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How to Read Your Tire Size

Introduction

Understanding the numbers that make up your tire size can help with buying tires.

    • Your tire size will be listed on the side of your tire and will read something like this: P225/50R16.

    • You can also find the original tire size for your car on a sticker inside the driver's side door and in your owner's manual.

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    • The first letter, in front of the numbers (in this case, P) indicates the type of tire. Typically you'll see P for passenger or LT for light truck tires (common on SUVs and Pickups)

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    • The following three digits represent the tire's width in millimeters.

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    • Then, you'll see the slash, followed by two numbers referring to your tire's aspect ratio. The tire's aspect ratio is determined by dividing its height by its width, both measured from the rim.

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    • Next, you'll see the letter R, which refers to the tire being radial. This is pretty much the only type of tire that's on regular cars.

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    • Then you'll have the last numbers of the tire size, which represent the diameter of the wheel or rim measured in inches.

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Conclusion

And there you have it, now you can easily understand what your tire size means.

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Chaya Milchtein

Member since: 07/06/23

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