What does 265/65r18 mean

Tire size deserve to be confusing. Some numbers top top the sidewall are provided in millimeters while others room inches. Plus, the ideal size for your car, truck, or trailer have the right to differ relying on where and also how girlfriend drive.

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You have the right to see her original devices tire dimension in her owner’s hands-on or on the placard usually located top top the driver’s side door jam. This is the sizing recommended by the automobile manufacturer.

If you’re interested in switching the end your tires for a different look or performance, a great place to begin is the numbers and other indicators on her existing tires’ sidewall. Next, have a tires professional help you determine a tires size range that will certainly fit your vehicle and also driving needs.

Tire dimension Meanings

Here’s what those numbers and also indicators ~ above the sidewall indicate and also how to know them:

A: tire TYPE The an initial letter in the password tells friend what course of tire it is.

P represents passenger auto tire. P-class tires include cars, SUVs, crossovers, minivans and also smaller pickup trucks.

LT method light van tire, designed for vehicles the are qualified of carrying heavy loads, towing trailers, or because that those trying to find an extra hefty duty option. This are frequently equipped on three-quarter or 1 ton trucks and also SUVs.

ST stands for Special Trailer. These tire sizes room meant because that trailers, including fifth wheels and also other take trip trailers, and boat and also utility trailers.

If there’s no letter prior to the first number, you have a metric tire most typically referred to together European size. It’s also measured in millimeters but may have a different load capacity than a p or LT tire.

B: tire WIDTH The three-digit number complying with the letter is the tire’s broad (from next to side, looking in ~ the tires head on) in millimeters. This may also be described as the section width.

C: aspect RATIO The forward cut separates the tire width number from the two-digit facet ratio. The larger the facet ratio, the higher/taller the tire’s sidewall, or “profile” as it’s sometimes called.

The facet ratio is suggested on the tires sidewall as a percentage. It’s the elevation of the sidewall measured native wheel pickled in salt to top of the tread, expressed as a percent of tires width.

In this example, the element ratio is 65, definition the sidewall is 65 percent together high as the tires is wide. To gain the sidewall height, take it the tire width of 215 mm and convert it come inches (8.46). Climate multiply this by 65% (.65). This offers you solution of 5.5, the sidewall height in inches.

D: building TYPE This single letter tells you around the internal construction of the tire.

R is because that radial tires, the market standard for most tires today. Castle have far better road grip, lower rolling resistance for much better gas mileage, ride comfort and durability than previous generations of tires. In a radial tire, the plies — class of strong cords do of a blend of polyester, steel and also fabric and coated v rubber — are laid perpendicular come the direction that travel.

D is because that tires built with diagonal line (crisscrossed) plies, called bias-constructed tires. Lock are additionally called conventional, x-ply, or cross-ply tires. Part motorcycle and trailer tires still use this interior construction.

Some run-flat tires are established with one F followed by the type of interior construction.

E: WHEEL DIAMETER This two-digit number specifies wheel diameter in inches. It’s the distance between the 2 bead seat areas (where a tires gets strict sealed top top the wheel).

F: fill INDEX The two-digit or three-digit number that adheres to the void specifies tire load index. The load index prize indicates exactly how much load a tire can support, based on the following standard chart. In ours example, the pack index is 89, which indicates the tire has a fill capacity of 1,279 pounds, as soon as inflated to the tire’s best air push rating.

G: rate RATING The critical letter is the tire rate rating. This suggests the optimal speed it’s for sure to travel at because that a continual amount of time. A tire with a higher speed rating have the right to handle heat far better and provide much more control at much faster speeds. The maximum operating speed of a car is no much more than the lowest rate rating of every tires an installed on the vehicle. (Of course, friend should always abide by speed limits for more secure driving.) rate rating is usually, yet not always, a single letter (see the chart).

Tire dimension Charts

Below girlfriend will find several charts the will aid you understand tire sizing numbers, including a pack index chart and also speed rating chart.

