How do i know what size tire fits my rim


How to Find Tires that Fit Your Rims

How To Find Your Tire Size

Watch this short video to find which tires fit your car or truck

 

You might have a lot of questions when it comes to replacing your tires. With measurements, performance types, and load capacities, there’s a lot you might feel you need to think about. 

The truth is there aren’t a lot of factors to worry about, but there are just a few important things you need to consider.

Identifying Compatible Tire Sizes

You can check three different places to find the tire size on your  vehicle. The first is in the driver’s door jam. Open up the driver’s door and look within the door jam or on the door itself and locate the  sticker that has your tire information on it. Here you will find the wheel (rim) and tire size your vehicle came equipped with from the factory. It is important to note that if you purchase your vehicle used or had the wheels changed, the tire size could be different from when the vehicle left the factory.

For this reason, it is always a good idea to check the tire itself. You will see a series of letters and numbers that will look like this for example: 205/55R16. This will confirm the size of the tires on your vehicle. Make sure all 4 tires read the same size, as some vehicles come with staggered fitments which means the front and rear wheels and tires can be different sizes. 

You can also check your owner’s manual but the first two options will be the best.

Tire Width

When you look at the tire size, you will see a label that reads something like P215/60R16  94T. With this example, the first number, 215, is the width of the tire in millimeters. The number 60 indicates the sidewall height and width ratio of 60%. Finally, 94 shows the tire’s load capacity or how heavy a car the tires can support.

The primary factor to think about is your car’s tire width vs. rim size. If you plan to keep your rims, their size will determine which tires will work well and which ones won’t.

If you are looking to put a narrower or wider tire on your vehicle, than it currently has, there are a lot of factors to consider. This will change the way the vehicle handles, suspension geometry, anf fuel mileage. You typically have some flexibility if you are looking to get a wider tread pattern, a higher sidewall, but you cannot change to a size that varies by a great deal. It’s best to ask before you purchase tires so the right tires are installed the first time. JACK Mobile Tire can recommend the best tire size for your vehicle. 

Rims

The size of the rims you have will determine the range for the size of tires you can have on your car. This means that your wheels are compatible with a range of tire sizes that will allow your car to function optimally. You can view the Rim width size chart for comparison.

As an example, you can look at the 5 in. rims in the chart. You can see that the minimum tire width these rims are compatible with is 155 mm tires. The optimal performance width is between 165 and 175 mm, and the maximum is 185 mm. You have some options when you compare tire width vs. rim size, but these online guides are not what you should also go off of – you should always consult an expert first. Call us at JACK Mobile Tire to verify the proper fitment. 

Reasons to Change Tires

There are a few reasons why people change tires. Sometimes it’s for maintenance reasons, but other times it is for performance and aesthetics. In general, tires need replacements every 3 to 4 years, depending on how much you drive. It’s best to go with tires and brands that you feel will last at least that long.

Performance

There are several types of tires that drivers can pick from. As you change out your tires, you have the option to choose from these tire categories for increased performance on the roads you want to prepare for. There are all-season, summer, winter, and all-weather tires. 

All-season tires are convenient options because they have a good overall performance on most kinds of roads. As an all-around option, they are good for everyday use but are not recommended for driving in wintry conditions, as the compounds get hard in extreme cold.

Summer tires are great for dry pavements and also for wet roads. Most performance vehicle owners will opt for a summer tire for the best performance in warmer climates.

Winter tires offer traction in the snow and on icy roads. Traction and stopping distance are greatly improved with winter tires. The compounds that make up winter tires are different from all-season and summer tires. The tire stays soft in extremely cold conditions. If you live in an area that experiences a good amount of winter weather, do yourself a favor and get a set of winter tires. 

Owners of summer and winter tires usually exchange tires as the seasons change to match the road conditions.  

All-weather are snowflake rated, like winter tires, which means they can be used in wintery conditions. However, all-weather tires will wear out faster than all seasons tires do throughout the course of a year. 

Aesthetics

For aesthetics, you can purchase larger wheels (rims) and tires if you are looking to change the appearance of your vehicle. Wheels and tires usually have the largest impact, next to the paint, on the overall appearance of a vehicle. If you would like a wider tire or get a larger or thinner sidewall, it’s always best to consult an expert at JACK Mobile Tire Installation first.

Improperly fitted tires can cause your car’s speedometer to be off, driving experience to decline, and overall performance to suffer—causing more automotive issues later on.

Ask For Help

If you’re still unsure what size tires or what kind of tires you need for your car, you can always contact one of the certified technicians at Jack Mobile.

At JACK, technicians want to help you get the tires you need and get back onto the road. Since there are many kinds of tires out there, technicians can recommend some great options for your car. 

How to Read Tire Size

Installing the right tires on your vehicle is essential to the overall performance and safety of your vehicle. Your tire choice should reflect the conditions in which you drive and your preferences for vehicle response and handling. To make the most informed decision, though, you must understand how to read tire size when it's time to buy tires.

Thankfully, determining the correct tire size for your vehicle is relatively simple. All the information you need is immediately available either in your owner's manual or somewhere on the vehicle itself. Already know how to read tire size numbers? Skip the explanation and find the right Bridgestone tire for your vehicle online or by visiting a Bridgestone tire dealer near you.

