Aspect Ratio – After the slash mark, the next number you see is for the tire’s aspect ratio, which essentially tells you how tall your tire’s profile is: P225/70R16 91S. Aspect ratios are delivered in percentages. Tire makers calculate the aspect ratio by dividing a tire’s height off the rim by its width.
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What do the size numbers on tires mean?
Example tire number: P215/65R15 95H The number 215 indicates the tire width in millimeters from sidewall to sidewall, so 215 millimeters in this case.65 is the aspect ratio code, which means the ratio of its height to width. This tire has a height equal to 65% of its width.
What do the 3 numbers mean on tire size?
Tire Size Meanings – Here’s what those numbers and indicators on the sidewall indicate and how to understand them: A: TIRE TYPE The first letter in the code tells you what class of tire it is. P stands for passenger vehicle tire, P-class tires include cars, SUVs, crossovers, minivans and smaller pickup trucks.
LT means light truck tire, designed for vehicles that are capable of carrying heavy loads, towing trailers, or for those looking for an extra heavy duty option. These are often equipped on three-quarter or 1 ton trucks and SUVs. ST stands for Special Trailer, These tire sizes are meant for trailers, including fifth wheels and other travel trailers, as well as boat and utility trailers.
If there’s no letter before the first number, you have a metric tire most commonly referred to as European size. It’s also measured in millimeters but may have a different load capacity than a P or LT tire. B: TIRE WIDTH The three-digit number following the letter is the tire’s width (from side to side, looking at the tire head on) in millimeters.
- This may also be referred to as the section width.
- C: ASPECT RATIO The forward slash separates the tire width number from the two-digit aspect ratio.
- The bigger the aspect ratio, the higher/taller the tire’s sidewall, or “profile” as it’s sometimes called.
- The aspect ratio is indicated on the tire sidewall as a percentage.
It’s the height of the sidewall measured from wheel rim to top of the tread, expressed as a percentage of tire width. In this example, the aspect ratio is 65, meaning the sidewall is 65 percent as high as the tire is wide. To get the sidewall height, take the tire width of 215 mm and convert it to inches (8.46).
Then multiply this by 65% (.65). This gives you an answer of 5.5, the sidewall height in inches. D: CONSTRUCTION TYPE This single letter tells you about the internal construction of the tire. R is for radial tires, the industry standard for most tires today. They have better road grip, lower rolling resistance for better gas mileage, ride comfort and durability than previous generations of tires.
In a radial tire, the plies — layers of strong cords made of a blend of polyester, steel and fabric and coated with rubber — are laid perpendicular to the direction of travel. 
D is for tires built with diagonal (crisscrossed) plies, called bias-constructed tires. They are also called conventional, x-ply, or cross-ply tires. Some motorcycle and trailer tires still use this internal construction. 
Some run-flat tires are identified with an F followed by the type of internal construction. E: WHEEL DIAMETER This two-digit number specifies wheel diameter in inches. It’s the distance between the two bead seat areas (where a tire gets tightly sealed onto the wheel). 
F: LOAD INDEX The two-digit or three-digit number that follows the gap specifies tire load index, The load index symbol indicates how much weight a tire can support, based on the following standard chart. In our example, the load index is 89, which indicates the tire has a load capacity of 1,279 pounds, when inflated to the tire’s maximum air pressure rating.
- G: SPEED RATING The last letter is the tire speed rating,
- This indicates the top speed it’s safe to travel at for a sustained amount of time.
- A tire with a higher speed rating can handle heat better and provide more control at faster speeds,
- The maximum operating speed of a vehicle is no more than the lowest speed rating of all tires mounted on the vehicle.
(Of course, you should always abide by speed limits for safer driving.) Speed rating is usually, but not always, a single letter (see the chart).
How wide is a 265 tire?
For example a LT265/75R16 would be around 31.6 inches tall and 10 inches wide.
How wide is a 275 tire?
275 vs 285 tire : So when someone mentioned their tire size is 275/35 R19, what does this actually mean? 275 actually denotes the width of the tires in mm. For example a 275/35 R19 tire size, it means that the width of the tire is 275mm (~ 10.8 inch) wide. The picture below shows an illustration of the 275mm length tire width. 
