215 vs 235 Tires
Sometimes Two very different tire sizes look similar but have completely different applications on the road. If your tires are worn out or you are looking to upgrade the size of your wheels, knowing how to choose the right sized wheel can save you time and money in selecting the correct set of tires.
215 Tires | 235 Tires |
This Number Indicates That Your Tire Has A Width Of 215 Millimeters. (Tire Width Always Refers To The Measurement From One Sidewall To Another) | This Number Indicates That Your Tire Has A Width Of 235 Millimeters. (Tire Width Always Refers To The Measurement From One Sidewall To Another) |
What Does it Mean?
215 and 235 are the two most common tire sizes. The number after the “215” or “235” is the diameter of the wheel in millimeters. As a general rule, a higher number means a larger wheel. In short, the width for 215 tires is usually around 215 mm, while the width for 235 tires is usually about 235 mm.
For example, we use the tire number P215/65R16 or P235/60R17 to understand what those numbers mean. It’s extremely important to know that information before purchasing any tire or replacing it.
P: The First Letter of the tire means what kind of tire it is. For this example, P stands for passenger vehicles. Also, you can see T or Lt., Where T stands for Truck & LT stand for a light truck. Most of us will use this kind of Letter. If you don’t see any letter at first, it means the tire is of European make and has different load-bearing capacities. In this example, both tires are suitable for Passenger vehicles.
215 or 235: This example’s first three numbers mean the tire’s width, From sidewall to sidewall. In this case, the number 215 indicates that the tire width is 215 millimeters, and the other one, 235 means that the tire width is 235 millimeters. First, we understand that the tire width of “215” will be smaller than the tire width of “235”.
65 or 60: The number after the dash specifies means the tire’s aspect ratio. The aspect ratio refers to the height of a tire’s cross-section. For this tire P215/65R16, 65 is designated for the height, which is equal to 65% of the tire’s width.
On the other hand, P235/60R17, 60 stands with a height that is equal to 60% of the tire’s width. So suppose you consider this section, then this tire P215/65R16 is taller than others. The more significant the aspect ratio, the bigger the tire’s sidewall will be.
R: This character means the construction of the tire. The R means that the tire has radial construction. Radial tires are all the new and popular types of tires. They have an inner tire that looks like spokes coming out from the center.
If there is a D instead of an R, then the tire has a bias-ply construction. Belted tires are like a D construction, but the plies go differently. Belted tires will be marked with B. In this comparison, both are Radial tires.
Wheel Diameter: The wheel diameter measurement is the end-to-end length, measured in inches. After the tire construction Letter, these two number means the wheel diameter size. In this case, the wheel size of the P215/65R16 is 16 inches. This means this tire only fits with the size of 16 inches wheels.
Meanwhile, in another tire, P235/60R17 is 17 inches. So we understand that although the aspect ratio of P215/65R16 is more significant than P235/60R17, the wheel diameter is large than others. So you need to make sure that your wheel is the same or bigger. If not, it won’t fit.
Speed Rating: It’s not a part of the tire but a number assigned to it by the Manufacturer when the tire is designed. You won’t find this on your tire unless you look for it in some spec sheets or directly with the Manufacturer.
The speed rating is a letter from ‘A’ to ‘Y,’ with ‘A’ for the lowest and lower speeds as you go down the alphabet. For example, A48, B83, C117, etc. The higher the number, the greater the maximum design speed of the tire. This is one section where it’s easy to make mistakes.
Conclusion
The main difference between 215 and 235 tires is the width – the 215 tires will be narrower than the 235 tires. Additionally, the aspect ratio (the height of a tire’s cross-section) is different for each tire. Both tires are radial construction and have the same wheel diameter size. The speed rating is also the same for both tires.
The most important thing to remember is that the wheel diameter must be the same or bigger, or the tire won’t fit. I hope this information was helpful!
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