While actual, physical measurements like width and diameter are factors in finding the right tire size, there are additional details to consider. Knowing how to read car tire sizes also means understanding terms like load index and speed rating that affect your vehicle's overall capabilities.

WHERE TO FIND A CAR TIRE SIZE

No matter what vehicle you drive, finding the manufacturer-recommended tire size should be easy. The best place to start looking is the owner's manual.

Don't worry if you can't locate the manual; you may also find a tire fit guide in these locations:

  • The driver's side door jamb
  • Inside your glove box door
  • Within your gas tank hatch

You can also find tire size data on the sidewall of your current tires (assuming they're the proper size). However, no matter where you find your tire size, you will have to decipher a sequence of numbers and letters. Don't worry if it looks confusing at first — every letter and number has a straightforward meaning. Let's break down how to read car tire size.

HOW TO READ TIRE SIZE

Let's take a look at what each number or letter stands for, one by one, in the order they appear in your tire size data. We'll be using this tire size as an example: P225/70R16 91S.

THE LETTERS "P" AND "LT"

For most vehicles, you'll see the letter "P" before the number sequence begins: P225/70R16 91S. The "P" is short for "P-metric," which is a designation by the Tire and Rim Association for a "passenger car" tire type. A "P" signifies the tire was designed to primarily be used on passenger vehicles, which can include cars, minivans, SUV's and other light-duty pickup trucks.

If you see "LT" instead of "P," it's because you need "light truck" tires – "LT" is short for "LT-metric," which is a designation by the Tire and Rim Association for a "light truck" type tire. Light truck tires are designed to be used on vehicles capable of carrying heavy cargo or pulling trailers.

Similarly, "T" stands for "temporary" and is for your spare tire. If you see "ST," that means "special trailer." A special trailer tire is never installed on the drive or steer wheels. It's only intended for use on trailer axles.

WIDTH

The first number to appear in your tire size information is the width, in millimeters, of the correct tires for your vehicle: P225/70R16 91S.

Tire width always refers to the measurement from one sidewall to another. Thus, a tire with the measurement "P225" is for a passenger vehicle and has a nominal width of 225 millimeters.

ASPECT RATIO

After the slash mark, the next number you see is for the tire's aspect ratio, which essentially tells you how tall your tire's profile is: P225/70R16 91S. Aspect ratios are delivered in percentages. Tire makers calculate the aspect ratio by dividing a tire's sidewall height by its width. If a tire has an aspect ratio of 70, it means the tire's height is 70% of its width.

Lower aspect ratio tires, such as a 60 series, generally offer vehicle handling performance advantages over higher aspect ratio tires, such as a 75 series.

CONSTRUCTION

After the aspect ratio comes a letter to indicate the tire's construction: P225/70R16 91S. "R" refers to the internal structure of your tire and gives you a general idea of its stability.

There are two types of construction that you may see on the sidewall of a tire

  • R - Radial 
  • D - Diagonal or Bias Ply

"Bias-ply" tires were used on automobiles and light trucks until the '70s," reports the classic car site, Hemmings. But radial tires represent the vast majority of tires on the road in the United States today. In fact, you will almost always see the letter "R" on tires as radial tires have been the industry standard for over 40 years. Radial construction means the tire's internal ply cords are oriented in a radial direction (at 90 degrees to the centerline of the tread).

RIM DIAMETER

The next number is the wheel’s diameter. For example, a tire with the P225/70R16 91S would fit a rim with a 16-inch diameter.

Take note: if you decide to change your rims' size, you will also need to get new tires that are compatible with the change in size. Tires designed to fit a 16-inch wheel diameter will not stretch to fit on new 18-inch rims.

View Other Common Diameter Sizes:

    14-Inch Diameter Tires

    15-Inch Diameter Tires

    17-Inch Diameter Tires

    18-Inch Diameter Tires

    19-Inch Diameter Tires

    20-Inch Diameter Tires

    21-Inch Diameter Tires

    22-Inch Diameter Tires

    LOAD INDEX

    The next figure needed to read tire size numbers is your tire's load index. The load index tells us how much weight, in pounds, the tire can support when fully inflated: P225/70R16 91S.

    It is called the load "index" because the figure doesn't tell us the precise number of pounds the tire can support, at least not by itself. Instead, the number corresponds to a specific load capacity listed in an index. Beginning with one and ending with 150, numbers in the load index represent carrying capacities of 99 to 7385 lbs.

    Additionally, you may not find this number present on all tires. This is because the load index is not required by law to be printed on tires. If there is no load index measurement on your tires, check the owner's manual or contact your local Bridgestone tire dealer for more information.

    SPEED RATING

    The final figure in a tire size sequence is the speed rating indicated by a letter: P225/70R16 91S. Just as your load index number corresponds to a particular load, your speed rating letter corresponds to a specific speed capability based on a standardized laboratory test.

    For example, a tire with a speed rating "S" is rated for up to 112 mph, while a tire rated "R" is up to 106 mph. Remember that this isn't a recommended cruising speed, but rather the maximum speed that tire type can withstand. Of course, you should always follow legal speed limits on roadways.