An illustration of what 275 means in a tire size designation. So when a consumer asks, what is the difference between 275 vs 285 tire? This question is a bit completed as the sidewall height is a function of the tire width & aspect ratio. (275/ 35 R19 –> 35 denotes the aspect ratio) This indirectly determines the diameter of your tire. This is the reason why when you are inching up, you tend to go up higher in width and lower in aspect ratio to keep the diameter roughly the same. We have written extensively about inching up and you can find more info here, To get an idea what tire sizes we are comparing, below are some examples of the popular tire sizes which carry the 275 & 285 width.
| 275 | 285 |
| 275/30R20 | 285/30R19 |
| 275/35R19 | 285/30R20 |
| 275/35R20 | 285/35R18 |
| 275/35R21 | 285/35R20 |
| 275/40R18 | 285/35R21 |
| 275/40R19 | 285/40R20 |
| 275/40R20 | 285/45R19 |
| 275/40R22 | 285/45R20 |
| 275/45R20 | 285/45R21 |
| 275/45R21 | 285/70R17 |
| 275/50R20 | |
| 275/50R21 | |
| 275/50R22 |
So regardless of your aspect ratio, the main key differences comparing 275 vs 285 tire comes in the footprint shape. An important point to note here is that your total footprint area stays the same regardless of what tire width you use as pressure is a function of weight. 
Image not scale, for illustration only. So how does this wider footprint actually improve the tire performance? From past studies, it is common knowledge that a wider footprint tire (285) performs better in wet braking compared to smaller width (275) one.
- The concept is relatively simple as the faster you are able to dissipate water to create a semi dry patch, the better your wet braking performance,
- So with a 285 tire width with a wider footprint, you have less contact area on a semi dry surface compared to a 275 tire width with a narrower footprint.
The same principle also holds in ice & snow braking, as a wider width tire is able to dissipate the thin liquid layer on ice & snow to create a higher friction surface to ensure a more effective way to transmit forces to the ground.
What does 235 mean on a tire?
The ‘235’ grouping indicates the width of the tire from sidewall to sidewall in millimeters. So, in this example, the tire is 235 millimeters — 9.25 inches — wide from sidewall to sidewall. Aspect Ratio.
What does R16 mean on tires?
Tyre Sidewall Markings Explained – There are several tyre markings that you can find on each tyre. Even though they look complex, they are fairly easy to understand once you know what each of these markings refers to. For instance, the tyre might be marked with the designation 215/60R16, where:
“215” refers to the width of the tyre, which in this case is 215 millimeters,”60″ refers to the nominal aspect ratio of 60%, which is the ratio of the height of the tyre’s sidewall to the tyre width (calculated as the height of the tyre section divided by its width), and”R16″ where the number is is the rim diameter, determined diagonally from rim edge to rim edge (in inches), and the “R” refers to radial tyres, which are the most common tyres found on the road nowadays. Other examples are “B” for bias-ply tyres and “D” for diagonally constructed tyres.
Next are the indexes, where we have the:
Load Index, which spans from 75 to 105 on passenger tyres. Here, each numeric value corresponds to a specific load capacity, indicating the maximum load a tyre may be subjected to. Make sure to choose wisely and stay within the load index as it directly impacts the vehicle’s safety. Speed Index, which is the maximum permissible speed at which you may drive the car supported by the tyres. This index is a combination of a number followed by a letter. For instance, the index “91V” indicates a maximum speed of 240km/h (based on a table), and the letter “V” is an alphabetical index, by which A indicates the lowest and Y the highest speed class. DOT number, which provides information about the manufacturer plant, tyre size, brand, and tyre age. For instance, the marking “DOT 26/21” shows that the tyre was manufactured in the 26th week of year 2021.
Why 3 tires instead of 4?
The Three-Tire Rule: The Bottom Line – There is no truth to the three-tire rule which claims that auto insurance won’t pay for tires if you only slash three. However, you do need to have comprehensive coverage in place if someone slashes your tires. Comprehensive coverage is relatively inexpensive and covers many scenarios, including fire, theft, vandalism, and natural disasters.
How do you decode tire numbers?
Aspect Ratio – Is the ratio of the height of the tire’s cross-section to its width. The two-digit number after the slash mark in a tire size is the aspect ratio. For example, in a size P215/65 R15 tire, the 65 means that the height is equal to 65% of the tire’s width. The bigger the aspect ratio, the bigger the tire’s sidewall will be.
