Commercial Truck Tire Size Explained – Finding Your Tire Size
Finding the right size for your truck tires is essential, as the right fit will depend on the average load your truck will be carrying. The right tires will provide you with the highest safety for years. The quality of your operation and driving experience will also depend on selecting the correct tire size. In this article, we will take a look at general information on commercial truck tire sizes and a simple guide to choosing the correct one for your needs.
Normal vs. Low-Profile:
A general formula is typically used to help calculate the tire size. A normal profile is stated as 11R22.5 16PR H, which means the tire is about 11 inches wide and 9.5 inches high. If you are looking at a low-profile tire, it will be stated as 295/75R22.5 16PR H. 295 is the width of the tire in millimeters and 75 is the aspect ratio, which is the height of the tire sidewall (221.25 mm). In both cases, 16PR H refers to 16 ply and Load Range H. This number and letter combination helps succinctly explain details like the width, aspect ratio, radial tires or bias ply tires, wheel diameter, and load rating.
Aspect Ratio:
Standard profile tires come with an aspect ratio of 88%, while low profile tires come with 70-80%. Truck tire body width comes in 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 inches for standard profile tubeless tires. When looking at tube-type tires, the sizes come in 9.00, 10.00, and 11.00 inches (width). These types of tires are called tube-type because they require an inner tube for the tire construction and have an aspect ratio of 98%.
Wheel Size:
Wheel size is indicated by measuring the wheel diameter in inches. If the number is a whole number size, then the wheel is a multi-piece that requires an inner tube. Common sizes are 20, 22, and 24 inches. For tubeless tires, the sizing will be indicated in half-inches and the common sizes are 19.5, 22.5, and 24.5 inches.
Load Range & Ply Rating
Load Range tells you essentially how much weight the tire can carry, which is based on ply rating. Pay special attention to this detail if you will be regularly using the truck to carry heavy loads. The indicator will be the last letter in the profile; for example, “H” load range is equivalent to 16 ply, and these values will be listed together. The larger the ply rating, the greater loads the tire is capable of carrying.
Still not sure about choosing the right tires? Ask our specialists at OTRUSA.COM! We provide diverse tire options that suit your specific tasks, and have over 20 years of experience in the tire industry. We are happy to answer your questions and help you to make the right decision, so please feel free to give us a call at +1-855-687-8721.