    Here are the most common letters for speed ratings and their corresponding maximum speeds:

    • Q: 99 mph
    • R: 106 mph
    • S: 112 mph
    • T: 118 mph
    • U: 124 mph
    • H: 130 mph
    • V: 149 mph
    • W: 168 mph
    • Y: 186 mph
    • ZR: 186+ mph

    Tires with higher speed ratings tend to offer increased handling performance. Replacement tires must have the same or higher speed rating to maintain vehicle speed capability. If a vehicle has tires with different speed ratings, the speed rating of the "slowest" tire dictates the vehicle's top speed.

    Like the load index, the speed rating is not required by law to be listed on all tires. If your tires do not have the speed rating listed, your owner's manual will have the relevant information for your model's stock tire type.

    SEVERE SNOW CONDITIONS

    You may find "M+S" or "M/S" after the main tire size sequence on some tires. This indicates that the tire has some capacity to handle snow and mud conditions. This indication is common on most radial or "R" type tires.

    USDOT TIRE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

    You may notice another set of letters and numbers on your tire's sidewall beginning with "DOT." This is not an indication of tire size, but rather that the tire complies with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. The "DOT" stands for Department of Transportation and is followed by the tire identification number.  

    The first two letters or numbers after DOT refer to the manufacturing plant where the tire was produced and the last four numbers indicate the week and year the tire was made. The numbers 4318, for instance, indicate that the tire was manufactured during the 43rd week of 2018.

    CAN I PUT LARGER TIRES ON MY CAR?

    While it's certainly possible to upgrade your tires' size, it's usually best to stick to your manufacturer-recommended tire size for optimal performance. Increasing the size of your tires may give your car more ground clearance, but it may also affect handling, drivetrain performance and fuel economy. Keep in mind the changes to key figures mentioned above, such as load index and speed rating, and how they may affect your vehicle's capabilities if you decide to increase tire size.

    SHOP TIRES BY SIZE

    Once you know how to read the numbers on tires, you can explore tires by size and narrow down your tire options quickly. Compare tire sizes online or visit a Bridgestone tire dealer near you for help.

    Matching tires and rims

    Main Page→→

    In order to choose the right tires for the wheels, you need to know certain parameters, the non-observance of which will seriously worsen the car's behavior on the road. Since the tire is put on the rim of the disc, the width of the profile must be commensurate with it. We note right away that, despite the tuning common in recent years, automakers categorically do not recommend this. After all, if the sizes of disks and tires vary greatly, then the contact patch will not be even, which means that the control can get out of control.

    In general, the question of matching tires and wheels can be considered from two sides. The first is the selection of tires and wheels based on the manufacturer's recommendations, and the second is this fitment. Fitment is the study of the tire fit on the rim and the position of the wheels relative to the wheel arches, which includes negative camber, low landing and other delights, which we will not talk about, because we consider it more important to tell you how to choose the right one from the point of view of safety and comfort tires to wheels.

    To choose the right tires for the rims, you need to know the labeling of the rims.

    Wheel marking R13 4x98 ET35 J5 D58.6

    1. ET35 - departure. Distance from the mating plane to the center of the disc (in mm.).

    2. R13 - wheel rim diameter in inches.

    3. D58.6 - diameter of the central hole for the hub (in mm.).

    4. 4x98 - the number of mounting holes and the diameter of the centers of the bolt holes (in mm.).

    5. J5 - rim width in inches (an inch is equal to 25.4 mm.)

    Ideally, that is, to be sure of safety, the PCD of the disc (the diameter of the circle of the centers of the mounting holes) cannot be changed. In extreme cases, the dimensions of the wheels and tires may not match each other quite a bit, but then eccentric bolts are used for fastening, which allow you to install wheels with PCD 100 mm on cars with PCD 98mm. However, it is worth noting that the maximum difference in displacement should not exceed 2 mm, and ideally, the tires and rims should still match one hundred percent.

    The dimensions of the rims and tires must also match with their central hole, but if for some reason this is not possible, an adjusting ring (it is also a spacer ring) will come to the rescue. The adjusting ring has an outer diameter equal to the diameter of the hole in the disk, and an inner diameter corresponds to the diameter of the vehicle hub. If the adjusting ring is set correctly, then the running characteristics will not change. It should be noted that the discs do not have stamped mounting rings. Set them only to alloy wheels.

    The labeling of the disks does not indicate the maximum load ( MAX LOAD ), you can find this parameter either in the passport, which some manufacturers of domestic wheels attach to their products, or look for this information on the website of the disk manufacturer. This information is not very important, since manufacturers usually make discs with a margin of safety. But, if for some reason you decide to put, say, wheels for a car on a jeep, then the maximum load of the disk will be an important parameter. And if it is not taken into account, the wheel may not withstand the load and deform, even falling into a small hole.

    In addition, even if the dimensions of the tires and rims match in all respects, there is still a risk that the rim will not fit on the car. The reason for this is the so-called X-factor, when the disc rests on the suspension parts or caliper, which is associated with the shape of the stamping or casting. Therefore, we recommend that you first try it on before beading the tire on the wheel.

    Tire and wheel width matching table

    Tire height

    Tire size

    Disc width (inches)

    Recomm. /Min./Max.

