30.4" tall, 8.5" wide, 7.2" sidewall
A 215/85R16 tire is 30.4 inches (772 mm) tall and 8.5 inches wide. The sidewall is 85% of the width, 7.2 inches, on a 16-inch wheel, and the tire turns about 664 times per mile.
In flotation terms that is about 30.4x8.5R16. People often call it a 30-inch tire.
The size most often compared with it is 225/75R16, which is 1.1" shorter (−3.6%). At an indicated 60 mph you would be doing 57.8 mph on it, more than the 3% change many shops use as a limit.
| Current | New | Difference |
|---|
| Shows | Actual speed |
|---|
Same 16" wheel, within 20 mm of width and 10 points of aspect ratio.
| Size | Diameter | Width | Sidewall | vs 215/85R16 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 235/75R16 | 29.9" | 9.3" | 6.9" | −1.7% | |
| 225/85R16 | 31.1" | 8.9" | 7.5" | +2.2% | |
| 215/80R16 | 29.5" | 8.5" | 6.8" | −2.8% | |
| 225/75R16 | 29.3" | 8.9" | 6.6" | −3.6% | compare |
| 235/85R16 | 31.7" | 9.3" | 7.9" | +4.4% | compare |
| 205/80R16 | 28.9" | 8.1" | 6.5" | −4.9% |
Sizes within 2% of 30.4" on 15" or 18" or 17" wheels.
| Size | Diameter | Width | Sidewall | vs 215/85R16 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 325/60R15 | 30.4" | 12.8" | 7.7" | −0.1% | |
| 285/55R18 | 30.3" | 11.2" | 6.2" | −0.2% | |
| 285/60R17 | 30.5" | 11.2" | 6.7" | +0.2% | |
| 225/75R17 | 30.3" | 8.9" | 6.6" | −0.3% | |
| 245/70R17 | 30.5" | 9.6" | 6.8" | +0.4% | |
| 245/65R18 | 30.5" | 9.6" | 6.3" | +0.5% |
Actual speed when the speedometer is calibrated for 215/85R16.
| Speedometer shows | on 225/75R16 | on 235/85R16 | on 245/75R16 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 mph | 28.9 mph | 31.3 mph | 30.1 mph |
| 45 mph | 43.4 mph | 47.0 mph | 45.1 mph |
| 60 mph | 57.8 mph | 62.6 mph | 60.2 mph |
| 70 mph | 67.5 mph | 73.1 mph | 70.2 mph |
30.4 inches (772 mm). The sidewall is 7.2 inches.
8.5 inches (215 mm) section width, measured sidewall to sidewall.
About 30.4x8.5R16.
225/75R16 is −3.6% in diameter, more than the common 3% guideline, so expect a speedometer error and check clearance. It is 0.4" wider.