My Tire Guide

255/50R16 tire size

A 255/50R16 tire stands 26.0 inches tall and 10.0 inches wide, with a 5.0-inch sidewall on a 16-inch rim.

26.0″OVERALL 26.0 IN · RIM 16 IN10.0″5.0″WIDTH · SIDEWALL
Overall height
26.0 in661 mm
Section width
10.0 in255 mm
Sidewall height
5.0 in128 mm
Rim diameter
16 in406 mm
Circumference
81.8 in2078 mm
Revolutions per mile
775481 per km
Inch size
26.0x10.0R16

Compare it with any other size in the tire size calculator.

Sizes you can swap to

These 16-inch sizes are within two width steps and 3% of a 255/50R16's overall height, the usual limit before the speedometer, ABS and transmission notice. The closest is 235/55R16, 0.5% taller (0.14 in). Wider sizes also need room in the wheel well and a rim width that suits them.

SizeHeightWidthAt 60 mph
235/55R16+0.5%+0.14 in−20 mm60.3 mph
275/45R16−1.1%−0.30 in+20 mm59.3 mph
265/50R16+1.5%+0.39 in+10 mm60.9 mph
245/50R16−1.5%−0.39 in−10 mm59.1 mph
245/55R16+2.2%+0.57 in−10 mm61.3 mph
265/45R16−2.5%−0.65 in+10 mm58.5 mph

Plus and minus sizes

Changing rim size means changing the sidewall to keep the same overall height. On 14-inch or 15-inch or 17-inch or 18-inch rims, these are the closest matches to a 255/50R16.

SizeHeightWidthAt 60 mph
255/60R14+0.0%+0.01 in±0 mm60.0 mph
255/55R15+0.0%+0.00 in±0 mm60.0 mph
255/45R17−0.0%−0.00 in±0 mm60.0 mph
255/40R18−0.0%−0.01 in±0 mm60.0 mph

Other 16-inch sizes near 255/50R16

255 mm wide, other sidewalls

50 series, other widths

See the other sizes for this rim on 16-inch tire sizes.

Shop 255/50R16 tires

These open each store's own list of 255/50R16 tires, where you can filter by type, load and speed rating.

255/50R16 questions

How tall is a 255/50R16 tire?

About 26.0 inches (661 mm) from the ground to the top of the tread, unloaded. On the vehicle, carrying weight, it sits a little lower.

What does 255/50R16 mean?

255 is the section width in millimetres (10.0 in). 50 means the sidewall is 50% of that width: 128 mm, or 5.0 in. R means radial construction, and 16 is the rim diameter in inches.

Can I use 235/55R16 instead of 255/50R16?

235/55R16 is 0.5% taller (0.14 in) and 20 mm narrower, which is inside the usual 3% rule. With it fitted, the speedometer shows 60 mph when you are doing 60.3 mph.

What is 255/50R16 in inches?

In inch terms it is 26.0x10.0R16: 26.0 inches tall, 10.0 inches wide, for a 16-inch rim.

How many revolutions per mile does a 255/50R16 make?

About 775 turns per mile, worked out from its unloaded circumference of 81.8 inches. Makers list slightly higher numbers for their own tires, because a loaded tire rolls on a smaller radius.