    R12

    82

    125R12
    135R12
    145R12
    155R12

    3.5
    4.0
    4.0
    4.5

    3.0
    3.5
    3.5
    4.0

    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.0

    70

    145/70R12
    155/70R12

    4.5
    4.5

    4.0
    4.0

    5. 0
    5.5

    R13

    82

    145R13
    155R13
    165R13
    175R13

    4.0
    4.5
    4.5
    5.0

    3.5
    4.0
    4.0
    4.5

    5.0
    5.5
    5.5
    6.0

    80

    135/80R13
    145/80R13
    155/80R13
    165/80R13

    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    4.5

    3. 5
    3.5
    4.0
    4.0

    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    5.5

    70

    135/70R13
    145/70R13
    155/70R13
    165/70R13
    175/70R13
    185/70R13
    195/70R13

    4.0
    4.5
    4.5
    5.0
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0

    3.5
    4.0
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.0
    5.2

    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0

    65

    155/65R13
    165/65R13
    175/65R13

    4. 5
    5.0
    5.0

    4.0
    4.5
    5.0

    5.5
    6.0
    6.0

    60

    175/60R13
    185/60R13
    205/60R13

    5.0
    5.5
    6.0

    5.0
    5.5
    5.5

    6.0
    6.5
    7

    55

    195/55R13

    6.0

    5.5

    7. 0

    R14

    82

    145R14
    155R14
    165R14
    175R14
    185R14

    4.0
    4.5
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5

    3.5
    4.0
    4.0
    4.5
    4.5

    5.0
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.0

    80

    175/80R14
    185/80R14

    5.0
    5.0

    4.5
    5. 0

    5.5
    6.0

    70

    165/70R14
    175/70R14
    185/70R14
    195/70R14
    205/70R14

    5.0
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.0

    4.5
    5.0
    5.0
    5.5
    5.5

    6.0
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5

    65

    155/65R14
    165/65R14
    175/65R14
    185/65R14
    195/65R14

    4.5
    5.0
    5.0
    5. 5
    6.0

    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.0
    5.5

    5.5
    6.0
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0

    60

    165/60R14
    175/60R14
    185/60R14
    195/60R14
    205/60R14

    5.0
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.0

    4.5
    5.0
    5.0
    5.5
    5.5

    6.0
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5

    55

    185/55R14
    205/55R14

    6. 0
    6.5

    5.0
    5.5

    6.5
    7.5

    R15

    82

    125R15
    135R15
    145R15
    155R15
    165R15
    185R15

    3.5
    4.0
    4.0
    4.5
    4.5
    5.5

    3.0
    3.5
    3.5
    4.0
    4.0
    4.5

    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0

    80

    185/80R15

    5. 5

    4.5

    6.0

    70

    175/70R15
    195/70R15
    235/70R15

    5.0
    6.0
    7.0

    5.0
    5.5
    6.5

    6.0
    7.0
    8.5

    65

    185/65R15
    195/65R15
    205/65R15
    215/65R15
    225/65R15

    5.5
    6.0
    6.0
    6.5
    6.5

    5. 0
    5.5
    5.5
    6.0
    6.0

    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    7.5
    8.0

    60

    195/60R15
    205/60R15
    215/60R15
    225/60R15

    6.0
    6.0
    6.5
    6.5

    5.5
    5.5
    6.0
    6.0

    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.0

    55

    185/55R15
    195/55R15
    205/55R15
    225/55R15

    6.0
    6.0
    6. 5
    7.0

    5.0
    5.5
    5.5
    6.0

    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0

    50

    195/50R15
    205/50R15
    225/50R15

    6.0
    6.5
    7.0

    5.5
    5.5
    6.0

    7.0
    7.5
    8.0

    45

    195/45R15

    6.5

    6. 0

    7.5

    R16

    65

    215/65R16

    6.5

    5.5

    7.5

    60

    225/60R16
    235/60R16

    6.5
    7.0

    6.0
    6.5

    8.0
    8.5

    55

    205/55R16
    225/55R16
    245/55R16

    6. 5
    7.0
    7.5

    5.5
    6.0
    7.0

    7.5
    8.0
    8.5

    50

    205/50R16
    225/50R16
    235/50R16
    255/50R16

    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0

    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0

    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0

    45

    195/45R16
    205/45R16
    225/45R16
    245/45R16

    6. 5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0

    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5

    7.5
    7.5
    8.5
    9.0

    40

    215/40R16
    225/40R16

    7.5
    8.0

    7.0
    7.5

    8.5
    9.0

    R17

    55

    225/55R17

    7. 0

    6.0

    8.0

    50

    205/50R17
    215/50R17

    6.5
    7.0

    5.5
    6.0

    7.5
    7.5

    45

    215/45R17
    225/45R17
    235/45R17
    245/45R17
    255/45R17

    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.0
    8.5

    7. 0
    7.0
    7.5
    7.5
    8.0

    8.5
    8.5
    9.0
    9.0
    9.5

    40


    265/40R17
    275/40R17
    285/40R17

    7.5
    8.5
    8.5
    9.0
    9.5
    9.5
    10.0

    7.0
    8.0
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0
    9.0
    8.5