LOAD INDEXLOAD INDEXLOAD (lbs)LOAD INDEXLOAD (lbs)LOAD INDEXLOAD (lbs)

65	639	94	1477	123	3417
66	661	95	1521	124	3527
67	677	96	1565	125	3638
68	694	97	1609	126	3748
69	716	98	1653	127	3858
70	739	99	1709	128	3968
71	761	100	1764	129	4079
72	783	101	1819	130	4189
73	805	102	1874	131	4299
74	827	103	1929	132	4409
75	853	104	1984	133	4541
76	882	105	2039	134	4674
77	908	106	2094	135	4806
78	937	107	2149	136	4938
79	963	108	2205	137	5071
80	992	109	2271	138	5203
81	1019	110	2337	139	5357
82	1047	111	2403	140	5512
83	1074	112	2469	141	5677
84	1102	113	2535	142	5842
85	1135	114	2601	143	6008
86	1168	115	2679	144	6173
87	1201	116	2756	145	6393
88	1235	117	2833	146	6614
89	1279	118	2910	147	6779
90	1323	119	2998	148	6944
91	1356	120	3086	149	7165
92	1389	121	3197	150	7385
93	1433	122	3307

LOAD INDEXLOAD (lbs)

65	639
66	661
67	677
68	694
69	716
70	739
71	761
72	783
73	805
74	827
75	853
76	882
77	908
78	937
79	963
80	992
81	1019
82	1047
83	1074
84	1102
85	1135
86	1168
87	1201
88	1235
89	1279
90	1323
91	1356
92	1389
93	1433
94	1477
95	1521
96	1565
97	1609
98	1653
99	1709
100	1764
101	1819
102	1874
103	1929
104	1984
105	2039
106	2094
107	2149
108	2205
109	2271
110	2337
111	2403
112	2469
113	2535
114	2601
115	2679
116	2756
117	2833
118	2910
119	2998
120	3086
121	3197
122	3307
123	3417
124	3527
125	3638
126	3748
127	3858
128	3968
129	4079
130	4189
131	4299
132	4409
133	4541
134	4674
135	4806
136	4938
137	5071
138	5203
139	5357
140	5512
141	5677
142	5842
143	6008
144	6173
145	6393
146	6614
147	6779
148	6944
149	7165
150	7385

SPEED RATINGSPEED SYMBOLSPEED (mph)

	A1	3
	A2	6
	A3	9
	A4	12
	A5	16
	A6	19
	A7	22
	A8	25
	B	31
	C	37
	D	40
	E	43
	F	50
	G	56
	J	62
	K	68
	L	75
	M	81
	N	87
	P	93
	Q	99
	R	106
	S	112
	T	118
	U	124
	H	130
	V	149
ZR*	W	168
Y	186
(Y)	Above 186

*For tires having a preferably speed capacity above 149 mph, a ZR may show up in the size designation... Above 186 mph, a ZR must appear in the dimension designation, including a Y speed symbol in brackets.

Buying new Wheels or transforming Your tire Size?

A tire size calculator is a quick way to watch whether the tire size you’re considering will most likely fit her car, SUV, sporting activities car, irradiate truck or crossover.

But remember that is just an estimate. It’s important to continue to be within the sizing tolerances of your vehicle. Tires that space the wrong size could cause some traction in the steering wheel, rub versus the suspension or body of your vehicle, alleviate clearance top top hills, or result in a stiffer or noisier ride.

If you’re considering mounting a various tire size on her vehicle, inspect with a tires expert. Uncover out even if it is the tires and also wheels you have your eye on room the right fit for your vehicle’s suspension, gearing, and bodywork. And ask how any type of differences in revolutions per mile, tires speed, load index, and also speed rating will impact your journey quality and also vehicle performance.

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See how new tires and rims will look on your vehicle or truck making use of our virtual Wheels simulator, obtainable at any type of Les Schwab.