235/55R16 Tire Size in Inches and Millimeters

235/55R16 tires have a diameter of 26.1" (664 mm), a tread width of 9.3" (235 mm), and a wheel diameter of 16" (406.4 mm).The sidewall of the tire is 5.1" (129 mm), and the tire's circumference is 82" (2085 mm). This means a 235/55R16 tire will make make 773 revolutions per mile, or 480 revolutions per kilometer.

235/55R16 Tire Front
9.3"
26.1"
235/55R16 Tire Side
Tire Circumference
82"
16"
5.1"
773 Revs/Mile
SpecInchesMetric
Diameter26.1"664 mm
Width9.3"235 mm
Wheel16"406.4 mm
Sidewall5.1"129 mm
Circum82"2085 mm
Revolutions773 per mile480 per km

What Does 235/55R16 Mean?

The tire size 235/55R16 is a common size used on many trucks, SUVs, and other larger vehicles.

Here is what each part of the size designation represents:

  • 235: This number represents the width of the tire in millimeters. In this case, the tire is 235 millimeters wide.
  • 55: This number represents the aspect ratio of the tire, which is the height of the tire's sidewall as a percentage of its width. In this case, the sidewall height is 55% of the tire's width.
  • R: This letter indicates the tire's construction type. “R” stands for radial construction, which is the most common type of tire construction today.
  • 16: This number represents the diameter of the wheel that the tire is designed to fit on, in inches. In this case, the tire is designed to fit on a 16-inch wheel.

235/55R16 tire size meaning

How To Convert 235/55R16 Into Inches

The 235/55R16 conversion is fairly simple. The first number in the tire size, 235, represents the width of the tire in millimeters. To convert this to inches, we divide 235 by 25.4 (since there are 25.4 millimeters in an inch). This gives us approximately 9.3 inches.

The second number in the tire size, 55, represents the aspect ratio or the height of the tire as a percentage of its width. To calculate the height in inches, we multiply 9.3 by 0.55, which gives us approximately 5.1 inches.

Finally, the last number in the tire size, 16, represents the diameter of the wheel rim in inches. Therefore, the tire size 235/55R16 can be expressed in inches as roughly 9.3 inches wide, 5.1 inches tall, and designed to fit a 16-inch wheel rim.

Frequently Asked Questions About 235/55R16 Tires

How tall is a 235/55R16 tire?

A 235/55R16 tire has an approximate height, also known as the overall diameter, of 26.1 inches (664 mm). This height can vary slightly depending on the brand and model of the tire, as well as the amount of air pressure in the tire.

How wide is a 235/55R16 tire?

A 235/55R16 tire has a width of approximately 9.3 inches (235 millimeters). The width of the tire is the first number in the tire size designation, which in this case is “235”. It’s important to note that the actual width of the tire may vary slightly depending on the brand and model of the tire, and the width may also be affected by the amount of air pressure in the tire.

Understanding Tire Speed Ratings

When choosing the right tires for your vehicle, understanding the speed rating is crucial. But what exactly is a speed rating, and why does it matter?

What is a Tire Speed Rating?

A tire's speed rating indicates the maximum speed a tire can safely sustain over time. It's a manufacturer's assurance of tire performance, marked by a letter on the tire's sidewall. This rating is determined under controlled laboratory conditions and is part of a broader standard established by industry entities like the European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation (ETRTO) and the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Common Speed Ratings Explained

  1. P-Rated: Up to 94 mph - Suitable for smaller sedans or light-duty vehicles.
  2. Q-Rated: Up to 100 mph - Often found on SUVs and light trucks with consistent highway use.
  3. R-Rated: Up to 106 mph - Typically for medium-duty trucks and vans.
  4. S-Rated: Up to 112 mph - Common for family sedans and larger vehicles with moderate performance.
  5. T-Rated: Up to 118 mph - Optimal for family vehicles, including minivans and some coupes.

Why is the Speed Rating Important?

The speed rating is not just about how fast you can legally drive; it's about safety and performance:
  • Ensures Safety: It guarantees that the tire can handle certain speeds without overheating and failing, which can prevent blowouts.
  • Optimizes Performance: Higher ratings often indicate better handling characteristics, important for maintaining vehicle stability.
  • Legal and Insurance Considerations: Matching the speed rating suggested by your vehicle manufacturer can be essential for insurance and warranty purposes.
When choosing tires, always refer to your vehicle’s manual to ensure compatibility. Remember, fitting tires with a lower speed rating than recommended can compromise safety and performance, while higher ratings might not provide extra benefits unless you frequently drive at high speeds. By understanding these nuances, you can make an informed choice that suits your driving habits while keeping safety a top priority.

Alternate 235/55R16 Replacement Tire Sizes

Upsizing your wheels or tires? Replacement tires must be within 3% of the diametor of the original tire. The following sizes fall within that range - click on any size to see detailed info about that tire and wheel combination.