    8.5
    9.5
    9.5
    10.0
    10.5
    11.0
    11.0

    35

    245/35R17
    265/35R17
    335/35R17

    8. 5
    9.5
    11.5

    8.0
    9.0
    11.0

    9.5
    10.5
    13.0

    R18

    50

    235/50R18

    7.5

    6.5

    8.5

    45

    255/45R18

    8.5

    8.0

    9. 5

    40

    225/40R18
    235/40R18
    245/40R18
    265/40R18

    8.0
    8.0
    8.5
    9.5

    7.5
    7.5
    8.0
    9.0

    9.0
    9.0
    9.5
    10.5

    35

    285/35R18
    295/35R18

    10.0
    10.5

    9.5
    10.0

    11.0
    11.5

    30

    325/30R18

    12. 0

    11.0

    13.0

    R20

    40

    245/40R20

    9.0

    8.0

    9.5

    35

    275/35R20

    10.0

    9.0

    11. 0

    How to choose the size of a bicycle tire. What types of markings and interchangeability of bicycle tires.

    How to choose the size of a bicycle tire. What types of markings and interchangeability of bicycle tires. https://www.sportek.in.ua

    Nikolaev bicycle shop "Sportek"

    Published: 01/27/2017

    Edited: 06/01/2021

    Sooner or later, almost every cyclist faces the question of replacing the rubber on the wheel or the tubes for them.

    The easiest way, of course, is to look at the size of the tire currently installed on the bike (it is written on the side of it), and look for exactly the same. On some rims, their landing diameter and width are also written.

    In life, everything is always a little more complicated and it often happens that the tire you like has a marking that is not entirely clear or does not match the marking on your rubber. Sometimes it is necessary to replace the old bicycle rubber, which has served for many years, with a more modern one.

    What to do? You can’t put a tire on a bike over the Internet, but you don’t want to pay money just like that.

    In this article we will try to help you understand the markings on bicycle tires and find out which of them are interchangeable.

    The following questions will be considered in the article:

    • dimensions of bicycle wheels;
    • types of bicycle tire markings;
    • interchangeability of bicycle tires in terms of fit diameter and width.
    • selection of tire width from rim width

    Wheel dimensions or more specifically rim dimensions

    The first thing to know when choosing a tire is the wheel size. They are usually measured in inches, but sometimes in mm. There are not very many of them and the most common ones are 16, 18, 20, 24, 26, 27.5, 28, 29.

  • 20, 24 - for teenagers
  • 26 - for mountain and downhill bikes
  • 26 and up for adult models.

Further, what else you need to know is the seat size (diameter) of the rim or BSD (Bead Seat Diameter). It is the most important and determines the interchangeability of tires. If this number matches at the rim, tire, or tube, then that tire or tube fits those rims. And if the width of the new rubber can be changed, then the landing size will not change much.

If the size (numbers in mm) is written on the wheel (rim), for example, as in the photos above, they accurately indicate the fit size of the rim and its width, which is the main data for selecting the inner tube and tire for the wheel.

Bicycle tire label

There are several types. The confusion in the designation of sizes began in the middle of the 20th century, and today Great Britain and France use their own designations for marking.

Previously, the sizing system was based on the outside diameter of the tires. It was measured in inches (24", 26", 28") or in millimeters (500, 650, 700, etc. ).

Over time, this system has lost its meaning, because. for different products with the same outer diameter of the wheel (together with the height of the tire), the inner diameter (rim diameter of the rim) on which this tire was put on did not match. The marketing moves of manufacturers were also superimposed here, and the accuracy of translation and rounding of measurements in inches is lower than in millimeters.

To overcome these confusions and bring all sizes to the same standard, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO - International Organization for Standardization) has developed a universal system for designating tire sizes - ISO 5775 . This system was previously known as " ETRTO ". It was proposed by the organization of the same name: ETRTO (European Tire and Rim Technical Organization or in Russian: "European technical organization for rims and tires").

Bicycle tire markings:

  1. Marking according to ISO specifications (ETRTO). The most accurate, understandable and convenient. Describes in millimeters all the necessary dimensions. For example, 28-622, where 28 mm is its width and 622 mm is inner (landing) diameter .
  2. Fractional marking in inches, type 28x1 1/8. Where: 28 is the outside diameter in inches of and 1 1/8 is its width in inches (one whole and one eighth of an inch).
  3. Inch decimal marking. For example: 26x1.75. Similarly: 26 - is the outer diameter of in inches, and 1.75 is the width. What is the difference between simple and decimal fractions in these notations, and what problems does this bring, we will talk a little lower.
  4. Dimensioning as multiple numbers in inches: 28 x 1 5/8 x 1 3/8. Where: 28 - is the outer diameter of in inches, 1 5/8 is the height of the bike tire in inches (one whole and five eighths of an inch), 1 3/8 is its width in inches (one whole and three eighths of an inch).
  5. French mark. In our country, it is less common, however, on wheels made in Europe or for Europe, it is often applied.

    At first it was in the form of a number and a letter, for example, 700C - 700 tire outer diameter in mm. The letter determined the width from "A" - the narrowest to "D" - the widest.