What does R17 mean on a tire?
3. Size of the wheel – After the letter R, a number that indicates the wheel size where it fits. So for the example, P225/45R17 91V, R17 means the tire is made of radial-ply construction and that it fits a 17-inch rim. It’s a common knowledge for car owners that tires only fit a wheel that has an identical inner diameter with it.
The common widths of tires, measured in inches, are: 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 26, and 28. However, there are also “inch rim” sizes, or the measurement of a rim diameter in inches, that are made in half-inch diameter. These unique wheel diameters are usually used in some heavy-duty light trucks and trailers.
The sizes of the tires may come in 14.5, 15.5, 16.5, 17.5, and 19.5. Vehicle owners should always keep in mind that rim diameters with half-inch measurements should not be used with traditional inch rim tires and wheels. Keep in mind that tires and wheel diameters should always match.
Are 265 or 275 tires wider?
Going from 265 to 275 is fine on your car and you should not notice any difference in driving. It’s less than a 4% difference in width : 10/265 = 0.0377).
What does 265 70R17 mean?
How to read your tire size long description. An arrow points to the numbers 265/70R17 115T on the inner part of the tire sidewall.265 is the width, 70 is the aspect ratio, R stands for radial, 17 is the wheel diameter and 115T is the load index and speed symbol.
How big is a 285 tire?
Are 33 inch tires the same as 285? – A lot of people do not know “are 33-inch tires the same as 285”. They assume that two of these metrics are different. The answer is “yes, it is”.285 tires refer to the width in millimeters while 33-inch tires allude to diameter. In other words, they have similar sizes. The measurement systems are quite distinct, so many of us might confuse.285 indicate 285/75/16, which is the metric size for 33 inches.
| Measurement | 33 inches tires (285/75/16) |
| Diameter | 32.8″ (883mm) |
| Width | 11.2″ (285mm) |
| Sidewall | 8.4″ (213mm) |
| Circumference | 103.1″ (2619mm) |
| Revs/Mile | 615 (382mm) |
How wide is a 620 tire?
620/70R42 Firestone Radial All Traction DT R-1W
| Part No. | 356271 |
|---|---|
| Overall Diameter (in) | 76.2 |
| Overall Width (in) | 24.6 |
| Flat Plate Area | 475 |
| Rolling Circumference (in) | 226 |
What does 275 35R19 mean?
What the Heck Do Those Tire Numbers Mean? 
The numbers in the tire size refer to its width, aspect ratio, and wheel diameter. “275/35R19″ means the tire is 275 mm wide, has an aspect ratio (that is, the width divided by the height) of 35%, and fits on a 19” wheel. You can figure out the height of the sidewall by multiplying the section width (275) times the aspect ratio (35%).
Is 245 a wide tire?
A 245 is 245 millimeters, or 24.5 centimeters, wide. The tread width is actually somewhat smaller than the tire’s actual width.45: Aspect Ratio. This is the sidewall’s height from the inside diameter to the outside diameter.
Is 235 or 245 wider?
Exposed: 235 vs 245 tires 235 vs 245 tires : So when someone mentioned their tire size is 235/45R18, what does this actually mean? 235 actually denotes the width of the tires in mm. For example a 235/45R18 tire size, it means that the width of the tire is 235mm (~ 9.3 inch) wide. The picture below shows an illustration of the 235mm length tire width against a 245mm length tire. 
An illustration of 235 vs 245 tires in comparison. So when a consumer asks, what is the difference between 235 vs 245 tires? This question is a bit completed as the sidewall height is a function of the tire width & aspect ratio. (235/ 45 R18 –> 45 denotes the aspect ratio) This indirectly determines the diameter of your tire. This is the reason why when you are inching up, you tend to go up higher in width and lower in aspect ratio to keep the diameter roughly the same. We have written extensively about inching up and you can find more info, To get an idea what tire sizes we are comparing, below are some examples of the popular tire sizes which carry the 235 & 245 width.
