Tyre Sizes Guide
Understanding your tyre size can be confusing. Until you’re actually faced with having to replace a tyre, the codes on the sidewall of your tyre may seem like a random collection of numbers, but they actually contain vital information about the tyre size your car needs. Each tyre code is used to identify the size, manufacturer and physical features of the tyre and is displayed in this format 205/55R16. In this guide, we’re going to look at the numbers you should pay attention to on your tyre and what each one relates to when you need to buy new tyres.
How to read tyre codes
Your tyre code is a sequence of numbers and letters. With so many different tyre codes available, it’s important to know your existing tyre size to ensure you know what size to order when replacing. The most common UK tyre size is 205/55R16, let’s break down what each part of this code means.
Tyre Width
In this code, the 205 relates to the width of the tyre with the three digits displaying the width in millimetres. A tyre marked with 205 at the start will measure 205mm across the tyre tread from sidewall to sidewall.
Aspect Ratio
The next two digits on your tyre code are the aspect ratio, or profile height of the tyre sidewall expressed as a percentage of the tyre width. Using the 205/55R16 code, the 55 shows that the aspect ratio of the tyre is 55% of the width.
Radial
Almost all new tyres manufactured in the UK are radial tyres. This means that they are constructed with cord piles positioned at a 90-degree angle to the direction of travel in order to give the tyre extra strength. The letter R in the tyre code will identify that your tyre is a radial tyre.
Wheel Diameter
The next two digits on your tyre code identify the size of the wheel rim that the tyre is fitted to, it’s also the diameter of the tyre from bead to bead. In this code 205/55R16, the 16 identifies that the tyre will fit on a 16-inch wheel rim.
What do the other tyre numbers mean?
Although you typically only need the initial code to identify your tyre size, there are other markings on the tyre that you can familiarise yourself with.
Tyre load index
The load index represents the maximum load that the tyre can carry when it is inflated to it’s maximum (safe) pressure. For example, if your tyre has the number 97 following the main tyre code, this identifies that it relates to index 97 on a ‘look-up’ table, which is used to determine the load in kg.
What is the speed rating on tyres?
The speed rating is displayed in the form of a letter and represents the maximum speed that a tyre can carry a load safely. Speed ratings range from A (the lowest) to Y, with H as the exception as it is rated between U and V. As with the load index, each speed rating letter corresponds to a value in km/h. It’s important to note that the maximum speed that your tyre CAN carry does not mean that you can ignore legal speed requirements!
Need help finding the right tyre size? At Tyre Savings, you can search by the size of your tyre or by your vehicle registration. If you have any further questions, get in touch with a member of our team today.
- 205 55 16
- 225 45 17
- 225 55 17
- 205 60 16
- 195 65 15
- 225 50 17
- 215 65 16
- 235 55 19
- 225 45 18
- 225 40 18
- 245 45 18
- 195 55 16
- 185 65 15
- 215 60 16
- 215 60 17
- 255 45 20
- 215 55 17
- 235 55 18
- 255 50 19
- 235 60 18
- 205 50 17
- 205 55 17
- 245 40 18
- 235 50 18
- 245 45 19
- 245 40 19
- 205 45 17
- 255 35 19
- 235 55 17
- 225 55 18
- 235 45 18
- 235 65 16
- 215 55 16
- 225 65 17
- 255 40 20
- 255 55 18
- 215 55 18
- 245 45 20
- 175 65 14
- 225 40 19
- 195 60 16
- 235 35 19
- 225 50 18
- 255 45 19
- 235 65 17
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- 185 60 15
- 275 40 20
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- 255 40 19
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- 195 75 16
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- 165 70 14
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- 175 65 15
- 255 40 21
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- 175 70 14
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- 225 75 16
- 295 35 21
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- 225 55 19
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- 195 50 16
- 185 65 14
- 215 50 18
- 255 35 18
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- 275 35 21
- 165 65 15
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- 265 40 21
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- 165 65 14
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- 275 40 21
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- 185 55 16
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- 265 30 20
- 285 40 21
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- 275 35 22
- 255 35 21
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- 165 65 13
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- 315 35 22
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- 155 60 15
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- 255 45 21
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- 265 70 17
- 195 80 15
- 275 70 16
- 255 60 17
- 215 35 18
- 275 35 18
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- 245 45 21
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- 145 65 15
- 385 65 22
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- 155 80 12
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- 195 45 15
- 295 30 22
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- 285 40 23
- 245 75 16
- 255 40 22
- 385 55 22
- 185 70 13
- 31 10 15
- 295 35 22
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- 175 80 13
- 225 40 20
- 265 30 21
- 225 60 15
- 245 55 17
- 155 70 12
- 175 75 16
- 285 60 18
- 195 65 14
- 175 60 13
- 225 70 17
- 195 60 14
- 265 65 18
- 295 45 20
- 325 35 23
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- 285 35 23
- 265 70 15
- 325 35 22
- 275 60 20
- 175 65 13
- 175 60 16
- 255 50 18
- 305 35 20
- 295 35 19
- 325 40 22
- 175 60 14
- 255 50 21
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- 175 50 15
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- 165 50 15
- 185 75 14
- 245 70 19
- 145 80 12
- 175 60 19
- 245 30 19
- 205 65 17
- 205 60 17
- 255 65 16
- 275 65 17
- 305 40 22
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- 215 80 15
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- 6.5 0 16
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- 5.5 80 13
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- 12 0 22
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- 6.0 80 16
- 225 45 21
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- 185 80 13
- 165 55 14
- 225 70 19
- 185 35 17
- 7.5 80 16
- 315 25 19
- 275 25 20
- 205 40 16
- 225 65 18
- 235 50 21
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- 7.0 0 16
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