    Now the marking has acquired a more modern look. For example: 700 x 35C. Here the outer diameter of the tire is 700 mm and its width is 35 mm. The letter at the end indicates the inner (landing) diameter. In this case, "C" is 622 mm.

  6. On the old Soviet bicycle tires, the marking was also in millimeters, but it looked like 533x37. Those. first tire inner diameter (rim size ) - 533 mm, and then its width - 37 mm. (instruction for Soviet bicycles: "SPORT", "Salyut")

The problem of indicating the size of tires in inches as a fraction and decimal fraction

Note a very important nuance and paradox in the sizes indicated in inches. Tire sizes can be specified as a decimal fraction, such as 26x1.75, or as a simple fraction, such as 26x1 3/4.

Mathematically, these fractions are equal: 1.75 = 1 3/4.

But, in terms of fit size and tire width in millimeters, this is not always the case, and the most unpleasant thing is that tires with such dimensions can be not interchangeable with .

And this circumstance should always be taken into account when purchasing a new bike tire.

Table of interchangeability (compatibility) and ratios of tire sizes in different marking systems

In the table below, we have tried to collect the most common tire size designations in different systems and show their compatibility.

Perhaps not all dimensions encountered in life were taken into account, but if you have a tire with dimensions not listed in the table, try to estimate its dimensions based on similar nearest or similar dimensions.

Rim bore size
in mm according to ISO
Tire size
in plain and decimal inches
French tire size Tire size
in mm according to ISO
(width - bore)
Explanations
681 22-681 Sports track bike B-64 "Record" KhVZ (1958)
642 28 x 1 5/8 x 1 1/2 700-28A 28-642 Obsolete size
28 x 1 3/8 700-35A 37-642
635 28 x 1 1/2 x 1 1/8 700-28B 32-635 American, English, Danish, Chinese, Indian road models
28 x 1 1/2,
28 x 1 1/2 x 1 5/8
700-38B,
700B Standard
40-635
28 x 1 5/8 x 1 1/2 44-635
630 27 x 7/8 22-630 Road bikes, including older models
27 x 1 25-630
27 x 1 1/8 28-630
27 x 1 1/4 32-630
27 x 1 3/8 37-630
27 x all variants
622 29 x all variants 700C This size was invented by marketers for tires with a bore diameter of 622 mm. They differ from 28 only in tire height.
28 x decimal 700C For 622 mm tires
28 x 3/4 700-18C
700x18C
18-622
700-19C
700x19C
19-622
28 x 3/4 700-20C
700x20C
20-622
28 x 1
28 x 7/8
700-23C
700x23C
23-622
28 x 1 700-25C
700x25C
25-622
28 x 1 1/8,
28 x 1 5/8 x 1 1/8
700-28C
700x28C
28-622
28 x 1.20 700-30C
700x30C
30-622
28 x 1 3/4,
28 x 1.5
700x38C
700-40C
40-622 Road bikes: "Ukraine", "Minsk", "Sura", "Velta", "Aist" (111-321, 111-322)
28 x 1 1/2,
28 x 1 5/8 x 1 3/8
700C
700x35C
700x38C

35-622
37-622

Road bikes: "Ukraine", "Minsk", "Sura", "Velta", "Aist"
27 x 1 1/4,
28 x 1 5/8 x 1 1/4
700-32C
700x32C
32-622 Road and sport-touring bicycles, "Tourist", "Sport", "Sputnik"
28 x 1 5/8 x 1 1/4 Obsolete Canadian Designation F13
28 x 1. 4 700-35C
700x35C
35-622 Road bikes
28 x 1.5 700x38C
700-38C
700-40C
700x40C
40-622
28 x 1 3/8 x 1 5/8 37-622
28 x 1.6 700-42C
700x42C
42-622
28 x 1.6 700-44C
700x44C
44-622
28 x 1 5/8 x 1 3/4 700-45C
700x46C
45-622
28 x 1.75,
28 x 1 5/8 x 1 3/4
700-47C
700x47C
47-622
28 x 2.00 700-50C
700x50C
50-622
600 22 (23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 30)-600 Old Soviet sports and track bikes
599 26 x 1.25,
26 x 1.375
32-599 Very old American light bicycles.
26 x 1 7/8 47-599 ZiF (Penza) 190-535 "Samson"
597 26 x 1 1/4 (EA1) (England) 32-597 English old sports and club bikes.
26 x 1 3/8 (S-6) 37-597 Light bicycles from the American company Schwinn.
590 26 x 1 1/8 28-590

Soviet bicycles ZiF (Penza)

"Diana", "Prima", "Turn", "Relay", "Sura", "Breeze", "Temp"

American and British 3 and 10 speed.

