tireheight.com

255/70R16 in inches

A 255/70R16 tire is 30.1″ tall and 10.0″ wide, and fits a 16″ wheel. In inches it is written 30.1×10.0R16.

Diameter30.06″
Width10.04″
Sidewall7.03″
255/70R16 drawn to scale: 30.06 inch diameter, 7.03 inch sidewall, 16 inch wheel, 10.04 inch tread width16″ wheel7.03″30.06″ overall10.04″ wideSide view
Drawn to scale. Nominal dimensions calculated from the size code.
Manufacturer data

How tall 255/70R16 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 29.2″ under load (below).

Real 255/70R16 tires measure 30.08–30.10″, against 30.06″ from the size code. Every one runs taller than the size code.

Height under load29.2″

Published revs per mile (691) mean the tire rolls like a 29.2″ tire on the vehicle. Use this for speedometer calibration.

Weight spread34.3–53.5 lb

The lightest (General Grabber H/T, SL) is 19.2 lb lighter per corner than the heaviest (BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3, LT E).

12 tires in 255/70R16

Sort by the spec you care about.

LoadRevs/miSource
General Grabber H/THighwaySL · 111T30.1034.312.02,403691Spec page
Toyo Open Country H/T IIHighwaySL · 111T30.0835.512.02,403691Spec page
Michelin Defender LTX M/S 2All-seasonXL · 115T30.1036.412.52,679691Spec page
Toyo Open Country A/T IIIAll-terrainXL · 115T30.0837.313.22,679691Spec page
Toyo Open Country A/T IIIAll-terrainXL · 115T30.0837.713.22,679691Spec page
Toyo Observe G3-IceWinterSL · 111T30.0837.913.12,403691Spec page
BFGoodrich Trail-Terrain T/AAll-terrainXL · 115T30.1038.612.52,679691Spec page
General Grabber A/TXAll-terrainSL · 111T30.1038.814.02,403691Spec page
BFGoodrich Trail-Terrain T/A+XL · 115T30.1039.512.52,679691Spec page
BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2All-terrainLT E · 120S30.1047.715.03,085691Spec page
BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3All-terrainLT D · 115S30.1049.115.02,680691Spec page
BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3Mud-terrainLT E · 120Q30.1053.518.03,085691Spec page

Is 255/70R16 a 30-inch tire?

≈30″

Yes. The size code works out to 30.06″, and the 12 tires here publish 30.08–30.10″, so people call it a 30.

All 30-inch tire sizes, on every wheel size.

Compare with nearby sizes

Differences in overall diameter, calculated from each size code.

SizeDiameter ″vs 255/70R16Difference
225/75R1629.29-0.77″-2.6%
245/70R1629.50-0.55″-1.8%
235/75R1629.88-0.18″-0.6%
275/60R1729.99-0.06″-0.2%
30×10.00R1530.00-0.06″-0.2%
30×9.50R1530.00-0.06″-0.2%
255/65R1730.05-0.00″-0.0%
215/85R1630.39+0.33″+1.1%
245/75R1630.47+0.41″+1.4%
265/70R1630.61+0.55″+1.8%

How to read 255/70R16

How to read any tire size

255/70R16 115T as printed on the tire sidewall, with each part numbered255/70R16 115T123456
How 255/70R16 115T is printed on the sidewall. It's the most common code among the 12 tires here (5 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

270Aspect ratio

A percentage, not a measurement: the sidewall is 70% as tall as the tire is wide, which is 178.5 mm or 7.03 inches.

3RConstruction

Radial construction.

416Wheel diameter

Mounts on a 16-inch wheel. Approved wheel widths run 6.5″ to 8.5″.

5115Load index

Each tire carries up to 2,679 lb (1,215 kg) at its maximum pressure.

6TSpeed rating

Rated for up to 118 mph sustained.

XLExtra load

Printed after the size. In this size the XL tires carry up to 2,679 lb each and the standard-load tires up to 2,403 lb, as published.

SpecificationInchesMetric
Overall diameter30.06763 mm
Section width10.04255 mm
Sidewall height7.03178.5 mm
Circumference94.42,398 mm
Revolutions per mile (calculated, unloaded)671.0417 per km
Revolutions per mile (published by manufacturers)691429 per km
Approved wheel width6.5–8.5165–216 mm

Speedometer error after switching to 255/70R16

Your actual speed– mph

Questions about 255/70R16

What is 255/70R16 in inches?

30.06 inches tall, 10.04 inches wide, on a 16-inch wheel. Written in inches, that is roughly 30.1×10.0R16.

How much does a 255/70R16 tire weigh?

Between 34.3 lb and 53.5 lb for the 12 tires listed here. The lightest is the General Grabber H/T (SL); the heaviest is the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 (LT E).

What wheel width do I need for 255/70R16?

Manufacturers approve 6.5–8.5″ wide wheels for this size.

How many revolutions per mile does a 255/70R16 make?

Published figures run 691 revolutions per mile. The calculated figure is 671.0, but manufacturers measure the tire under load, where it rolls on a smaller radius.

What is the difference between P255/70R16 and LT255/70R16?

Passenger tires (9 here) are built for passenger loads, with max loads of 2403–2679 lb. Light-truck tires (3 here) come in heavier load ranges with max loads of 2680–3085 lb, and are usually heavier with deeper tread.

How much taller is 255/70R16 than 235/75R16?

0.18 inches taller on paper (30.06″ vs 29.88″), which raises the axle about 0.09″. Your speedometer will read about 0.6% slow.