185/65 R15 Tyres Explained

185/65 R15 is a tyre size that fits many small cars. It balances town and motorway driving. The numbers included within the size tell us the tyre's dimensions. For example, 185 is the width in millimetres. 65 is the aspect ratio, (so the sidewall height is 65% of 185mm (about 120mm).) and R15 confirms that the tyre fits a 15 inch wheel. This size is widely used on smaller family cars. That need a comfortable ride and economical running. You'll find premium options from brands like Michelin, Bridgestone and Goodyear. There are also mid range options from the likes of Hankook, Yokohama and Falken. While budget brands include Wanli, Mazzini and Royal Black. Popular tyre models in this size include the Michelin Primacy 4 and the Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2. To confirm this is the correct size for your car, check the tyre sidewall, the sticker on the driver's door jamb or your vehicle handbook. You can also enter your registration for exact matches.

The tyre size that you find on the sidewall of a tyre will tell you important information such as the width, profile and diameter of your tyre. In this case, for the tyre size 185/65 R15, this means the following: 185 - the width of the tyre in millimetres. I.e. 185mm wide. 65 - the height of the sidewall as a percentage of the width. In this case 65% R15 - the diameter of the tyre's inner rim in inches. Basically what size of wheel this is designed to fit onto. In this instance it is a 15 inch wheel.

There is no standard recommended tyre pressure for 185/65 R15 tyres, as each vehicle manufacturer will recommend their own optimal tyre pressure so you can enjoy the best performance from your vehicle. If you are unsure as to the correct tyre pressure for your 185/65 R15 tyres, there are a few different places you can look to find this information. Vehicle handbook - There is a section in most manufacturer handbooks which covers all the technical details for a tyre. This includes the tyre size, load rating, speed rating and tyre pressure. Tyre label - The tyre label is often found on the door jamb of the driver’s side. It is a small rectangular sticker which contains the information you need to know in regards to tyre pressure and tyre sizes. It should also tell you the tyre pressure recommendation

The height of your tyre's sidewall for the tyre size 185/65 R15 can be worked out by using the tyre's profile size. For the tyre size, the profile is 65. What this tells us is that the sidewall height is 65% of the cross-section width of the tyre. The sidewall height is determined by the distance between the rim line and the tread line. So, as this tyre has a cross-section width of 185mm, the height of the sidewall is 65% of 185 – which is 120.25mm.