tire creep

tire creep

A white mark painted on the sidewalls of a newly fitted tire and continued to the wheel rim. It detects the movement of the tire, which varies according to the load, inflation pressure, braking, and shimmying. The width of the creep mark indicates the maximum permissible creep. For tires of 24-in (600 mm) width outside diameter and below, the width of the creep mark is 1 in, and for those above 24 in outside diameter, the width is 1½ in. Some tires have two molded arrows, in between which the creep mark is painted. See creep (i).