205/50R15 in inches

A 205/50R15 tire is 23.1″ tall and 8.1″ wide, and fits a 15″ wheel. In inches it is written 23.1×8.1R15.

Diameter23.07″

Width8.07″

Sidewall4.04″

Drawn to scale. Nominal dimensions calculated from the size code.

Manufacturer data

How tall 205/50R15 tires really are

Heights published by BFGoodrich and Toyo for all 7 tires in this size. Their published revolutions per mile work out to 22.4″ under load (below).

Real 205/50R15 tires measure 23.03–23.11″, against 23.07″ from the size code. Most run taller than the size code (6 of 7).

Height under load22.4″

Published revs per mile (899–902) mean the tire rolls like a 22.4″ tire on the vehicle. Use this for speedometer calibration.

Weight spread18.9–21.6 lb

The lightest (Toyo Proxes R, SL) is 2.8 lb lighter per corner than the heaviest (BFGoodrich g-Force Rival+, SL).

7 tires in 205/50R15

Sort by the spec you care about.

	Load					Revs/mi	Source
Toyo Proxes RPerformance	SL · 86W	23.11	18.9	3.7	1,168	899	Spec page
Toyo Proxes RRPerformance	SL	23.03	19.6	3.6	1,168	902	Spec page
Toyo Proxes RA1Performance	SL	23.10	20.0	8.0	1,135	899	Spec page
Toyo Proxes Sport RPerformance	XL · 89V	23.10	20.1	7.2	1,279	899	Spec page
Toyo Proxes R888RPerformance	XL · 89W	23.11	20.7	6.3	1,279	899	Spec page
BFGoodrich g-Force Rival SPerformance	SL · 86V	23.11	21.1	7.2	1,168	900	Spec page
BFGoodrich g-Force Rival+Performance	SL · 86V	23.11	21.6	7.2	1,168	900	Spec page

Is 205/50R15 a 23-inch tire?

≈23″

Yes. The size code works out to 23.07″, and the 7 tires here publish 23.03–23.11″, so people call it a 23.

Compare with nearby sizes

Differences in overall diameter, calculated from each size code.

Size	Diameter ″	vs 205/50R15	Difference
195/50R15	22.68	-0.39″	-1.7%
245/40R15	22.72	-0.35″	-1.5%
175/65R14	22.96	-0.11″	-0.5%
225/45R15	22.97	-0.10″	-0.4%
185/55R15	23.01	-0.06″	-0.3%
195/60R14	23.21	+0.14″	+0.6%
195/55R15	23.44	+0.37″	+1.6%
185/60R15	23.74	+0.67″	+2.9%
225/50R15	23.86	+0.79″	+3.4%
175/65R15	23.96	+0.89″	+3.8%

How to read 205/50R15

How to read any tire size

How 205/50R15 86V is printed on the sidewall. It's the most common code among the 7 tires here (2 of them); tires in this size come in other load and speed ratings too.

1205Section width

205 mm across the widest point, or 8.07 inches. Every 205 size

250Aspect ratio

A percentage, not a measurement: the sidewall is 50% as tall as the tire is wide, which is 102.5 mm or 4.04 inches.

3RConstruction

Radial construction.

415Wheel diameter

Mounts on a 15-inch wheel. Approved wheel widths run 5.5″ to 7.5″.

586Load index

Each tire carries up to 1,168 lb (530 kg) at its maximum pressure.

6VSpeed rating

Rated for up to 149 mph sustained.

Specification	Inches	Metric
Overall diameter	23.07	586 mm
Section width	8.07	205 mm
Sidewall height	4.04	102.5 mm
Circumference	72.5	1,841 mm
Revolutions per mile (calculated, unloaded)	874.2	543 per km
Revolutions per mile (published by manufacturers)	899–902	559–560 per km
Approved wheel width	5.5–7.5	140–191 mm

Speedometer error after switching to 205/50R15

Your actual speed– mph

Questions about 205/50R15

What is 205/50R15 in inches?

23.07 inches tall, 8.07 inches wide, on a 15-inch wheel. Written in inches, that is roughly 23.1×8.1R15.

How much does a 205/50R15 tire weigh?

Between 18.9 lb and 21.6 lb for the 7 tires listed here. The lightest is the Toyo Proxes R (SL); the heaviest is the BFGoodrich g-Force Rival+ (SL).

What wheel width do I need for 205/50R15?

Manufacturers approve 5.5–7.5″ wide wheels for this size.

How many revolutions per mile does a 205/50R15 make?

Published figures run 899–902 revolutions per mile. The calculated figure is 874.2, but manufacturers measure the tire under load, where it rolls on a smaller radius.

How much taller is 205/50R15 than 185/55R15?

0.06 inches taller on paper (23.07″ vs 23.01″), which raises the axle about 0.03″. Your speedometer will read about 0.3% slow.