215/70R15 in inches

A 215/70R15 tire is 26.9″ tall and 8.5″ wide, and fits a 15″ wheel. In inches it is written 26.9×8.5R15.

Diameter26.85″

Width8.46″

Sidewall5.93″

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

Manufacturer data

How tall 215/70R15 tires really are

Heights published by BFGoodrich, General and Toyo for all 6 tires in this size. Their published revolutions per mile work out to 26.1″ under load (below).

Real 215/70R15 tires measure 26.89–26.90″, against 26.85″ from the size code. Every one runs taller than the size code.

Height under load26.1″

Published revs per mile (773–774) mean the tire rolls like a 26.1″ tire on the vehicle. Use this for speedometer calibration.

Weight spread23.2–28.8 lb

The lightest (General AltiMAX RT45, SL) is 5.6 lb lighter per corner than the heaviest (BFGoodrich Radial T/A, SL).

6 tires in 215/70R15

Sort by the spec you care about.

	Load					Revs/mi	Source
General AltiMAX RT45Touring	SL · 98T	26.90	23.2	11.0	1,653	774	Spec page
BFGoodrich Advantage ControlAll-season	SL · 98H	26.89	23.6	11.5	1,653	774	Spec page
Toyo Extensa A/S IIAll-season	SL · 98T	26.89	24.9	11.3	1,653	773	Spec page
Toyo Celsius IITouring	SL · 98T	26.89	25.2	11.3	1,653	773	Spec page
Toyo Observe G3-IceWinter	SL · 98T	26.89	27.1	12.5	1,653	773	Spec page
BFGoodrich Radial T/APerformance	SL · 97S	26.89	28.8	12.0	1,620	774	Spec page

Is 215/70R15 a 27-inch tire?

≈27″

Yes. The size code works out to 26.85″, and the 6 tires here publish 26.89–26.90″, 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.

Size	Diameter ″	vs 215/70R15	Difference
215/65R15	26.00	-0.85″	-3.2%
235/60R15	26.10	-0.75″	-2.8%
205/70R15	26.30	-0.55″	-2.1%
245/60R15	26.57	-0.28″	-1.0%
295/50R15	26.61	-0.24″	-0.9%
27×11.00R14	27.00	+0.15″	+0.6%
255/60R15	27.05	+0.20″	+0.7%
205/75R15	27.11	+0.26″	+1.0%
225/70R15	27.40	+0.55″	+2.1%
215/75R15	27.70	+0.85″	+3.2%

How to read 215/70R15

How to read any tire size

How 215/70R15 98T is printed on the sidewall. It's the most common code among the 6 tires here (4 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

270Aspect ratio

A percentage, not a measurement: the sidewall is 70% as tall as the tire is wide, which is 150.5 mm or 5.93 inches.

3RConstruction

Radial construction.

415Wheel diameter

Mounts on a 15-inch wheel. Approved wheel widths run 5.5″ to 7.0″.

598Load index

Each tire carries up to 1,653 lb (750 kg) at its maximum pressure.

6TSpeed rating

Rated for up to 118 mph sustained.

Specification	Inches	Metric
Overall diameter	26.85	682 mm
Section width	8.46	215 mm
Sidewall height	5.93	150.5 mm
Circumference	84.4	2,143 mm
Revolutions per mile (calculated, unloaded)	751.1	467 per km
Revolutions per mile (published by manufacturers)	773–774	480–481 per km
Approved wheel width	5.5–7.0	140–178 mm

Speedometer error after switching to 215/70R15

Your actual speed– mph

Questions about 215/70R15

What is 215/70R15 in inches?

26.85 inches tall, 8.46 inches wide, on a 15-inch wheel. Written in inches, that is roughly 26.9×8.5R15.

How much does a 215/70R15 tire weigh?

Between 23.2 lb and 28.8 lb for the 6 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 215/70R15?

Manufacturers approve 5.5–7.0″ wide wheels for this size.

How many revolutions per mile does a 215/70R15 make?

Published figures run 773–774 revolutions per mile. The calculated figure is 751.1, but manufacturers measure the tire under load, where it rolls on a smaller radius.

How much taller is 215/70R15 than 295/50R15?

0.24 inches taller on paper (26.85″ vs 26.61″), which raises the axle about 0.12″. Your speedometer will read about 0.9% slow.