| 235 | 245 |
| 235/35R19 | 245/30R18 |
| 235/40R18 | 245/30R20 |
| 235/45R17 | 245/35R18 |
| 235/45R18 | 245/35R19 |
| 235/45R19 | 245/40R18 |
| 235/50R18 | 245/40R19 |
| 235/50R19 | 245/40R20 |
| 235/50R20 | 245/45R17 |
| 235/55R17 | 245/45R18 |
| 235/55R18 | 245/45R19 |
| 235/55R19 | 245/45R20 |
| 235/55R20 | 245/50R18 |
| 235/60R18 | 245/50R19 |
| 235/65R17 | 245/50R20 |
| 235/40R19 | 245/55R18 |
| 235/40R20 | 245/65R17 |
| 235/50R20 | 245/70R16 |
| 235/50R17 | 245/75R16 |
| 235/65R18 | 245/75R17 |
So regardless of your aspect ratio, the main key differences comparing 235 vs 245 tires comes in the footprint shape. An important point to note here is that your total footprint area stays the same regardless of what tire width you use as pressure is a function of weight. 
Image not scale, for illustration only. So how does this wider footprint actually improve the tire performance? From past studies, it is common knowledge that a wider footprint tire (245) performs better in wet braking compared to smaller width (235) one.
The concept is relatively simple as the faster you are able to dissipate water to create a semi dry patch, the better your wet braking performance, So with a 245 tire width with a wider footprint, you have less contact area on a semi dry surface compared to a 235 tire width with a narrower footprint.
The same principle also holds in ice & snow braking, as a wider width tire is able to dissipate the thin liquid layer on ice & snow to create a higher friction surface to ensure a more effective way to transmit forces to the ground. Having a long footprint width might enhance your braking performances however it does come with a noise drawback.
As the exterior noise generated is correlated to your tire width, the 245 width tire will be much more noisier than the 235 width tire. To minimize noise, you would like the air flow hitting the tire contact patch as narrow as possible to reduce the air pumping effect. Like everything in tires, trade offs are a common theme 🙂 Based on the tire size table list, 235 tires have a lower aspect ratio range of 35-65, with a big concentration of ultra ultra high performance segments.
Popular sizes like the 235/40R18 for Honda Civic 1.5Tc Premium & also 235/45R18 carried by Toyota Camry 2.5V. These tires are either positioned in the UHP segment of the UUHP segmentation. Notable products in the 235 range include Continental ExtremeContact Force & Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2. 
Crossover/SUV Touring All Season-Michelin Cross Climate SUV On the other hand 245 tires have even a much lower aspect ratio range of 35-50, with a big concentration of ultra ultra high performance segments. Popular sizes like the 245/40R18 for Audi A4 are either positioned in the UHP segment of the UUHP segmentation. 
:Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Overall in a comparison of 235 vs 245 tires, 245 tires come with a wider footprint which enables better wet/snow/ice braking performances compared to a 235 tire. However a 235 width tire having a narrow footprint has a better noise performance compared to a 245 width tire. I hope this clarifies the pros and cons of 235 vs 245 tires. : Exposed: 235 vs 245 tires
Can I fit 235 tyres instead of 255?
The specification is that the 235 tires and the 255 tires can be interchanged as long as they have an aspect ratio of seventy percent and a diameter of sixteen. So they are different in terms of the width size, but you can switch them.
Can I fit 245 tyres instead of 235?
Tire size Q – 235 replace a 245?
| 01-25-2017, 09:29 AM | # |
| Enlisted Member Drives: 2013 X3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Naples, Fl | Tire size Q – 235 replace a 245? I am driving a 2013 X3. My front 2 tires are almost done and will need to be replaced this spring before the Florida rainy season starts. I started looking for new tires. Tire Rack recommends the Bridgstone DriveGuard RFT. Reviews look strong. However, they do not come in 245/50RF18 – the size of my current Eagle RFTs. They only come in 235/50RF18. Tire Rack is clearly ok with the size difference. Any thoughts on the size difference? Or any experience with this tire on an X3? Thanks. |
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| Originally Posted by JMBNaples I am driving a 2013 X3. My front 2 tires are almost done and will need to be replaced this spring before the Florida rainy season starts. I started looking for new tires. Tire Rack recommends the Bridgstone DriveGuard RFT. Reviews look strong. However, they do not come in 245/50RF18 – the size of my current Eagle RFTs. They only come in 235/50RF18. Tire Rack is clearly ok with the size difference. Any thoughts on the size difference? Or any experience with this tire on an X3? Thanks. |
These are the specs on the 2 different sizes: Specification Sidewall Radius Diameter Circumference Revs/Mile Difference 245/50-18 4.8in 13.8in 27.6in 86.9in 730 0.0% 235/50-18 4.6in 13.6in 27.3in 85.6in 740 -1.4% Width would go 9.6″ to 9.3″. If you went all 4 new in this size then there is no doubt it’d be fine. Speedometer would be off approx,5mph (actual speed would be that much less than what shows on speedometer). You’d be basically gearing the truck down a little by going to a shorter tire. _ 2015 BMW F36 428i JetBlack, Sport Line Edition 25% 3M Tint|
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| Originally Posted by JMBNaples I thought 235 is the width in mm. So the diameter would be nearly the same. |
235 is the width, but the subsequent measurement is a percentage of that width.
