225/55R16 in inches

A 225/55R16 tire is 25.7″ tall and 8.9″ wide, and fits a 16″ wheel. In inches it is written 25.7×8.9R16.

Diameter25.74″

Width8.86″

Sidewall4.87″

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

Manufacturer data

How tall 225/55R16 tires really are

Heights published by BFGoodrich, General, Michelin and Toyo for all 6 tires in this size. Their published revolutions per mile work out to 25.0″ under load (below).

Real 225/55R16 tires measure 25.70–25.75″, against 25.74″ from the size code. They run both taller and shorter than the size code.

Height under load25.0″

Published revs per mile (807–808) mean the tire rolls like a 25.0″ tire on the vehicle. Use this for speedometer calibration.

Weight spread21.1–26.7 lb

The lightest (General AltiMAX RT45, SL) is 5.6 lb lighter per corner than the heaviest (BFGoodrich g-Force COMP-2 A/S PLUS, SL).

6 tires in 225/55R16

Sort by the spec you care about.

	Load					Revs/mi	Source
General AltiMAX RT45Touring	SL · 95H	25.70	21.1	11.0	1,521	807	Spec page
Toyo Extensa A/S IIAll-season	XL · 99H	25.75	22.7	11.5	1,709	807	Spec page
Michelin X-Ice SnowWinter	XL · 99H	25.75	23.6	10.5	1,709	808	Spec page
General G-MAX AS07Performance	SL · 95W	25.70	23.7	10.0	1,521	807	Spec page
Toyo Observe G3-IceWinter	SL · 95T	25.75	24.9	11.3	1,521	807	Spec page
BFGoodrich g-Force COMP-2 A/S PLUSPerformance	SL · 95W	25.75	26.7	9.0	1,521	808	Spec page

Is 225/55R16 a 26-inch tire?

≈26″

Yes. The size code works out to 25.74″, and the 6 tires here publish 25.70–25.75″, so people call it a 26.

Compare with nearby sizes

Differences in overall diameter, calculated from each size code.

Size	Diameter ″	vs 225/55R16	Difference
195/60R16	25.21	-0.53″	-2.1%
215/55R16	25.31	-0.43″	-1.7%
245/50R16	25.65	-0.10″	-0.4%
245/45R17	25.68	-0.06″	-0.2%
205/60R16	25.69	-0.06″	-0.2%
275/45R16	25.74	0.00″	0.0%
195/70R15	25.75	+0.00″	+0.0%
255/50R16	26.04	+0.30″	+1.1%
215/60R16	26.16	+0.41″	+1.6%
205/65R16	26.49	+0.75″	+2.9%

How to read 225/55R16

How to read any tire size

How 225/55R16 95W is printed on the sidewall. It's the most common code among the 6 tires here (2 of them); tires in this size come in other load and speed ratings too.

1225Section width

225 mm across the widest point, or 8.86 inches. Every 225 size

255Aspect ratio

A percentage, not a measurement: the sidewall is 55% as tall as the tire is wide, which is 123.8 mm or 4.87 inches.

3RConstruction

Radial construction.

416Wheel diameter

Mounts on a 16-inch wheel. Approved wheel widths run 6.0″ to 8.0″.

595Load index

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

6WSpeed rating

Rated for up to 168 mph sustained.

Specification	Inches	Metric
Overall diameter	25.74	654 mm
Section width	8.86	225 mm
Sidewall height	4.87	123.8 mm
Circumference	80.9	2,054 mm
Revolutions per mile (calculated, unloaded)	783.4	487 per km
Revolutions per mile (published by manufacturers)	807–808	501–502 per km
Approved wheel width	6.0–8.0	152–203 mm

Speedometer error after switching to 225/55R16

Your actual speed– mph

Questions about 225/55R16

What is 225/55R16 in inches?

25.74 inches tall, 8.86 inches wide, on a 16-inch wheel. Written in inches, that is roughly 25.7×8.9R16.

How much does a 225/55R16 tire weigh?

Between 21.1 lb and 26.7 lb for the 6 tires listed here. The lightest is the General AltiMAX RT45 (SL); the heaviest is the BFGoodrich g-Force COMP-2 A/S PLUS (SL).

What wheel width do I need for 225/55R16?

Manufacturers approve 6.0–8.0″ wide wheels for this size.

How many revolutions per mile does a 225/55R16 make?

Published figures run 807–808 revolutions per mile. The calculated figure is 783.4, but manufacturers measure the tire under load, where it rolls on a smaller radius.

How much taller is 225/55R16 than 205/60R16?

0.06 inches taller on paper (25.74″ vs 25.69″), which raises the axle about 0.03″. Your speedometer will read about 0.2% slow.