tireheight.com

255/50R16 in inches

A 255/50R16 tire is 26.0″ tall and 10.0″ wide, and fits a 16″ wheel. In inches it is written 26.0×10.0R16.

Diameter26.04″
Width10.04″
Sidewall5.02″
255/50R16 drawn to scale: 26.04 inch diameter, 5.02 inch sidewall, 16 inch wheel, 10.04 inch tread width16″ wheel5.02″26.04″ overall10.04″ wideSide view
Drawn to scale. Nominal dimensions calculated from the size code.
Manufacturer data

How tall 255/50R16 tires really are

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

Real 255/50R16 tires measure 26.06–26.11″, against 26.04″ from the size code. Every one runs taller than the size code.

Height under load25.3″

Published revs per mile (796–797) mean the tire rolls like a 25.3″ tire on the vehicle. Use this for speedometer calibration.

Weight spread27.0–27.8 lb

The lightest (Toyo Proxes RA1, SL) is 0.8 lb lighter per corner than the heaviest (Toyo Proxes R888R, SL).

3 tires in 255/50R16

Sort by the spec you care about.

LoadRevs/miSource
Toyo Proxes RA1PerformanceSL26.1027.08.01,687797Spec page
Toyo Proxes TQPerformanceSL26.1127.76.31,687796Spec page
Toyo Proxes R888RPerformanceSL · 99W26.0627.86.31,709797Spec page

Is 255/50R16 a 26-inch tire?

≈26″

Yes. The size code works out to 26.04″, and the 3 tires here publish 26.06–26.11″, so people call it a 26.

Compare with nearby sizes

Differences in overall diameter, calculated from each size code.

SizeDiameter ″vs 255/50R16Difference
215/55R1625.31-0.73″-2.8%
245/50R1625.65-0.39″-1.5%
205/60R1625.69-0.35″-1.4%
225/55R1625.74-0.30″-1.1%
275/45R1625.74-0.30″-1.1%
215/65R1526.00-0.04″-0.1%
255/45R1726.04-0.00″-0.0%
215/60R1626.16+0.12″+0.5%
205/65R1626.49+0.45″+1.7%
225/60R1626.63+0.59″+2.3%

How to read 255/50R16

How to read any tire size

255/50R16 99W as printed on the tire sidewall, with each part numbered255/50R16 99W123456
How 255/50R16 99W 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.
1255Section width

255 mm across the widest point, or 10.04 inches. Every 255 size

250Aspect ratio

A percentage, not a measurement: the sidewall is 50% as tall as the tire is wide, which is 127.5 mm or 5.02 inches.

3RConstruction

Radial construction.

416Wheel diameter

Mounts on a 16-inch wheel. Approved wheel widths run 7.0″ to 9.0″.

599Load index

Each tire carries up to 1,709 lb (775 kg) at its maximum pressure.

6WSpeed rating

Rated for up to 168 mph sustained.

SpecificationInchesMetric
Overall diameter26.04661 mm
Section width10.04255 mm
Sidewall height5.02127.5 mm
Circumference81.82,078 mm
Revolutions per mile (calculated, unloaded)774.5481 per km
Revolutions per mile (published by manufacturers)796–797494–495 per km
Approved wheel width7.0–9.0178–229 mm

Speedometer error after switching to 255/50R16

Your actual speed– mph

Questions about 255/50R16

What is 255/50R16 in inches?

26.04 inches tall, 10.04 inches wide, on a 16-inch wheel. Written in inches, that is roughly 26.0×10.0R16.

How much does a 255/50R16 tire weigh?

Between 27.0 lb and 27.8 lb for the 3 tires listed here. The lightest is the Toyo Proxes RA1 (SL); the heaviest is the Toyo Proxes R888R (SL).

What wheel width do I need for 255/50R16?

Manufacturers approve 7.0–9.0″ wide wheels for this size.

How many revolutions per mile does a 255/50R16 make?

Published figures run 796–797 revolutions per mile. The calculated figure is 774.5, but manufacturers measure the tire under load, where it rolls on a smaller radius.

How much taller is 255/50R16 than 275/45R16?

0.30 inches taller on paper (26.04″ vs 25.74″), which raises the axle about 0.15″. Your speedometer will read about 1.1% slow.