tireheight.com

215/45R16 in inches

A 215/45R16 tire is 23.6″ tall and 8.5″ wide, and fits a 16″ wheel. In inches it is written 23.6×8.5R16.

Diameter23.62″
Width8.46″
Sidewall3.81″
215/45R16 drawn to scale: 23.62 inch diameter, 3.81 inch sidewall, 16 inch wheel, 8.46 inch tread width16″ wheel3.81″23.62″ overall8.46″ wideSide view
Drawn to scale. Nominal dimensions calculated from the size code.
Manufacturer data

How tall 215/45R16 tires really are

Heights published by BFGoodrich and Michelin for all 3 tires in this size. Their published revolutions per mile work out to 22.9″ under load (below).

Real 215/45R16 tires measure 23.60–23.62″, against 23.62″ from the size code. They run both taller and shorter than the size code.

Height under load22.9″

Published revs per mile (881) mean the tire rolls like a 22.9″ tire on the vehicle. Use this for speedometer calibration.

Weight spread18.4–20.8 lb

The lightest (Michelin Pilot Sport 3, XL) is 2.4 lb lighter per corner than the heaviest (BFGoodrich g-Force Rival S, SL).

3 tires in 215/45R16

Sort by the spec you care about.

LoadRevs/miSource
Michelin Pilot Sport 3PerformanceXL · 90V23.6018.49.51,323881Spec page
BFGoodrich g-Force Rival SPerformanceSL · 86V23.6220.87.21,168881Spec page
BFGoodrich g-Force Rival+PerformanceSL · 86V23.6220.87.21,168881Spec page

Is 215/45R16 a 24-inch tire?

≈24″

Close. The size code works out to 23.62″, and the 3 tires here publish 23.60–23.62″, so people call it a 24.

Compare with nearby sizes

Differences in overall diameter, calculated from each size code.

SizeDiameter ″vs 215/45R16Difference
195/45R1622.91-0.71″-3.0%
205/45R1623.26-0.35″-1.5%
195/50R1623.68+0.06″+0.3%
185/60R1523.74+0.12″+0.5%
245/35R1723.75+0.13″+0.6%
215/40R1723.77+0.15″+0.7%
225/45R1623.97+0.35″+1.5%
185/55R1624.01+0.39″+1.7%
205/50R1624.07+0.45″+1.9%
195/55R1624.44+0.83″+3.5%

How to read 215/45R16

How to read any tire size

215/45R16 86V as printed on the tire sidewall, with each part numbered215/45R16 86V123456
How 215/45R16 86V is printed on the sidewall. It's the most common code among the 3 tires here (2 of them); tires in this size come in other load and speed ratings too.
1215Section width

215 mm across the widest point, or 8.46 inches. Every 215 size

245Aspect ratio

A percentage, not a measurement: the sidewall is 45% as tall as the tire is wide, which is 96.8 mm or 3.81 inches.

3RConstruction

Radial construction.

416Wheel diameter

Mounts on a 16-inch wheel. Approved wheel widths run 7.0″ to 8.0″.

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.

SpecificationInchesMetric
Overall diameter23.62600 mm
Section width8.46215 mm
Sidewall height3.8196.8 mm
Circumference74.21,885 mm
Revolutions per mile (calculated, unloaded)853.9531 per km
Revolutions per mile (published by manufacturers)881547 per km
Approved wheel width7.0–8.0178–203 mm

Speedometer error after switching to 215/45R16

Your actual speed– mph

Questions about 215/45R16

What is 215/45R16 in inches?

23.62 inches tall, 8.46 inches wide, on a 16-inch wheel. Written in inches, that is roughly 23.6×8.5R16.

How much does a 215/45R16 tire weigh?

Between 18.4 lb and 20.8 lb for the 3 tires listed here. The lightest is the Michelin Pilot Sport 3 (XL); the heaviest is the BFGoodrich g-Force Rival S (SL).

What wheel width do I need for 215/45R16?

Manufacturers approve 7.0–8.0″ wide wheels for this size.

How many revolutions per mile does a 215/45R16 make?

Published figures run 881 revolutions per mile. The calculated figure is 853.9, but manufacturers measure the tire under load, where it rolls on a smaller radius.

How much taller is 215/45R16 than 205/45R16?

0.35 inches taller on paper (23.62″ vs 23.26″), which raises the axle about 0.18″. Your speedometer will read about 1.5% slow.