How to Read Tire Size: What 265/70R16 Actually Means

Last updated: August 2026

Every tire carries a code like 265/70R16 on its sidewall, and the same code appears on your door-jamb placard. Once you can read it, you can compare tires, check compatibility, and spot when a seller is offering the wrong fitment.

Breaking down 265/70R16

265 is the section width in millimeters — the distance across the tread from sidewall to sidewall. 70 is the aspect ratio: the sidewall height expressed as a percentage of the width, so here the sidewall is 70% of 265 mm. A lower number means a shorter, sportier sidewall; a higher number means more cushion for off-road use. R stands for radial construction, which covers virtually every passenger tire sold today. 16 is the wheel diameter in inches the tire is built to mount on.

Load index and speed rating

After the size you'll often see something like 112T. The number is the load index — how much weight each tire can carry — and the letter is the speed rating. Never fit tires with a lower load index than the factory specification, especially on trucks and SUVs that tow.

Why trims differ

Manufacturers frequently fit different wheel and tire packages to different trims of the same model year: a base Tacoma SR rides on 245/75R16, while a Limited wears 265/60R18. That is exactly why TrimSpecs lists sizes per trim — check yours on pages like 2022 Tacoma tire size or 2023 CR-V tire size, then confirm against your door-jamb placard.