26 x 1 1/4 32-590
26 x 1 3/8 (E.A.3) (England) 650A 35-590
26 x 1 3/8 650-35A
650x35A
37-590
26 x 1 5/8 44-590
587 700D Old size on some GT models
584 27. 5 x 1.50 650x38B 40-584 French road bikes, touring bikes with cargo, tandems, some Raleigh (USA), old Schwinn mountain bikes
26 x 1 1/2 650B 37-584
27.5 x 1.5 40-584
27.5 x 1.65 44-584
27.5 x 1.75 47-584
27.5 x 2 52-584
27.5 x 2.1 54-584
27.5 x 2.25 57-584
27.5 x 2.3 60-584
27.5 x 2.4 62-584
27.5 x 2.8 70-584
571 26 x 3/4 650x20C 20-571 Triathlon, time trial, small road bikes, some French Peugeot bikes.
26 x 7/8 650x23C 23-571
26 x 1 650C 23-571
26 x 1. 75 47-571
26x1 3/4 (S-7) Road Schwinn
559 26 x 1.0 25-559 Most mountain bikes. Classic landing diameter for 26 wheels.
26 x 1.25 32-559
26 x 1.35 35-559
26 x 1.4 37-559
26 x 1.5 40-559
26 x 1.6 44-559
26 x 1.75
26 x 1.75 x 2
47-559
26 x 1.95 50-559
26 x 2.00 52-559
26 x 2.10 54-559
26 x 2.15 55-559
26 x 2. 25 57-559
26 x 2.3 60-559
26 x 2.4 62-559
26 x 3.0 75-559
26 x 3.7 95-559
26 x 4.00 100-559
26 x 4.5 115-559
26 x 4.8 120-559
547 24x1 1/4 English children's and American firm Schwinn
24x1 3/8 (S-5) Schwinn American children's bicycles
540 24 x 1 1/8 600A 28-540 Children's English and European bicycles, most wheelchairs
24 x 1 1/4 32-540
24 x 1 3/8(E-5),
24 x 1 3/8 A
37-540
533 24 x 1 1/2 37-533

"Salute", "Altair", "Ervi", "Eaglet", "Erelyukas", "Swallow" ("Kregzdute", "Kregzhdute" - Siauliai bicycle factory "Vairas", Lithuania).
This is the Soviet standard and tires with a diameter of 533 mm are available only with a width of 37 mm.

Be careful when replacing as not all 24" tires will fit 533 wheels.

531 24 x 1 5/8 x 1 1/2 44-531
520 24x1 25-520 Road wheels for children's bikes
507 24 x 1.5 40-507 Children's mountain. "Salute", "Altair", "Ervi"
24 x 1.75 47-507
24 x 1.95 50-507
24 x 2.0 51-507
24 x 2.125 54-507
24 x 2.25 57-507
24 x 2.35 60-507
24 x 2. 5 62-507
24 x 2.6 65-507
24 x 2.75 70-507
24 x 3.0 75-507
501 22 x 1.0 25-501 European bicycles
22 x 1 1/4 32-501
22 x 1 3/8 37-501
490 550-28A 28-490 European Road Kids Bikes
22 x 1 3/8 x 1 1/4 550-32A 32-490
22 x 1 3/8 550-35A 37-490
489 22 x 1.0 25-489 European bikes
22 x 1 3/8 37-489
22 x 1 3/8 x 1 1/4 40-489
22 x 2. 00 50-489
457 22 x 1.75 to 2.125 Children's bicycles
451 20 x 1 1/8 28-451 BMX for light riders, light children's bikes, some ligerades.
Wheels on some types of wheelchairs.
20 x 1 1/4 30-451
20 x 1 3/8 37-451
445 20 x 1 1/4 30-445 "Schoolboy" (old Soviet models)
440 500-28A 28-440 European folding, children's bicycles
500-35A 37-440
20 x 1 1/2 500-38A 40-440
438 20 x 1 3/8 37-438 European bikes
20 x 1 3/8 1 1/2 40-438
432 20 x 2 1/2 40-432 European bikes
428 20 x 2. 00 54-428 European bikes
419 20 x 1 3/4 Schwinn American children's bicycles
406 20 x 1.25 32-406

Most BMX bikes, kids and folding models.

"Venta" (folding model 175-811).

"Aist" (folding, model 113-322)

"Tisa-2", "Cross", "KAMA", "DESNA", "Schoolnik", "Velta Kama", "Dubisa" (Siauliai bicycle factory), "Eureka" and other folding and old Soviet models.

Folding "Mustang"

