255/55R16 In Inches – Tire Size & Wheel Fitment Guide

What size tire is 255/55R16 in Inches?

The 255/55R16 tire has an overall diameter of 27 inches, a section width of 10 inches, and can be mounted on 16 x 7.0-9.0 inches rim. The equivalent tire size in the high flotation system is 27x10R16.

	Inches	Millimeters
Tire Diameter	27	686.9
Section Width	10	255
Rim Height	16	406
Sidewall Height	5.5	140.3
Circumference	85	2158

10"

27"

85"

16"

5.5"

745.8 Revs/Mile

To easy understanding, let us break down each component of the 255/55R16 tire size to know what these numbers represent and how they may affect your vehicle's performance:

How tall is a 255/55R16 tire?

The 255/55R16 tire has a width of 10 inches (255 mm). This is the measurement at its thickest point, the distance between the outer sidewall and the inner sidewall’s widest point, also called as tread width or section width.

How wide is a 255/55R16 tire?

The 255/55R16 tire has a height of 27 inches (686.9 mm). This is the measurement from the bottom to the highest point at the top of a tire through its exact center when inflated and unloaded.

255/55R16 sidewall height

The 255/55R16 has a sidewall height of 5.5 inches (140.3 mm). It’s measured from the rim to the outer edge of the tire's tread, expressed as a percentage of tire width.

What size rim do you need for 255/55R16 tire?

You can mount the 255/55R16 tire on a rim with a height of 16 inches and a rim width ranging from 7.0-9.0 inches. (Based on recommendations of The Tire and Rim Association (TRA))

Putting very narrow tires on wide rims or vice versa can result in reduced performance of the tire.

255/55R16 circumference

The 255/55R16 tire has a circumference of 85 inches (2158 mm), This is the measurement of the distance the tire travels in one revolution.

The tire circumference plays a crucial role in your vehicle's overall performance, affecting its speedometer acceleration, accuracy and fuel efficiency.

255/55R16 Revolutions

The 255/55R16 performs 745.8 revs/mile. Revolutions per mile indicate the number of times a tire rotates while it covers the distance of one mile.

Replacement Tire Sizes for 255/55R16

As a rule, you can replace the tire within a 3% difference in tire diameter (height) of the OEM tire size. However, it should be considered as a general guideline, not a hard and fast rule. Here is a list of compatible tire sizes for 255/55R16: