What do the tire numbers really mean???

Discussion in 'Wheels & Tires' started by Auburnfan400, May 26, 2011.

  1. Auburnfan400

    Auburnfan400 Longbed done right!

    Age:
    36
    Posts:
    2,316
    Likes Received:
    1
    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2010
    Location:
    Hartselle, Alabama
    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
     
  2. BlackThundah

    BlackThundah Aka LilWhiteFiddy

    Posts:
    5,222
    Likes Received:
    5
    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2011
    Location:
    Georgia
    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.
     
  3. HammerDown

    HammerDown Pin It To Win It

    Age:
    32
    Posts:
    2,662
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2011
    Location:
    Western NY
    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
     
    Last edited: May 26, 2011
  4. Auburnfan400

    Auburnfan400 Longbed done right!

    Age:
    36
    Posts:
    2,316
    Likes Received:
    1
    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2010
    Location:
    Hartselle, Alabama
    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
     
  5. HammerDown

    HammerDown Pin It To Win It

    Age:
    32
    Posts:
    2,662
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2011
    Location:
    Western NY
  6. Predatory Instincts

    Predatory Instincts Bizkit Grabber

    Posts:
    2,335
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2011
    Location:
    Burger King's bathroom
    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
     
  7. Auburnfan400

    Auburnfan400 Longbed done right!

    Age:
    36
    Posts:
    2,316
    Likes Received:
    1
    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2010
    Location:
    Hartselle, Alabama
    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
     
  8. General Lee

    General Lee Rammer Jammer

    Posts:
    3,764
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2010
    Location:
    Mobile/Orange Beach, AL
  9. BlackThundah

    BlackThundah Aka LilWhiteFiddy

    Posts:
    5,222
    Likes Received:
    5
    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2011
    Location:
    Georgia
    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.
     
  10. Auburnfan400

    Auburnfan400 Longbed done right!

    Age:
    36
    Posts:
    2,316
    Likes Received:
    1
    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2010
    Location:
    Hartselle, Alabama
    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 :jester: 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
     

Share This Page