SizeDiameterWidthWheel
115/70R1925.4"645 mm19 mm
115/95R1725.6"650 mm17 mm
125/70R1925.9"659 mm19 mm
135/60R1925.4"645 mm19 mm
135/70R1825.5"647 mm18 mm
135/70R1926.5"673 mm19 mm
135/80R1725.5"648 mm17 mm
135/80R1826.5"673 mm18 mm
135/90R1625.6"650 mm16 mm
135/90R1726.6"676 mm17 mm
145/60R2026.9"682 mm20 mm
145/65R1825.4"645 mm18 mm
145/70R1826"661 mm18 mm
145/80R1726.1"664 mm17 mm
145/90R1626.3"668 mm16 mm
155/70R1725.6"650 mm17 mm
155/70R1826.6"675 mm18 mm
155/80R1625.7"654 mm16 mm
155/80R1726.8"680 mm17 mm
165/70R1726.1"664 mm17 mm
165/80R1525.4"645 mm15 mm
165/80R1626.4"670 mm16 mm
175/75R1626.3"668 mm16 mm
185/55R1826"661 mm18 mm
185/60R1725.7"654 mm17 mm
185/65R1625.4"646 mm16 mm
185/80R1425.7"652 mm14 mm
185/80R1526.7"677 mm15 mm
195/55R1725.4"646 mm17 mm
195/65R1626"660 mm16 mm
195/70R1525.8"655 mm15 mm
195/75R1425.5"648 mm14 mm
195/75R1526.5"673 mm15 mm
195/80R1426.3"668 mm14 mm
205/50R1826.1"663 mm18 mm
205/55R1725.9"658 mm17 mm
205/55R1826.9"683 mm18 mm
205/60R1625.7"652 mm16 mm
205/60R1726.7"678 mm17 mm
205/65R1525.5"647 mm15 mm
205/65R1626.5"672 mm16 mm
205/70R1526.3"669 mm15 mm
205/75R1426.1"664 mm14 mm
215/40R1925.8"655 mm19 mm
215/45R1825.6"651 mm18 mm
215/50R1725.5"648 mm17 mm
215/50R1826.5"673 mm18 mm
215/55R1726.3"668 mm17 mm
215/60R1626.1"664 mm16 mm
215/65R1526"661 mm15 mm
215/70R1425.9"658 mm14 mm
215/70R1526.9"683 mm15 mm
215/75R1426.7"678 mm14 mm
225/35R2026.2"666 mm20 mm
225/40R1926.1"663 mm19 mm
225/45R1825.9"659 mm18 mm
225/50R1725.9"658 mm17 mm
225/50R1826.9"683 mm18 mm
225/55R1625.7"654 mm16 mm
225/55R1726.8"680 mm17 mm
225/60R1525.6"651 mm15 mm
225/60R1626.6"676 mm16 mm
225/65R1526.5"673 mm15 mm
225/70R1426.5"672 mm14 mm
235/30R2025.6"650 mm20 mm
235/30R2126.6"675 mm21 mm
235/35R1925.5"647 mm19 mm
235/35R2026.5"672 mm20 mm
235/40R1825.4"645 mm18 mm
235/40R1926.4"671 mm19 mm
235/45R1826.3"669 mm18 mm
235/50R1726.3"668 mm17 mm
235/55R1626.1"664 mm16 mm
235/60R1526.1"663 mm15 mm
240/55R1626.4"670 mm16 mm
245/30R2025.8"656 mm20 mm
245/30R2126.8"681 mm21 mm
245/35R1925.8"655 mm19 mm
245/35R2026.8"680 mm20 mm
245/40R1825.7"653 mm18 mm
245/40R1926.7"679 mm19 mm
245/45R1725.7"652 mm17 mm
245/45R1826.7"677 mm18 mm
245/50R1625.7"652 mm16 mm
245/50R1726.7"678 mm17 mm
245/55R1626.6"676 mm16 mm
245/60R1425.6"650 mm14 mm
245/60R1526.6"675 mm15 mm
255/30R2026.1"662 mm20 mm
255/35R1926"661 mm19 mm
255/40R1826"661 mm18 mm
255/45R1726.1"662 mm17 mm
255/50R1626.1"662 mm16 mm
255/55R1526"661 mm15 mm
255/60R1426.1"662 mm14 mm
265/30R2026.3"668 mm20 mm
265/35R1926.3"669 mm19 mm
265/40R1826.3"669 mm18 mm
265/50R1525.5"647 mm15 mm
265/50R1626.5"672 mm16 mm
265/60R1426.5"674 mm14 mm
275/25R2025.4"646 mm20 mm
275/25R2126.4"671 mm21 mm
275/30R1925.6"649 mm19 mm
275/30R2026.5"674 mm20 mm
275/35R1825.6"649 mm18 mm
275/35R1926.6"675 mm19 mm
275/40R1725.7"652 mm17 mm
275/40R1826.7"677 mm18 mm
275/45R1625.7"654 mm16 mm
275/50R1525.9"657 mm15 mm
275/50R1626.9"682 mm16 mm
275/55R1526.9"683 mm15 mm
285/25R2025.6"650 mm20 mm
285/30R1925.8"655 mm19 mm
285/30R2026.8"680 mm20 mm
285/35R1825.9"657 mm18 mm
285/35R1926.9"683 mm19 mm
285/40R1726"660 mm17 mm
285/50R1526.3"667 mm15 mm
295/25R2025.8"656 mm20 mm
295/25R2126.8"681 mm21 mm
295/30R1926"661 mm19 mm
295/35R1826.1"663 mm18 mm
295/40R1726.3"668 mm17 mm
295/50R1526.7"677 mm15 mm
305/25R2026"660 mm20 mm
305/30R1926.3"667 mm19 mm
305/35R1725.4"646 mm17 mm
305/35R1826.4"671 mm18 mm
315/25R2026.2"666 mm20 mm
315/30R1825.5"647 mm18 mm
315/30R1926.5"673 mm19 mm
315/35R1725.7"652 mm17 mm
315/35R1826.7"677 mm18 mm
315/40R1625.9"658 mm16 mm
325/25R2026.4"670 mm20 mm
325/30R1926.7"679 mm19 mm
335/25R1925.6"651 mm19 mm
335/25R2026.6"676 mm20 mm
335/30R1825.9"659 mm18 mm
335/35R1726.2"666 mm17 mm
345/25R2026.8"680 mm20 mm
345/30R1826.2"665 mm18 mm
355/25R1926"661 mm19 mm
375/20R2126.9"683 mm21 mm