What do the tire numbers really mean???

I know its been touched on in the past, and i thought i understood it but have now figured out i STILL don't understand what the numbers in a tire description mean. A 285/75/R16 for example, i obviously know the "R16" is the rim size, "285" equates to a 33" tire, but whats the "75"? I'm so confused why we have 2 ways to measuring tires. Any help would be appreciated, and sorry to yall having to re-hash something i know has been brought up before

 

I'm pretty shure 285 is the width 75 is the height and of course tha last number is rim size.
Thats why 295 and 305 arent to much bigger just wider.

 

Tire Tech Information - Tire Size Guide


285/75/R16

16 is the rim size

285 is the width in mm

75 is the ratio of how much sidewall there is compared to the width

LT stands for Light Truck, means higher load, higher air pressure and stiffer

P stands for Passenger (opposite as that) ^

R means its a Radial Tire

And one of the other letters is speed rating

 

Well i already read that page earlier today, and...i was more confused after i read it. I'm trying to find just a plain english, simple explanation somewhere

 

I edited it for plain english

use this for the American version, its a lot easier
http://www.redrock4x4.com/tireconversioncalculator.html

 

285 does not necessarily equal a 33" tire.

The first number is always the tread width, the last the rim diameter. That middle number is a percentage of the width that you can double and add to the rim diameter to get your overall height... although... it's not exact, depending on manufacturer.

285= 11.22" wide tread
285x.75= 8.4" sidewall

8.4x2+16= 32.8" tire

If that were a 285/50/16 it would be a 27.22" tire

 

thanks man. my biggest issue was trying to find which one is for how wide the tire is. not the height, i think this answers that for me

 

much easier!

 

yah man, if you want a really wide tire thats still a 33 then go with a 305 on like a ..x8 or..x9 rim. Or even a 295 is still pretty wide. and the 285 is wide too lol just not as wide.

 

Well i've now atleast decided to get new rims with my new tires so i'll get a set with some kind of offset, yet another thing i don't understand but, i would like to go fairly wide still with the tires. Not as much for....that "look" but more, the wider the truck looks, the less goofy the long bed makes the truck look