tireheight.com

205/50R16 in inches

A 205/50R16 tire is 24.1″ tall and 8.1″ wide, and fits a 16″ wheel. In inches it is written 24.1×8.1R16.

Diameter24.07″
Width8.07″
Sidewall4.04″
205/50R16 drawn to scale: 24.07 inch diameter, 4.04 inch sidewall, 16 inch wheel, 8.07 inch tread width16″ wheel4.04″24.07″ overall8.07″ wideSide view
Drawn to scale. Nominal dimensions calculated from the size code.
Manufacturer data

How tall 205/50R16 tires really are

Heights published by BFGoodrich, General, Michelin and Toyo for all 9 tires in this size. Their published revolutions per mile work out to 23.4–23.6″ under load (below).

Real 205/50R16 tires measure 24.09–24.27″, against 24.07″ from the size code. They run both taller and shorter than the size code.

  1. Toyo Proxes R1R24.27″ +0.20″
  2. General AltiMAX RT4524.10″ +0.03″
  3. General G-MAX AS0724.10″ +0.03″
  4. Toyo Extensa HP II24.09″ +0.02″
  5. Toyo Proxes R888R24.09″ +0.02″
  6. Toyo Proxes Sport A/S24.09″ +0.02″
  7. BFGoodrich Advantage Control24.09″ +0.02″
  8. BFGoodrich g-Force COMP-2 A/S PLUS24.09″ +0.02″
  9. Michelin X-Ice Snow24.09″ +0.02″
Each bar runs from the size code's 24.07″ (the orange line) to the model's published height. The track spans 1.0″. Where a model comes in several load ranges, the darker part shows its range of heights; the number after the name is how many versions it comes in.
Height under load23.4–23.6″

Published revs per mile (856–863) mean the tire rolls like a 23.4–23.6″ tire on the vehicle. Use this for speedometer calibration.

Weight spread19.1–23.1 lb

The lightest (General AltiMAX RT45, SL) is 4.0 lb lighter per corner than the heaviest (BFGoodrich g-Force COMP-2 A/S PLUS, SL).

9 tires in 205/50R16

Sort by the spec you care about.

LoadRevs/miSource
General AltiMAX RT45TouringSL · 87H24.1019.111.01,201863Spec page
General G-MAX AS07PerformanceSL · 87W24.1019.210.01,201863Spec page
Michelin X-Ice SnowWinterSL · 87H24.0920.210.51,202863Spec page
Toyo Extensa HP IIPerformanceXL · 91V24.0920.99.11,356862Spec page
Toyo Proxes R1RPerformanceSL · 87V24.2721.88.61,201856Spec page
Toyo Proxes R888RPerformanceSL · 87W24.0921.86.31,201862Spec page
Toyo Proxes Sport A/SPerformanceXL · 91V24.0921.99.91,356862Spec page
BFGoodrich Advantage ControlAll-seasonSL · 87V24.0922.610.51,201863Spec page
BFGoodrich g-Force COMP-2 A/S PLUSPerformanceSL · 87W24.0923.19.01,201863Spec page

Is 205/50R16 a 24-inch tire?

≈24″

Yes. The size code works out to 24.07″, and the 9 tires here publish 24.09–24.27″, so people call it a 24.

Compare with nearby sizes

Differences in overall diameter, calculated from each size code.

SizeDiameter ″vs 205/50R16Difference
205/45R1623.26-0.81″-3.4%
215/45R1623.62-0.45″-1.9%
195/50R1623.68-0.39″-1.6%
225/45R1623.97-0.10″-0.4%
185/55R1624.01-0.06″-0.2%
195/55R1624.44+0.37″+1.6%
245/45R1624.68+0.61″+2.5%
185/60R1624.74+0.67″+2.8%
225/50R1624.86+0.79″+3.3%
205/55R1624.88+0.81″+3.4%

How to read 205/50R16

How to read any tire size

205/50R16 87W as printed on the tire sidewall, with each part numbered205/50R16 87W123456
How 205/50R16 87W is printed on the sidewall. It's the most common code among the 9 tires here (3 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.

416Wheel diameter

Mounts on a 16-inch wheel. Approved wheel widths run 5.5″ to 7.5″.

587Load index

Each tire carries up to 1,201 lb (545 kg) at its maximum pressure.

6WSpeed rating

Rated for up to 168 mph sustained.

SpecificationInchesMetric
Overall diameter24.07611 mm
Section width8.07205 mm
Sidewall height4.04102.5 mm
Circumference75.61,921 mm
Revolutions per mile (calculated, unloaded)837.9521 per km
Revolutions per mile (published by manufacturers)856–863532–536 per km
Approved wheel width5.5–7.5140–191 mm

Speedometer error after switching to 205/50R16

Your actual speed– mph

Questions about 205/50R16

What is 205/50R16 in inches?

24.07 inches tall, 8.07 inches wide, on a 16-inch wheel. Written in inches, that is roughly 24.1×8.1R16.

How much does a 205/50R16 tire weigh?

Between 19.1 lb and 23.1 lb for the 9 tires listed here. The lightest is the General AltiMAX RT45 (SL); the heaviest is the BFGoodrich g-Force COMP-2 A/S PLUS (SL).

What wheel width do I need for 205/50R16?

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

How many revolutions per mile does a 205/50R16 make?

Published figures run 856–863 revolutions per mile. The calculated figure is 837.9, but manufacturers measure the tire under load, where it rolls on a smaller radius.

How much taller is 205/50R16 than 185/55R16?

0.06 inches taller on paper (24.07″ vs 24.01″), which raises the axle about 0.03″. Your speedometer will read about 0.2% slow.