C on a tire: C (commercial or van)
A commercial van tire. The C sits after the rim diameter, not before the width.
What it changes
195R14C and 195/70R15C are commercial van sizes. The C is easy to miss and easy to confuse with a load range C, which is a different marking in a different place. A van rated for a C size is not adequately shod with the same numbers in a passenger construction.
Where it sits: After the rim diameter, at the end of the size.
Questions
- What does C mean on a tire?
- A commercial van tire. The C sits after the rim diameter, not before the width. 195R14C and 195/70R15C are commercial van sizes. The C is easy to miss and easy to confuse with a load range C, which is a different marking in a different place. A van rated for a C size is not adequately shod with the same numbers in a passenger construction.
- Where does the C appear on the sidewall?
- After the rim diameter, at the end of the size.
- Does a C tire take the 1.10 light truck derating?
- No. The 1.10 factor applies to P-metric and Euro-metric tires fitted to a light truck. It is not the rating scheme this type is rated under.
Where these figures come from
Published values here were read from 2 independent sources:
- Tire code - Wikipedia, revision read 27 August 2026 (read 2026-08-27)Service type letters, construction letters, load range letters and ply ratings, sidewall marking glossary
- Load Index & Weight Ratings - rimlist, undated reference article (read 2026-08-27)LT against P-metric fitment, ST trailer tires, SL, XL and HL reference pressures
These are independent publishers, not independent measurements. Each one reproduces a table originally set by a standards body, so agreement between them shows a value was transcribed correctly, not that the underlying table is right. Where a figure is safety relevant, check it against the tire manufacturer's own data before relying on it.