tireheight.com

215/55R16 in inches

A 215/55R16 tire is 25.3″ tall and 8.5″ wide, and fits a 16″ wheel. In inches it is written 25.3×8.5R16.

Diameter25.31″
Width8.46″
Sidewall4.66″
215/55R16 drawn to scale: 25.31 inch diameter, 4.66 inch sidewall, 16 inch wheel, 8.46 inch tread width16″ wheel4.66″25.31″ overall8.46″ wideSide view
Drawn to scale. Nominal dimensions calculated from the size code.
Manufacturer data

How tall 215/55R16 tires really are

Heights published by BFGoodrich, General, Michelin and Toyo for all 12 tires in this size. Their published revolutions per mile work out to 24.5–24.6″ under load (below).

Real 215/55R16 tires measure 25.20–25.30″, against 25.31″ from the size code. They run both taller and shorter than the size code.

  1. General AltiMAX Arctic X25.30″ −0.01″
  2. General AltiMAX RT4525.30″ −0.01″
  3. General AltiMAX365 AW25.30″ −0.01″
  4. General G-MAX AS0725.30″ −0.01″
  5. Michelin CrossClimate225.30″ −0.01″
  6. BFGoodrich Advantage Control25.28″ −0.03″
  7. Michelin X-Ice Snow25.28″ −0.03″
  8. Toyo Celsius II25.28″ −0.04″
  9. Toyo Extensa A/S II25.27″ −0.04″
  10. Toyo Extensa HP II25.27″ −0.04″
  11. Toyo Observe G3-Ice25.27″ −0.04″
  12. Michelin Defender225.20″ −0.11″
Each bar runs from the size code's 25.31″ (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 load24.5–24.6″

Published revs per mile (821–823) mean the tire rolls like a 24.5–24.6″ tire on the vehicle. Use this for speedometer calibration.

Weight spread21.7–24.5 lb

The lightest (General AltiMAX365 AW, XL) is 2.8 lb lighter per corner than the heaviest (Toyo Observe G3-Ice, SL).

12 tires in 215/55R16

Sort by the spec you care about.

LoadRevs/miSource
General AltiMAX365 AWTouringXL · 97H25.3021.711.01,609821Spec page
General G-MAX AS07PerformanceSL · 93W25.3021.910.01,433821Spec page
General AltiMAX RT45TouringXL · 97H25.3022.311.01,609821Spec page
Michelin CrossClimate2All-seasonXL · 97H25.3022.510.01,609823Spec page
Michelin X-Ice SnowWinterXL · 97H25.2822.910.51,609823Spec page
General AltiMAX Arctic XWinterXL · 97T25.3023.212.01,609821Spec page
Toyo Celsius IITouringXL · 97H25.2823.311.31,609822Spec page
Toyo Extensa A/S IIAll-seasonXL · 97H25.2723.311.31,609822Spec page
Toyo Extensa HP IIPerformanceXL · 97V25.2723.59.21,609822Spec page
BFGoodrich Advantage ControlAll-seasonXL · 97H25.2824.011.51,609823Spec page
Michelin Defender2All-seasonXL · 97H25.2024.110.51,609823Spec page
Toyo Observe G3-IceWinterSL · 93T25.2724.511.31,433822Spec page

Is 215/55R16 a 25-inch tire?

≈25″

Yes. The size code works out to 25.31″, and the 12 tires here publish 25.20–25.30″, so people call it a 25.

Compare with nearby sizes

Differences in overall diameter, calculated from each size code.

SizeDiameter ″vs 215/55R16Difference
245/45R1624.68-0.63″-2.5%
185/60R1624.74-0.57″-2.3%
225/50R1624.86-0.45″-1.8%
205/55R1624.88-0.43″-1.7%
195/60R1625.21-0.10″-0.4%
245/50R1625.65+0.33″+1.3%
205/60R1625.69+0.37″+1.5%
225/55R1625.74+0.43″+1.7%
275/45R1625.74+0.43″+1.7%
255/50R1626.04+0.73″+2.9%

How to read 215/55R16

How to read any tire size

215/55R16 97H as printed on the tire sidewall, with each part numbered215/55R16 97H123456
How 215/55R16 97H is printed on the sidewall. It's the most common code among the 12 tires here (8 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

255Aspect ratio

A percentage, not a measurement: the sidewall is 55% as tall as the tire is wide, which is 118.3 mm or 4.66 inches.

3RConstruction

Radial construction.

416Wheel diameter

Mounts on a 16-inch wheel. Approved wheel widths run 6.0″ to 7.5″.

597Load index

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

6HSpeed rating

Rated for up to 130 mph sustained.

XLExtra load

Printed after the size. In this size the XL tires carry up to 1,609 lb each and the standard-load tires up to 1,433 lb, as published.

SpecificationInchesMetric
Overall diameter25.31643 mm
Section width8.46215 mm
Sidewall height4.66118.3 mm
Circumference79.52,020 mm
Revolutions per mile (calculated, unloaded)796.8495 per km
Revolutions per mile (published by manufacturers)821–823510–511 per km
Approved wheel width6.0–7.5152–191 mm

Speedometer error after switching to 215/55R16

Your actual speed– mph

Questions about 215/55R16

What is 215/55R16 in inches?

25.31 inches tall, 8.46 inches wide, on a 16-inch wheel. Written in inches, that is roughly 25.3×8.5R16.

How much does a 215/55R16 tire weigh?

Between 21.7 lb and 24.5 lb for the 12 tires listed here. The lightest is the General AltiMAX365 AW (XL); the heaviest is the Toyo Observe G3-Ice (SL).

What wheel width do I need for 215/55R16?

Manufacturers approve 6.0–7.5″ wide wheels for this size.

How many revolutions per mile does a 215/55R16 make?

Published figures run 821–823 revolutions per mile. The calculated figure is 796.8, but manufacturers measure the tire under load, where it rolls on a smaller radius.

How much taller is 215/55R16 than 195/60R16?

0.10 inches taller on paper (25.31″ vs 25.21″), which raises the axle about 0.05″. Your speedometer will read about 0.4% slow.