the Macan EV, low rolling resistance for range, and foam inside to quiet the cabin a silent car makes noticeable.

    Wider rears on: Porsche 911, 959, Boxster, Cayenne, Cayenne Coupé, Cayman, Macan BEV, Panamera and 3 more. Priced as a set.
  • JaguarJ, JRS

    Jaguar

    tested and approved by Jaguar for the model — steering feel, high-speed stability and noise on a car that is often all-wheel drive, where the front and rear have to roll alike.

    Wider rears on: Jaguar F-Pace, F-Pace SVR, F-Type AWD, F-Type Convertible, F-Type Coupe, F-Type Coupe AWD, F-Type Coupe R, F-Type Coupe R AWD and 41 more. Priced as a set.
  • Aston MartinAMS, AMP, AMV

    Aston Martin

    tested and approved by Aston Martin for the model, at the speeds and weight of the car.

  • VolvoVOL

    Volvo

    tested and approved by Volvo for the model — tuned for the weight of its hybrids and electrics, low rolling resistance and a quiet cabin.

    Wider rears on: Volvo C40, EC40, ES90, EX40, EX60, EX60 Cross Country, EX90, XC40. Priced as a set.
  • FerrariK1, K2, KS

    Ferrari

    tested and approved by Ferrari for the model at the speeds and temperatures those cars reach; the casing is built for the downforce and the power.

  • Land RoverLR, JLR

    Land Rover

    tested and approved by Land Rover for the model: a heavy car with permanent four-wheel drive and a centre differential, so the load rating and the front-to-rear match matter more than on most.

  • Alfa RomeoAR

    Alfa Romeo

    tested and approved by Alfa Romeo for the model — steering feel and balance tuned to the car.

    Wider rears on: Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, Giulia, Stelvio, 4C, 4C Spider, 8C, RZ, SZ. Priced as a set.
  • TeslaT0, T1, T2

    Tesla

    tested and approved by Tesla for the model: built for the weight and instant torque of an electric car, low rolling resistance for range, and foam inside for a quiet cabin.

    Wider rears on: Tesla Model X, Model S, Model S Plaid, Model X Plaid, Roadster. Priced as a set.
  • MaseratiMGT

    Maserati

    tested and approved by Maserati for the model, for the speeds and the weight of the car.

  • BMWALP

    Alpina

    tested and approved by Alpina for its BMW-based cars — the star's standards, at Alpina's higher speeds.

    Wider rears on: BMW 1 Series, 2 Series, 3 Series, 4 Series 4 Door, 4 Series, 5 Series, 6 Series, 7 Series and 30 more. Priced as a set.
  • MC, MC1, MCS

    McLaren

    tested and approved by McLaren for the model, at the downforce and speeds of a supercar.

  • LamborghiniL, LS

    Lamborghini

    tested and approved by Lamborghini for the model, at the downforce and speeds of a supercar.

  • BentleyB

    Bentley

    tested and approved by Bentley for the model — a heavy, fast, four-wheel-drive car, so load, speed and the front-to-rear match all count.

Snow, ice and winter marks

Three marks say what a tyre can do in the cold. Only the snowflake is a tested standard; M+S is the maker's own word.

  • 3PMSF

    The snowflake in the mountain

    The three-peak mountain snowflake: the tyre passed a set snow-traction test against a reference tyre. The only winter mark that is tested. It is on proper winter tyres and on all-season tyres that are winter-rated; some countries' winter laws ask for it.

  • M+S

    Mud and snow

    The maker's own word that the tread is cut for mud and snow — deeper grooves, more edges. No test behind it, so an M+S tyre without the snowflake is a mild all-season, not a winter tyre. Most SUV and 4x4 tyres carry it.

  • ICE

    The ice grip mark

    A newer mark, a snowflake over ice, for tyres tested on ice — Nordic winter tyres built for hard-packed snow and ice rather than wet cold. Rare here; you would want it for a winter in Scandinavia, not Sandyford.

  • Winter

    Winter, all-season, summer

    Below about 7°C a summer tyre's compound goes hard and grip drops; a winter or all-season compound stays soft. We fit summer tyres only, so these marks are here to explain what you see on a sidewall.

The load and speed on the sidewall

After the size comes a number and a letter, say 91V. The number is the load index, what one tyre carries; the letter is the speed rating, the top speed it is built for. Fit at least what the car's plate or handbook says; higher is fine, lower is not.

Speed rating

  • Q160 km/hwinter tyres
  • R170 km/hvans, 4x4
  • S180 km/hsmall cars
  • T190 km/hfamily cars
  • H210 km/hmost cars
  • V240 km/hquicker cars
  • W270 km/hperformance
  • Y300 km/hhigh performance
  • (Y)over 300supercars
  • ZRover 240in the size, old style

Load index, per tyre

  • 75387 kg
  • 78425 kg
  • 80450 kg
  • 82475 kg
  • 84500 kg
  • 85515 kg
  • 86530 kg
  • 87545 kg
  • 88560 kg
  • 89580 kg
  • 90600 kg
  • 91615 kg
  • 92630 kg
  • 93650 kg
  • 94670 kg
  • 95690 kg
  • 96710 kg
  • 97730 kg
  • 98750 kg
  • 99775 kg
  • 100800 kg
  • 101825 kg
  • 102850 kg
  • 103875 kg
  • 104900 kg
  • 105925 kg
  • 106950 kg
  • 107975 kg
  • 1081000 kg
  • 1091030 kg
  • 1101060 kg
  • 1121120 kg
  • 1151215 kg
  • 1181320 kg
  • 1211450 kg

XL or Reinforced after the size is a heavier-duty casing: a higher load index at the same size, for heavier cars, vans and EVs.

Ace Tyres, Sandyford · 01 295 3829. A tyre with the same name and no mark is a good tyre; the marked one is the one your car was designed around.