215/65R15 in inches

A 215/65R15 tire is 26.0″ tall and 8.5″ wide, and fits a 15″ wheel. In inches it is written 26.0×8.5R15.

Diameter26.00″

Width8.46″

Sidewall5.50″

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

Manufacturer data

How tall 215/65R15 tires really are

Heights published by BFGoodrich, General and Toyo for all 3 tires in this size. Their published revolutions per mile work out to 25.2–25.3″ under load (below).

Real 215/65R15 tires measure 26.00–26.02″, against 26.00″ from the size code. They run both taller and shorter than the size code.

Height under load25.2–25.3″

Published revs per mile (798–799) mean the tire rolls like a 25.2–25.3″ tire on the vehicle. Use this for speedometer calibration.

Weight spread20.9–26.8 lb

The lightest (General AltiMAX RT45, SL) is 5.9 lb lighter per corner than the heaviest (BFGoodrich Radial T/A, SL).

3 tires in 215/65R15

Sort by the spec you care about.

	Load					Revs/mi	Source
General AltiMAX RT45Touring	SL · 96T	26.00	20.9	11.0	1,565	799	Spec page
Toyo Extensa A/S IIAll-season	SL · 95T	26.02	23.2	11.3	1,510	798	Spec page
BFGoodrich Radial T/APerformance	SL · 95S	26.02	26.8	10.5	1,510	799	Spec page

Is 215/65R15 a 26-inch tire?

≈26″

Yes. The size code works out to 26.00″, and the 3 tires here publish 26.00–26.02″, so people call it a 26.

Compare with nearby sizes

Differences in overall diameter, calculated from each size code.

Size	Diameter ″	vs 215/65R15	Difference
215/60R15	25.16	-0.85″	-3.3%
205/65R15	25.49	-0.51″	-2.0%
225/60R15	25.63	-0.37″	-1.4%
195/70R15	25.75	-0.26″	-1.0%
255/50R16	26.04	+0.04″	+0.1%
235/60R15	26.10	+0.10″	+0.4%
205/70R15	26.30	+0.30″	+1.1%
245/60R15	26.57	+0.57″	+2.2%
295/50R15	26.61	+0.61″	+2.3%
215/70R15	26.85	+0.85″	+3.3%

How to read 215/65R15

How to read any tire size

How P215/65R15 95S is printed on the sidewall. It's the most common code among the 3 tires here (1 of them); tires in this size come in other load and speed ratings too.

1PP-metric

Marks a P-metric (passenger) tire. Sizes with no letter are Euro-metric.

2215Section width

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

365Aspect ratio

A percentage, not a measurement: the sidewall is 65% as tall as the tire is wide, which is 139.8 mm or 5.50 inches.

4RConstruction

Radial construction.

515Wheel diameter

Mounts on a 15-inch wheel. Approved wheel widths run 6.0″ to 7.5″.

695Load index

Each tire carries up to 1,521 lb (690 kg) at its maximum pressure.

7SSpeed rating

Rated for up to 112 mph sustained.

Specification	Inches	Metric
Overall diameter	26.00	660 mm
Section width	8.46	215 mm
Sidewall height	5.50	139.8 mm
Circumference	81.7	2,075 mm
Revolutions per mile (calculated, unloaded)	775.6	482 per km
Revolutions per mile (published by manufacturers)	798–799	496 per km
Approved wheel width	6.0–7.5	152–191 mm

Speedometer error after switching to 215/65R15

Your actual speed– mph

Questions about 215/65R15

What is 215/65R15 in inches?

26.00 inches tall, 8.46 inches wide, on a 15-inch wheel. Written in inches, that is roughly 26.0×8.5R15.

How much does a 215/65R15 tire weigh?

Between 20.9 lb and 26.8 lb for the 3 tires listed here. The lightest is the General AltiMAX RT45 (SL); the heaviest is the BFGoodrich Radial T/A (SL).

What wheel width do I need for 215/65R15?

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

How many revolutions per mile does a 215/65R15 make?

Published figures run 798–799 revolutions per mile. The calculated figure is 775.6, but manufacturers measure the tire under load, where it rolls on a smaller radius.

How much taller is 215/65R15 than 195/70R15?

0.26 inches taller on paper (26.00″ vs 25.75″), which raises the axle about 0.13″. Your speedometer will read about 1.0% slow.