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| Originally Posted by malicem3 Yep no issues with 235’s. |
Hi, do you rund 235/55? If so, do you have any pics?
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| Originally Posted by E60525d Hi, do you rund 235/55? If so, do you have any pics? |
I have 225 for winter on oem wheels. Europe and NA dont get the same wheel setup. Originally, I have 245-45-19 on all 4 corners. Now I have 245-40-19 back, and 225-45-19 front.1% outer diameter diff r/f. speedometer 5% off. I got some nokian for a steal, so I will live with this difference. Planning to do 1000km local drive this winter, not more. It looks just like OEM. No visible stretch at all. I was surprised.
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| Originally Posted by TEF The only concern one might have with the Bridgestones in 235/50-18 (vice 245/50-18) is the load rating of the 235’s. According to tirerack, that size has a load rating of only 97 compared to 100 for the 245’s. Technically, the 235’s might not be designed for the weight of an X3. I am no engineer, but you might want to ask the folks at Tirerack if this would be an issue. |
That is incorrect. The load rate is lower, but it isn’t a concern. The main concern with mismatching tires on both axles is the difference in diameter, which puts it dangerously in the range of diameter difference that would make the transfer case work too much. It overheats and breaks. You always want to have same diameter tires on all 4 corners of the car.
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| Originally Posted by TEF If a stock tire has a load rating of 100 and a replacement has one of 97, what is incorrect: the absolute number or that load ratings do not matter? if it’s the latter, than why have them. I am not incorrect, it’s just another reason that the tires are not equivalent. Just because you point out that tires must be the same on all corners doesn’t make my comment any less valid. |
You said “the only concern one might have is the tire load”. That’s a concern you have. Far from being the “only” concern. It may be a concern to some, as proven by you and your own, but it may as well be the “least” concerning piece, not the “only one”. Your point is valid though otherwise. Being that the thread topic is about mixing tires of different diameters, I maintain my post in its entirety and excuse myself of further commenting to not seem like I’m arguing, which isn’t the intent.
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| Originally Posted by CalCarNut Nope. I’ves swapped tire sizes on many of my cars.as long as you’re ok with a small speedometer/odometer error and you don’t go crazy in changing the overall diameter where it’ll screw up the ABS system, you’re fine. I’ll need tires for my wife’s X3.I want to go go something wider rather than narrower.mostly for looks. |
curious to know if you ever switched tires for your wifes X3? i have a 2011 X3 with 245/55 r17 runflats. I want to switch to a regular tire but there arent any in that size. Tirerack is telling me that 235/60 r17 is guranteed to work for my vehicle. The diameter difference is 1.75%. Will it be safe to make the switch? will the suspension or ABS get out of whack if i switch to the different size?
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| Originally Posted by nyboy42 i recently switched on my 2011 x3 from the OEM 245/55 17 runflats to 235/60 17 based on tirerack.com recommendation, a diameter difference of 1.8%. no issue at all and the ride is much better with non-runflats. The only possible concern is if a taller tire might rub with the fender or other parts. Tires are much cheaper, the OEM tires were $250 a piece. In my case the difference in height of the new tire was half an inch and there was more than enough clearance to handle that. |
Just did new wheels 17×7.5 et32 (OE fitment) and 235/60/17 snow tires for mine. No problems at all. You can run those tires anywhere from 6.5-8.5″ wheel width. Great size for winter tires.
