265 75R16 tire is considered to be the standard in the industry. It is commonly used in SUVs and mini trucks.
A slightly smaller version of this tire, the 265 70R16 is also quite famous and widely used. The main difference between these two tires is in the title. One has the number 70 and another has 75.
So, what do these numbers mean? How do they affect tire performance and longevity? Well, this article is created to answer all of these questions.
This article will reveal what these tire titles mean, what the numbers and digits stand for, and a comparison table will show you the difference between 265 75R16 and 265 70R16 tires.
We will also share a few tips and tricks to help you choose the best tire for your vehicle So, stick around till the end of the article.
What Does 265 75R16 Mean?
The numbers on the tire’s title refer to the Tire Size Index. Each of the numbers on the index indicates specific characteristics of the tire.
Let’s have a look at each of the numbers and see what they mean.
The first number on the tire size index (265) indicates the tire’s width in millimeters. That means the 265 75R16 tire has 265 millimeters in width.
The double digit number after that (75) reveals the aspect ratio of the tire which is measured by dividing the tire height by its width and multiplying it by 100.
Aspect ratio= (Height/Width) x 100
Aspect ratio of the tire also indicates the tire sidewall height (also known as profile).
Note that, the sidewall height is proportional to the aspect ratio. Therefore, the higher the aspect ratio, the taller the sidewall. For the 265 75R16 tires, the sidewall is 75% as high as its width.
After the first two numbers on the tire size index, the alphabet affirms the tire type. Here, R means that this tire is a Radial construction type — which is considered to be the standard in the industry.
Radial construction tires, such as the 265 75R16 & 275 70R16, are made out of a mix of polyester, steel, and fabric. These tires are coated with rubber and they provide more grip, mileage, and durability.
The last number (16) confirms the rim diameter in inches. The 265 75R16 tire is suitable for a 16 inches rim.
What Does 265 70R16 Tire Mean?
Now, you should have an idea of what a 265 70R16 tire means.
From the title, you can grasp that the tire has a 265 width. It has a 70 aspect ratio — which means the tire’s height is 70% as high as its width.
Moreover, you can be sure that the tire has a durable construction and it can offer satisfactory mileage and grip.
Lastly, from the title. you understand that the tire will fit a 16 inches rim.
As you can see from the specifications, the only difference between the 265 70R16 and 265 75R16 tires is the difference in aspect ratio. The latter tire has a 5% higher aspect ratio compared to the former.
The aspect ratio largely affects the steering quality. A lower aspect ratio (70) reduces the time to transmit the steering input from the wheel to the tread. It also causes a more rigid ride.
This little difference in aspect ratio changes the circumference, sidewall, and revs per mile.
What’s the size of 265 75R16 Tire?
- Diameter : 31.6″
- Width : 10.4″
- Wheel : 16″ x 7-9″
- Sidewall : 7.8″
- Circum. : 99.4″
- Revs/Mile: 638
This tire has a 31.6 inches diameter, 10.4 inches section width, and 99.3 inches circumference. It can fit a 16 inches rim and provide up to 638 revolutions per mile.
Note that you can use 265 75R16 tires on 7 inches to 9 inches wheels of a passenger car. It can also fit 7 inches to 8 inches wheels of light trucks.
What’s the size of 265 70R16 Tire?
- Diameter : 30.6″
- Width : 10.4″
- Wheel : 16″ x 7-9″
- (LT Tires 7-8.5″)
- Sidewall : 7.3″
- Circum. : 96.1″
- Revs/Mile : 659
265 70R16 comes with 30.6 inches diameter, 10.4 inches section width and 96.1 inches circumference. Similar to its previous version, it can fit a 16 inches rim.
The tire offers up to 659 revolutions per mile. It can fit 7 inches to 9 inches wheels of a passenger tire. In the case of light trucks, it matches with 7 inches to 8.5 inches wheels.
Difference Between 265 75R16 and 265 70R16 Tires
| Parameter | 265 75R16 | 265 70R16 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall diameter | 31.65 inch | 30.61 inch | -1.04 inch (-3.3%) |
| Section width | 10.43 inch | 10.43 inch | 0 inch |
| Circumference | 99.43 inch | 96.15 inch | – 3.28 inch (-3.3%) |
| Sidewall height | 7.82 inch | 7.3 inch | 0.52 inch (-6.&%) |
| Revs per km | 638 | 659 | 21 |
| Aspect Ratio | 75 | 75 | 0 |
As stated previously, as small as a 5% difference in aspect ratio can bring significant changes in the tire performance.
Now, let’s look at how these two tires vary in their performance.
Revs Per Mile
The 265 75R16 has 21 fewer revolutions per mile compared to the 265 70R16 tires. The lesser RPM causes the engine to consume more fuel with lesser efficiency — which can make a striking outcome in the long run.
Speedometer Reading
There’s a 3.4% difference in speedometer reading between these two tires. The 265 75R16 tire gives a 3.4% higher speedometer reading compared to its competitor.
Steering Quality
The lower aspect ratio (70) causes a more harsh riding experience compared to the standard aspect ratio (75). The 265 70R16 requires more time to take the steering input from the wheel to the tread.
How to Choose The Right Tire Width?
We hope you are now able to distinguish the differences between the 265 75R16 and 265 70R16 tires.
Many people face difficulties finding the right tire width for their vehicle wheels. It’s a common problem as choosing the right tire is not that simple.
However, we want to make it easier for you. So, here we will share a few tips and tricks that you can use to select the perfect tire for your wheels.
First of all, you need to use a tire size calculator to find the tire that suits the best with your rims. Once you have done that, there are a few more things that you need to check before replacing the tires.
- You have to have a look at the guidelines and requirements from both the tire and vehicle manufacturers.
- You need to make sure that your customization follows the regulations and requirements of your state’s law.
- The replaced tires should be able to make a 360 rotation with zero difficulties.
- Make sure to check that the tire has a standard build quality.
people also ask (FAQs)
Hopefully, now you are aware of the difference between 265 75R16 and 265 70R16 tires.
Here, we will answer some of the questions that most people have about these two tires.
Can I use 75 tires instead of 70?
You can use a 75 tire instead of 70; however, keep in mind that replacing the tires will bring significant unwanted changes in your riding experiences. Therefore, it’s not recommended to do so.
What does the 70 R mean on a tire?
The 70 on a tire refers to the aspect ratio of the tire which is calculated by dividing the tire height by the width and it is expressed in percentage.
The R means that the tire is a Radial construction type — which is the standard type in the current industry.
How tall is a 265 75R16 tire?
The 265 75R16 tire is 31.65 inches tall.
What size rim will a 265 75R16 fit on?
The 265 75R16 tires will fit on a 16 inches rim.
Final Words
Our aim with this article was to help understand the actual differences between the 265 75R16 and 265 70R16 tires.
We have tried to demonstrate how as small as a 5% difference can significantly affect your riding experience.
Hopefully, the article will help you get the perfect fitting tires for your car.
Learn more about tire size:
There was really really helpful information thank you because I have R 70s supposed to be R75s using too much gas and it rides like the flat tires