20 x 1.35 35-406
20 x 1 3/4
20 x 1.5
40-406
20 x 1.75,
20 x 1.75 x 2
47-406
20 x 1.95 50-406
20 x 2.00 54-406
20 x 2. 125 57-406
20 x 2.35 60-406
20 x 2.5 62-406
20 x 2.6 65-406
20 x 2.75 70-406
20 x 3.0 75-406
390 18 x 1 1/8 450-28A 28-390 Children's European bikes
18 x 1 3/8 450-35A 37-390
450-55A 55-390
387 18 x 1 1/2 37-387 Children's European bikes
369 17 x 1 1/4 32-369 Bicycles Alex Moulton
355 18 x 1 1/8 28-355 Children's bicycles
18 x 1. 25 32-355
18 x 1.35 35-355
18 x 1.5 40-355 Birdy folding bikes.
18 x 1.6 42-355 Children's bicycles
18 x 1.75 47-355
18 x 1.95 50-355
18 x 2.0 54-355
18 x 2.125 57-355
349 16 x 1 1/8 28-349 Old Moulton, Brompton and other folding bicycles, ligerade front wheels, children's bicycles.
16 x 1 1/4
16 x 1.25
32-349
16 x 1.35 35-349
16 x 1 3/8 37-349
340 400-30A 28-340 Children's European bikes
16 x 1 3/8 x 1 1/4 400-32A 32-340
16 x 1 3/8 400-35A 37-340
16 x 1 5/8 400A 44-340
335 16 x 1 3/8 Children's Polish bicycles
330 16 x 1 1/2 400-38B 40-330 Children's bicycles
317 16 x 1 3/4 Schwinn American children's bicycles
305 16 x 1. 5 40-305 Children's bicycles, folding, touring and some ligerades.
16 x 1.75 47-305
16 x 1.95 50-305
16 x 2.0 54-305
16 x 2.125 57-305
16 x 2.5 62-305
298 14 x 1 1/4 350-32A 32-298 Carriages, children's bikes, balance bikes
288 14 x 1 3/8 350A,
350-35A
37-288 Children's bicycles, balance bikes
14 x 1 5/8 350-38A 40-288
14 x 1 5/8 x 1 3/8 350-42A 44-288
14 x 1.75 47-288
279 14 x 1 1/2 350-38B 40-279 Children's bicycles, balance bikes
254 14 x 1. 5 40-254 Children's bicycles, balance bikes
14 x 1.75 47-254
14 x 2 54-254
239 12 1/2 x 1 3/8 x 1 1/4 300-32A
300x32A
32-239 Children's bicycles, balance bikes
205 12 1/2 x 2 1/4 56-205 Children's bicycles "KVD", balance bikes, sometimes suitable for baby carriages ("Dutik" tires)
203 12 x 1.75
12 1/2 x 1.75
12 1/2 x 1.9
47-203 Small children's bicycles, balance bikes, baby carriages
12 x 1.95 54-203
12 x 2.0 50-203
12 x 2.125,
12 1/2 x 2 1/4 R
57-203
12 1/2 x 2 1/4 62-203
176 55-176 Tires for tricycles, scooters, balance bikes for small children, wheelbarrows and carts, prams
152 10 x 2 54-152
137 8 x 1 1/4 32-137

In short, we can say that adult bikes have a seat diameter for:

  • 28 and 29 wheels - 622 mm. 29 tires differ from 28 only in height.
  • 27.5 inches - 584 and 590 mm. For these wheels, you need to be careful when choosing rubber, since both landing diameters fit them and often the size “26 x …” is written on tires suitable for these wheels.
  • 26" - 559 mm

Small but interesting nuances regarding tire width:

  1. Tire width written on it does not always coincide with its actual width. In most cases, it depends on the pressure in it and the methods of measuring the width, especially on studded tires.
  2. Moreover, it sometimes does not coincide with mathematics. For example, a width of 2.125 inches is 54 mm (2.125 * 25.4 = 53.98 mm), but manufacturers, especially Chinese ones, stubbornly write 57 mm on it, although this applies more to a width of 2.25 inches.
  3. That is why, relative to the width written on the tire, calmly, and not with accounting accuracy.

How to choose the right bicycle tire width

Tire width selection is more flexible than rim diameter.

Rim widths are measured and marked in millimeters as shown in the figure at the beginning of the article.

How to measure the width of the rim is described in a separate article here.

Tire width versus rim width for different bike types:


rim width in mm
Tire width
in mm and inches
Bicycle type
13 18 - 25 mm (1") road and cyclocross models
15 23 - 32 mm (1" - 1.25")
17 25-37 mm (1" - 1.5") light cross-country and hybrid models
18 28 - 44 mm (1.1" - 1.75") heavy cross-country and hybrid models
19 28 - 60 mm (1.1" - 2.35") MTB (mountain bikes, mountain bikes)
20 28 -47 mm (1. 1" - 2") cycling and light extreme
21 35 - 50 mm (1.4" - 2")
23 40 - 50 mm (1.5" - 2.1") extreme cycling
25 or more 44 - 57 mm (1.75" - 2.25")
32 75 mm (3") and over

This table is a guideline for an average bike. Use it not as a dogma, but as a guideline for selection.

Some manufacturers give their own tables for the tires they produce, according to which they need to be selected for their wheel.

If the tire is narrower than the rim:

  • the chance of punctures is much higher
  • rims can be damaged

If the tire is much wider than the rim:

  • Poor handling at low speed.
  • Tires wear faster - especially the sidewall.
  • Even with a slightly flat tire, the handling of the bike is greatly reduced.
  • The possibility of it breaking off the wheel rim during a sharp turn increases.

The width of the tire affects rolling and traction. The wider - the better the grip, cornering control, but the worse the roll.

It is considered optimal if the width of the tire is 1.5-2.1 times wider than the inner width of the rim. It is possible and 2.5 times, but this is already an amateur.

The tire-to-rim width ratio affects how the tire behaves when cornering. Too wide tires mounted on a narrow rim can simply break. will have a pear-shaped profile.

Further, if toothy rubber is installed on the wheel, then the side spikes on the tread will not be where they should be for confident grip in the turn.

With wide tires on a narrow rim, the side studs will be too high and will not hold properly in the turn.

On narrow tires with a wide rim, the spikes will be from below and with a good slope, the bike will ride on the sidewall, and she is bald.


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