Tire size Q – 235 replace a 245?
Are wider tyres better?
Thu April 25 10:00 am 2019 in category Product news – Many drivers want their summer tires to look flashier than their winter equivalents. That is why wider and lower tires are usually selected for the summer, whereas narrower tires are commonly used in the winter.
The tire choice affects the car’s appearance, driving comfort, and many other characteristics. In Central Europe, car owners usually have two sets of rims: one for the summer and another for the winter. A common choice is to use slightly larger and more expensive rims for the summer tires, – If you have your winter tires on when driving to the tire retailer to purchase summer tires, it is important that you know the size of your current summer tire set.
Otherwise, your current rims may not fit your new tires, says Martin Dražík, Product Manager for Nokian Tyres Europe. When shopping for tires, you should follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. You can check your car’s registration certificate for the recommended tire size and any alternative sizes.
Narrow tires are cheaper but wider ones look better The correct tire width is also affected by the sorts of characteristics the owner is looking for in their car and its handling. The tire width will affect their price and several other characteristics, such as grip, noise level, driving comfort, and appearance.
Replacing narrow tires with wider ones will usually increase rolling resistance and, therefore, slightly increase fuel consumption. In summer tires, size is also a question of esthetics; a wide tire is thought to look better than a narrow one. – If the driver wants to switch to a larger rim diameter, the tire profile needs to be reduced.
This allows the outer diameter to remain within the legal limits and the tires will have enough room to rotate, Martin Dražík explains. The tire profile refers to the ratio between the height and width of the tire. Since the most popular sizes are narrow with a high profile, they are manufactured in greater numbers than wide tires with a low profile.
That is part of the reason why narrow tires are usually cheaper than wider ones. Both types have their benefits The volume of air in a tire will particularly affect their driving comfort. The larger the rim diameter, the less air will fit in the tire. High-profile tires with plenty of space for air are more comfortable than wide, low-profile tires.
From a safety point of view, both types have their good sides: On a dry road, wider tires will offer more grip than narrow ones, but the risk of aquaplaning will be higher with wide tires. – In the winter, narrow tires are better under extreme conditions as they provide higher surface pressure against the road.
Narrow tires also work better than wider ones in loose snow and slush. Wider tires, for their part, will offer more grip on hard surfaces, Martin Dražík says. What do the tire markings tell us? A tire may be marked 205/55 R16 94V XL, for example. Here’s how to read the markings : 205: The width of the tire in millimeters at normal pressure.
The tread width will always be smaller, but it varies depending on the tire model and manufacturer.55: The tire profile or the ratio between the height and width of the tire. For example, the number 55 means that the height is 55% of the width. The smaller the number is, the lower the tire profile will be.
R: Tire structure. R refers to radial tires that are used on all passenger cars in Central Europe.16: Rim diameter in inches.94: The tire’s load index. The number 94 means that one tire can carry a maximum load of 670 kg at normal pressure. Smaller numbers mean a lower load-bearing capacity.
Can I use wrong tire size?
Unfortunately, altering the tire size of a vehicle without thorough and careful consideration is a decision that can really bite. Fitting the wrong tire size can cause damage to a vehicle, and is a real safety hazard as well.
Which is better R16 or r17?
Is there any difference while driving the Hyundai Creta with 17-inch when compared to the 16-inch wheels? Published On Oct 25, 2019 12:00:00 PM Do the 17-inch wheels in the Creta SX Dual Tone variant make any difference while driving, compared to the 16-inch ones in the SX version? Rajat Abhishek, Ranchi AAA – Yes, wheel size has a big impact on ride comfort. The smaller 16-inch wheels come with tyres that have larger sidewalls that act as cushions against sharp edges on the roads, like ruts and potholes.
Can I use 60 instead of 65 tires?
Yes, they will work on the same rims but the tires will be a little taller overall than the 60 series tires. So whether they will fit the car is another question entirely. The speedometer will read 3% low with the 65 series tires.
What is the size difference between a 275 and 265 tire?
Going from 265 to 275 is fine on your car and you should not notice any difference in driving. It’s less than a 4% difference in width: 10/265 = 0.0377).
Can I use 175 tires instead of 185?
