How to read a tire size

A tire sidewall carries the whole specification in one string. Take P265/70R17 115T:

Load index and speed rating are not optional detail. Fitting a lower load index than the vehicle requires is a safety failure and in many markets an inspection failure, regardless of whether the size matches.

Why one vehicle has several correct sizes

Manufacturers approve different sizes for different trims, wheel options and markets. A base trim on 17-inch wheels and a top trim on 20-inch wheels are both factory-correct for the same model year. Winter packages often approve a narrower size on a smaller wheel deliberately, because a narrower contact patch cuts through snow better.

The authority for your specific vehicle is the placard on the driver door jamb, which lists the original sizes and, importantly, the cold inflation pressures that go with them. The tire currently fitted may not match it.

Changing size

The spare and the pressure monitor

A temporary spare is deliberately a different size and carries its own speed and distance limits, usually printed on it. It is not a licence to postpone the repair. If the vehicle has tire pressure monitoring, sensors may need to be transferred or relearned after a size or wheel change, and a warning light that stays on after the change is a job that is not finished.

What these pages contain

Each model-year page below lists the tire sizes we hold for that vehicle, separated by trim or wheel option where the manufacturer publishes them separately, rather than reduced to one headline size. Sourcing and corrections are covered in our methodology and editorial policy.

Always confirm against the door placard on your vehicle before buying. If a size here does not match your placard, trust the placard and tell us through the contact page.