215/55 R18 Tyres Explained

215/55 R18 is a common tyre size for family cars and some SUVs. The numbers tell us the different dimensions of the tyre's size. 215 is the width of the tyre in millimetres. 55 means that the sidewall's height is 55% of 215mm (about 118mm). Finally R18 means the tyre fits an 18 inch wheel. You'll find this size on a wide range of vehicles that need stable handling and a comfortable ride, including higher trim hatchbacks and crossover SUVs. It's offered by premium manufacturers such as Michelin, Continental, Pirelli, Bridgestone and Goodyear. mid range options include Hankook, Kumho, Falken and Yokohama, while value brands on the page include Tomket, Mazzini and Royal Black. Popular models in this size include the Michelin CrossClimate 2 and the Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2. To confirm this is the right size for your car, check the tyre sidewall, the driver's door sticker or your vehicle handbook. You can also enter your registration for exact matches. Always match the load and speed ratings shown by the manufacturer.

The first 3 sets of numbers that you will see when reading a tyre size tell you the width, profile and diameter of your tyre. In this case, for the tyre size 215/55 R18 this is broken down as follows: 215 - the width of the tyre in millimetres. In this case 215mm wide. 55 - the height of the sidewall as a percentage of the width. In this case 55% R18 - the diameter of the tyre's inner rim in inches. Essentially what size of wheel this is intended to be fitted onto. For this size, that is a 18 inch wheel

If you are looking for the recommended tyre pressure for 215/55 R18 tyres, you will find that this will depend on the manufacturer and model. Each vehicle manufacturer has their own tyre pressure recommendation for their model, that will deliver an optimal performance for your vehicle. Check the following if you are unsure what the correct tyre pressure is for your 215/55 R18 tyres Tyre label - this is often the best place to find your tyre pressure information. It is located on the door jamb on the driver’s side of the vehicle. It is a small rectangular label that provides the driver with the recommended tyre pressure and tyre sizes. Vehicle handbook - Quite often the vehicle handbook with contain a section that relates to the technical details for the tyre. This should include the required tyre size, load rating, speed rating and recommended tyre pressure.

The sidewall height of a 215/55 R18 tyre is calculated by using the profile information of the tyre size. In this instance 55. This tells us that it is 55% of the tyre's cross-section width. When looking at a tyre, the sidewall height is the distance between the tread line of the tyre and the rim line. Given that this tyre size has a cross-section width which equals 215mm, we can work out that the sidewall height is 55% of 215 – this comes to 118.25mm.