Can I change my tire with 175 width to 185 without changing the rim? Yes. The 185 is the width of the tire. Most rims that support a 175mm wide tires will easily handle a 185mm wide tire.
What does 225 mean on a tire?
What Do The Numbers On My Tire Mean? At first glance, you look at the sidewall of your tire and think, “‘Do I need a super secret decoder ring to read this?” In addition to the model name of the tire there is a series of numbers that at first, you don’t deem important.
However, these numbers are extremely helpful, especially when it’s time to replace your tires. Here’s a quick breakdown to help you decipher one of the best kept secrets in the automotive world. TIRE SIZE Example: P225/60/R16 94V P identifies your tire as a Passenger Tire. The P stands for PMetric. If your tire size starts with LT rather than a P then it identifies the tire as a Light Truck tire.225 identifies the tire section width, which is the measurement of the tire from sidewall to sidewall in millimeters.
This measurement varies depending on the rim to which it is fitted. (There are 25.4 millimeters per 1 inch.) 60 is the two-figure aspect ratio. This percentage compares the tire’s section height with the tire’s section width. For example, this aspect ratio of 60 means that the tire’s section height is 60% of the tire’s section width.
- R indicates the construction used within the tires casing.
- R stands for radial construction.
- B means belted bias and D stands for diagonal bias construction.16 The last dimension listed in the size is the diameter of the wheel rim, which is most often measured in inches.
- If a tire size reads, LT235/75R15 104/101S, the LT indicates that this tire is meant for Light Truck use.
These tires are made for light-duty and heavy-duty pickup trucks (typically ½ ton, ¾ ton, or 1-ton load capacity), SUVs and vans, These tires fall into one of three categories: Numeric – designed to carry heavy cargo loads and/or tow trailers. Wide Base – designed to carry heavy cargo loads and/or tow trailers on a wheel rim with a diameter of 16.5 inches.
- Flotation – wider, oversized tires designed to carry heavy cargo loads and/or tow trailers on loose surfaces such as sand, gravel, or dirt.
- Tires beginning with a ST (for example ST175/80R13) indicate a Special Trailer tire and should only be used on car, boat or utility trailers.
- LOAD INDEX AND SPEED RATING
- Example: P225/60/R16 94V
The load index and speed rating, or service description, are the numbers that follow the tire size. In the example above, the first two digits (94) represent the tire’s load index and the single letter (V) identifies the tire’s speed rating. But what does that mean? 94 – The load index tells you how much weight the tire can support when properly inflated.
- Load indexes typically range from 70 – 126, with each numeric value corresponding to a certain carrying capacity.
- The higher toe tire’s load index number, the greater its load carrying capacity.
- The carrying capacity for each value can be found on a load index chart.
- On each U.S.
- Passenger car tire, the load limit is listed in pounds.
European tires have the load limit listed in kilograms and sometimes pounds. When it comes to Light Truck (LT) or Special Trailer (ST) tires, there are two load indexes branded (example – LT235/75R15 104/101S). In this example, the 104 corresponds to 1,984 pounds (see chart below), and the 101 corresponds to 1,819 pounds.
- So which number do you use? The answer is, it depends on the how the tire is being usedand it can change.
- LT tires are commonly used on trucks with dual rear wheels and are branded with two load indexes.
- The first number indicates load carrying capacity if the tire is installed on a truck with a single-wheel rear axle, and the second number applies when the tire is used in a dual rear application.
V – Speed ratings are represented by letters ranging from A to Z. Each letter coincides to the maximum speed a tire can sustain under its recommended load capacity. For instance, V is equivalent to a maximum speed of 149 mph. Even though a tire can perform at this speed General Tire does not advocate exceeding legal speed limits.
- Rating Maximum Speed Use
- L 75 MPH Off-Road & Light Truck tires
- M 81 MPH Temporary Spare tires
- N 87 MPH
- P 93 MPH
- Q 99 MPH Winter tires (w/or w/out studs)
R 106 MPH H.D. Light Truck tires
- S 112 MPH Family Sedans & Vans
- T 118 MPH Family Sedans & Vans
- U 124 MPH
- H 130 MPH Sport Sedans & Coupes
- V 149 MPH Sports Cars, Sport Sedans & Coupes
- Z Over 149 MPH Sports Cars
: What Do The Numbers On My Tire Mean?