The tyre size is printed on the side of the tyre, in an area known as the sidewall. When looking for the size, you will see that it consists of a series of numbers and letters. This can be explained using the example shown below, broken down as follows:
205: The width of the tyre in millimetres.
55: The height of the tyre sidewall as a percentage of the width. In this case, the ratio is 55%. This is also known as the aspect ratio.
R16: The diameter of the inner rim of the tyre in inches.
91: The load index of the tyre.
V: The speed rating, which indicates the maximum speed the tyre can handle when carrying its maximum load.
You can also use the vehicle registration lookup tool on the cheap-tyre.com homepage. This allows you to check the information held by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to find the correct tyre size for your vehicle.
When using this tool, we recommend double-checking the size shown against the tyres currently fitted to your vehicle, as multiple tyre sizes may be recommended depending on the age and model of the vehicle.
You can change the tyre size, but this must be done with great care, and you should follow the specific guidelines and standards for changing tyre sizes for your vehicle.
It is important to remember that the overall diameter should be kept as close as possible to the original diameter.
If the diameter varies significantly, it will affect the time and distance the tyre takes to complete one full rotation (the tyre’s rolling circumference). This can cause inaccurate speedometer readings and may negatively affect gear engagement.
Please do not use a different tyre size without first consulting an expert. There are several websites that can help with this. Cheaptyre and its mechanics cannot be held responsible for any changes to tyre sizes that may result in performance issues or damage to the vehicle.