tireheight.com

205/70R16 in inches

A 205/70R16 tire is 27.3″ tall and 8.1″ wide, and fits a 16″ wheel. In inches it is written 27.3×8.1R16.

Diameter27.30″
Width8.07″
Sidewall5.65″
205/70R16 drawn to scale: 27.30 inch diameter, 5.65 inch sidewall, 16 inch wheel, 8.07 inch tread width16″ wheel5.65″27.30″ overall8.07″ wideSide view
Drawn to scale. Nominal dimensions calculated from the size code.
Manufacturer data

How tall 205/70R16 tires really are

Heights published by General for the one tire in this size. Their published revolutions per mile work out to 26.5″ under load (below).

The one tire listed, the General AltiMAX RT45, measures 27.30″: 0.00″ taller than the size code's 27.30″.

Height under load26.5″

Published revs per mile (761) mean the tire rolls like a 26.5″ tire on the vehicle. Use this for speedometer calibration.

1 tire in 205/70R16

Sort by the spec you care about.

LoadRevs/miSource
General AltiMAX RT45TouringSL · 97T27.3022.411.01,609761Spec page

Is 205/70R16 a 27-inch tire?

≈27″

Yes. The size code works out to 27.30″, and the 1 tire here publishes 27.30″, so people call it a 27.

All 27-inch tire sizes, on every wheel size.

Compare with nearby sizes

Differences in overall diameter, calculated from each size code.

SizeDiameter ″vs 205/70R16Difference
205/65R1626.49-0.81″-3.0%
225/60R1626.63-0.67″-2.5%
215/65R1627.00-0.30″-1.1%
235/60R1627.10-0.20″-0.7%
225/70R1527.40+0.10″+0.4%
195/75R1627.52+0.22″+0.8%
225/65R1627.52+0.22″+0.8%
215/70R1627.85+0.55″+2.0%
235/65R1628.03+0.73″+2.7%
205/75R1628.11+0.81″+3.0%

How to read 205/70R16

How to read any tire size

205/70R16 97T as printed on the tire sidewall, with each part numbered205/70R16 97T123456
How 205/70R16 97T is printed on the sidewall. It's the most common code among the 1 tire here; 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

270Aspect ratio

A percentage, not a measurement: the sidewall is 70% as tall as the tire is wide, which is 143.5 mm or 5.65 inches.

3RConstruction

Radial construction.

416Wheel diameter

Mounts on a 16-inch wheel. Approved wheel widths run 5.0″ to 7.0″.

597Load index

Each tire carries up to 1,609 lb (730 kg) at its maximum pressure.

6TSpeed rating

Rated for up to 118 mph sustained.

SpecificationInchesMetric
Overall diameter27.30693 mm
Section width8.07205 mm
Sidewall height5.65143.5 mm
Circumference85.82,178 mm
Revolutions per mile (calculated, unloaded)738.8459 per km
Revolutions per mile (published by manufacturers)761473 per km
Approved wheel width5.0–7.0127–178 mm

Speedometer error after switching to 205/70R16

Your actual speed– mph

Questions about 205/70R16

What is 205/70R16 in inches?

27.30 inches tall, 8.07 inches wide, on a 16-inch wheel. Written in inches, that is roughly 27.3×8.1R16.

What wheel width do I need for 205/70R16?

Manufacturers approve 5.0–7.0″ wide wheels for this size.

How many revolutions per mile does a 205/70R16 make?

Published figures run 761 revolutions per mile. The calculated figure is 738.8, but manufacturers measure the tire under load, where it rolls on a smaller radius.

How much taller is 205/70R16 than 235/60R16?

0.20 inches taller on paper (27.30″ vs 27.10″), which raises the axle about 0.10″. Your speedometer will read about 0.7% slow.