How to Read a Truck Tire Size
At first glance, the mix of letters and numbers found on the sidewall of a truck tire may seem like they don't make any sense. Each of these letters and numbers actually refers specifically to a characteristic of the tire. A truck owner should know the basics of reading truck tire sizes so he can make an educated decision when it comes time to buy tires.
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Instructions
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Read the two types of tire codes by first verifying that the tires are indeed designed for light trucks. You will notice that the code either begins or ends with the letters "LT," which stands for light truck.
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For a tire code that begins with a three-digit number, those first three numbers refer to the cross-section width, measured in millimeters. Then there is a forward slash, and the next numbers represent the aspect ratio of the tire (the ratio of the tire's height to its width). The final number in this code will be the rim diameter, measured in inches.
An example of this kind of truck tire code could be "LT235/75R16." This code, then, indicates that the tire has a cross-section width of 235 mm and an aspect ratio of 75, and that it is a radial tire for 16-inch wheels.
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You will read tire codes that begin with a two-digit number a little differently. The first number is the diameter of the tire, measured in inches. The second number is the cross-section width in inches. And as in the previous example, the last number represents the rim diameter.
So, for example, a code that reads "32x11.0R16 LT" indicates that the tire is 32 inches in diameter, with a cross-section of 11 inches, and that it is a radial tire for 16-inch wheels.
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