How to Read a Tire Size (225/65R17 102T) and Pick the Right Type
By Wheel Ranger editorial · Published · Updated
Read the size off the sticker inside your driver's door, not off the tire that is on the car. In 225/65R17 102T: 225 is the width in millimetres, 65 is the sidewall height as a percentage of width, R17 is the wheel diameter in inches, 102 is the load index and T is the speed rating. Buy the same size, a load index at least as high, and a speed rating at least as high as the sticker. For most US drivers an all-season tire is the right default; 78% of the tires in the WheelXL catalog we track are all-season.
The five numbers, one at a time
| 225 | Section width in mm. Wider = more grip and more road noise. |
| 65 | Aspect ratio: sidewall height is 65% of the width. Lower numbers are sportier and ride harder. |
| R17 | Radial construction, fits a 17-inch wheel. This must match your wheel exactly. |
| 102 | Load index: 102 = 1,874 lb per tire. Never go lower than the sticker. |
| T | Speed rating: T = 118 mph, H = 130, V = 149, W = 168. Higher is fine; lower is not. |
All-season, summer or winter?
All-season (the bulk of the catalog: BFGoodrich Advantage, Continental CrossContact, Toyo, Falken, Hankook, Kumho, Nexen) covers rain and light snow and lasts longest; it is the right answer for commuters and crossovers. Summer tires (35 listings, mostly performance sizes from Pirelli, Continental and Toyo) grip better in warm, dry and wet conditions but get hard and dangerous below about 45°F. Winter tires (20 listings) are the only thing that really works on packed snow and ice; run them on a second set of wheels from November to March if you live where it snows.
Details & specs
| Brand | BFGoodrich |
| Product type | Deals on Car Tires |
| Condition | new |
| Tire size | 215/45R17 |
| Load index | 91 |
| Speed rating | W |
| Season / type | All Season |
| MPN | 25463 |
| Sold by | WheelXL |
| Feed price | $165.99 USD |
| Availability (feed) | In stock |
| Captured | 2026-08-22 08:31 UTC |
Merchant feed data, not tested by us. Check current price →
Details & specs
| Brand | Continental |
| Product type | Deals on Car Tires |
| Condition | new |
| Tire size | 225/65R17 |
| Load index | 102 |
| Speed rating | T |
| Season / type | All Season |
| GTIN | 00051342148776 |
| MPN | 15493230000 |
| Sold by | WheelXL |
| Feed price | $175.99 USD |
| Availability (feed) | In stock |
| Captured | 2026-08-22 08:31 UTC |
Merchant feed data, not tested by us. Check current price →
Details & specs
| Brand | Continental |
| Product type | Deals on Car Tires |
| Condition | new |
| Tire size | 235/55R19 |
| Load index | 101 |
| Speed rating | H |
| Season / type | All Season |
| GTIN | 00051342198283 |
| MPN | 15491550000 |
| Sold by | WheelXL |
| Feed price | $229.99 USD |
| Availability (feed) | In stock |
| Captured | 2026-08-22 08:31 UTC |
Merchant feed data, not tested by us. Check current price →
Details & specs
| Brand | Continental |
| Product type | Deals on Car Tires |
| Condition | new |
| Tire size | 265/70R17 |
| Load index | 115 |
| Speed rating | T |
| Season / type | All Season |
| GTIN | 00051342208906 |
| MPN | 15571680000 |
| Sold by | WheelXL |
| Feed price | $243.99 USD |
| Availability (feed) | In stock |
| Captured | 2026-08-22 08:31 UTC |
Merchant feed data, not tested by us. Check current price →
Truck and SUV: highway, trail or mud
A highway all-season (Continental CrossContact, Toyo Open Country H/T) is quiet and long-wearing for a truck that stays on pavement. BFGoodrich Trail-Terrain and similar sit between highway and all-terrain: gravel roads and boat ramps without the hum. Dedicated all-terrain and mud-terrain tires trade noise and tread life for bite; buy them only if you actually leave pavement.
Details & specs
| Brand | Nitto |
| Product type | Deals on Car Tires |
| Condition | new |
| Diameter | 35" |
| Width | 12" |
| Tire size | 35X12.50R18 |
| Season / type | All Season |
| GTIN | 04981910855088 |
| MPN | 200550 |
| Sold by | WheelXL |
| Feed price | $502.00 USD |
| Availability (feed) | In stock |
| Captured | 2026-08-22 08:31 UTC |
Merchant feed data, not tested by us · Research page. Check current price →
Details & specs
| Brand | Pirelli |
| Product type | Deals on Car Tires |
| Condition | new |
| Tire size | 235/85R16 |
| Load index | 108 |
| Speed rating | Q |
| Season / type | All Season |
| MPN | 1488800 |
| Sold by | WheelXL |
| Feed price | $319.05 USD |
| Availability (feed) | In stock |
| Captured | 2026-08-22 08:31 UTC |
Merchant feed data, not tested by us. Check current price →
Details & specs
| Brand | Toyo |
| Product type | Deals on Car Tires |
| Condition | new |
| Tire size | 245/75R16 |
| Load index | 120 |
| Speed rating | S |
| Season / type | All Season |
| GTIN | 04981910526728 |
| MPN | 355620 |
| Sold by | WheelXL |
| Feed price | $260.91 USD |
| Availability (feed) | In stock |
| Captured | 2026-08-22 08:31 UTC |
Merchant feed data, not tested by us. Check current price →
Details & specs
| Brand | Toyo |
| Product type | Deals on Car Tires |
| Condition | new |
| Tire size | 285/60R20 |
| Load index | 125 |
| Speed rating | R |
| Season / type | All Season |
| GTIN | 04981910509462 |
| MPN | 364380 |
| Sold by | WheelXL |
| Feed price | $369.27 USD |
| Availability (feed) | In stock |
| Captured | 2026-08-22 08:31 UTC |
Merchant feed data, not tested by us. Check current price →
What prices look like
In the catalog we track, tires run from about $63 to $743 each depending on size and brand. Budget brands (Blacklion, Nexen, Kumho) cover 13–16 inch commuter sizes at the low end; 20-inch-plus truck and performance sizes from Pirelli, Continental and Toyo fill the top. Always buy in sets of four on AWD vehicles; mixing tread depths can damage the drivetrain.
Sources
- NHTSA: Tires (ratings, labeling, safety)
- Tire Rack Tire Tech: load index and speed rating tables
- WheelXL product listings (wheel and tire specifications as sold)
FAQ
Can I go up a size?
Stay within 3% of the original overall diameter so the speedometer and ABS stay accurate. A tire size calculator will show the percentage; WheelXL lists the full size on every tire.
Does the date code matter?
Yes. The DOT code ends in four digits (week/year). Tires older than six years should be replaced regardless of tread.
Do I need new wheels to change tire size?
Only if the wheel diameter changes. A 225/65R17 and a 235/60R17 both fit a 17-inch wheel.
More guides
- Wheel Fitment: Bolt Pattern, Offset and Width Explained
- Tire Load Index and Speed Rating Chart (and Why You Can't Go Lower)
- Wheel Offset and Backspacing Explained: How Far Can You Go?
- All-Season vs. Winter vs. Summer Tires: What to Run Where
Editorial conclusions are drawn from the WheelXL catalog data and the manufacturer documentation listed above; we do not claim to have used every product shown. Updated 2026-08-23. Corrections: contact us.