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Best 215/55 R16 tires

116 rated tires available in this size, scored on dry, wet, snow, comfort and wear. Top overall right now is the Michelin Defender LTX M/S at 95/100.

25.3″
overall diameter
8.5″
section width
16″
rim diameter
796.8
revs per mile

Best 215/55 R16 all-season tires

52

40 more rated tires in this size are listed on their brand pages.

More top-rated 215/55 R16 tires

23

11 more rated tires in this size are listed on their brand pages.

Best 215/55 R16 winter tires

21

9 more rated tires in this size are listed on their brand pages.

Best 215/55 R16 summer tires

20

8 more rated tires in this size are listed on their brand pages.

Conversion

215/55 R16 in inches

Overall diameter25.3″
Section width8.5″
Rim diameter16″
Sidewall height118 mm
Circumference79.5″
Revolutions per mile796.8

The closest flotation size is 31x10.50R16 — 22.5% taller and 24% wider. Compare them in the calculator.

Wheels

What rims fit 215/55 R16 tires?

A tire fits a range of rim widths. Too narrow or too wide and the sidewall changes shape.

Minimum
6″
Ideal
7″
Maximum
7.5″

Rim diameter is fixed at 16″ — only the width varies. Estimated from the 8.5″ section width (70–90% rule).

Fitted from the factory on rims: 16x5.5, 16x6, 16x6.4, 16x6.5, 16x7, 16x7.5, 16x8.

Popular comparisons

Sizes often compared with 215/55 R16

Close alternatives — each opens in the tire size calculator.

215/55R16VS205/65R15
215/55R16VS205/50R17
215/55R16VS215/50R17
215/55R16VS235/45R17
215/55R16VS215/60R15
215/55R16VS195/60R16
Sidewall

215/55 R16 — what does it mean?

ParameterMeaning
215The first number is the section width — 215 mm, or about 8.5 inches across the widest part of the tire.
55The second number is the aspect ratio: sidewall height as a percentage of width. At 55%, the sidewall is about 118 mm tall.
R16R means radial construction, which nearly all modern tires use. The number is the rim diameter in inches — this tire fits a 16-inch wheel.