What Do Tire Size Numbers P205 55R16 Mean?

A lot of Information is Included in a Tire Code

Automobile tires are marked with a series of letters and numbers that provide information about tire structure and dimensions. Understanding this code is important when selecting tires for a particular vehicle or application.

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P
- The P indicates the tire is for use on a passenger car.
205
- This number indicates the section width--the maximum width in millimeters from the outer sidewall to the inner sidewall; in this case 205 millimeters.
55
- This is the sidewall height-to-width aspect ratio given as a percent. The 55 means that the sidewall height is 55 percent of the tire width.
R
- The letter after the aspect ratio indicates the style of construction. R means it is a radial tire.
16
- The number following the construction code is the wheel size in inches. This tire is designed to fit a 16-inch diameter wheel.

Reading a Tire

Deciphering the Tire Codes

Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of doug wilson

Comments

nekose Oct 24, 2011
If I purchased a tire that was a 205/55R16 but it did not have the "P" in front, does it really matter or do I need that P?

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What Do Tire Size Numbers P205 55R16 Mean?

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