What is the difference between 265 70R16 and 265 75R16?

The 265 70R16 tires have been serving many types of vehicles for a long time. Due to the increment in the necessity, manufacturers decided to bring a newer version of this tire, which is 265 75R16.

It is a common curiosity in people to know about tires so that they can get the perfect one for their vehicles. Although it is easy to figure out most of the aspects of a tire, understanding the tire size indicator is hard as it is a combination of many digits and letters. 

But don’t worry, in this article, we will explain which tire will be suitable for your vehicle between 265 70R16 and 265 75R16 through an in-depth comparison. The comparison will also help you to understand the tire size index. So, stick to the very end. 

265 70R16 vs 265 75R16: An In-depth Comparison

You may think, using the 265 75R16 tire size won’t be a problem as it is the latest version of 265 70R16. You can be severely wrong thinking like that. Minor differences can have an impact on the compatibility of tires with vehicles.

Let’s consider the tire size index 265 70R16. When you break it down, you will get – 

• 265 stands for – Tire width in meters
• 70 stands for – The aspect ratio of height/width
• R stands for – Construction type
• 16 stands for – Rim diameter in inches

So, you can see, the tire size index consists of 4 parts. Therefore, we have decided to partition the difference between 265 70R16 and 265 75R16 into 4 parts.   

Width

As you can see, both tires have the same first digit in their tire size index, which is 265. It means the width of both tires is 265 millimeters. So, there is no difference in the width of these two tire sizes. These are 100% accurate measurements taken directly by the manufacturer. So, no need to doubt the width.

Between 265 70R16 or 265 75R16, you can install any of the tires to the rim of your vehicles, especially when the width is the only concern. But there are other measurements to rely on for the perfect fit for your vehicle. That brings us to the next topic to compare.     

Aspect Ratio

Usually, the tire manufacturers divide the height by the cross-section or width of the tire to measure the aspect ratio. Even if other factors don’t have any difference, only the difference in the aspect ratio can have a significant impact on the compatibility of the tire. 

Aspect ratios are measured in percent. For instance, the tire 265 70R16 has an aspect ratio of 70 means, the height of the tire is 70% of its width. And that is also applicable for the other tire having an aspect ratio of 75.

When we compare 265 70R16 and 265 75R16 in terms of aspect ratio, we can find a difference. Judging by the tire size index, 265 70R16 has an aspect ratio of 70 whereas 265 75R16 has an aspect ratio of 75. So, the difference between these two tires is 5 in terms of aspect ratio.       

Construction Type

Just because there is the ‘R’ letter on the sidewalls of both 265 70R16 and 265 75R16, the construction type is the same for both. Here ‘R’ stands for “Radial Construction”. This indicates the tires are radial types.

The radial construction is another important term of the tire size index. It defines the handling characteristics of the tire as well as how the tire was assembled. The radial type tires have a sophisticated construction with square shaped footprints. And there is a tire cord expansion at a 90 degree angle from one bead to another. 

You may see other letters like ‘B’ on the sidewalls of tires. This represents other types of characteristics for the tire. Usually, we often find two types of letters on the sidewalls of tires, which are – 

• R – Indicates the tire is a radial type
• B – Indicates the tire is a bias ply (aka cross ply) type  

Rim Diameter

Excluding the tire, rim diameter is measured in inches. Rim diameters in standard road vehicles are between 14 inches to 19 inches. On the other hand, SUVs, sports cars, and other luxury vehicles may have bigger rim diameters. This is done for better performance.

In order to find the rim diameter of your tire, measure the opening bead from one to the other side of the same bead. This is the width of the opening in the tire where it would be mounted on the rim. To calculate the correct spoke length, you need to find the “Effective Rim Diameter” or ERD

Generally, the rim diameter is the last digit of the tire size index. Here we can see, the last digit of both 265 70R16 and 265 75R16 is 16. Therefore, the rim diameter of both tires is the same; which is 16 inches (as it is measured in inches). Having no difference in the rim diameter, any one of these tires will fit a rim with a diameter of 16 inches.     

A detailed Comparison Chart of Tire Size 265 70R16 and 265 75R16

If you have come this far, you may have noticed that there is not much difference between 265/70R16 and 265/75R16 tire sizes except for the aspect ratio. We have included a comparison chart of 265 70R16 vs 265 75R16 to provide a quick overview

From the above comparison table of 265 70R16 vs 265 75R16, if we consider all the information; the overall decision will be – the clearance varies by 14 mm and the diameter varies by 3%. Therefore, the chance of risk is relatively low when you switch from 265 70R16 to 265 75R16.

The following 2 pictures will show a comparison of 265 70R16 and 265 75R16 from front and side.

Final Thought 

You have to be very careful about the minor changes in tire size to avoid danger while driving. Because a small difference can have a great impact on the ground clearance level. After reading this article, you have figured the difference between these two tires is minor, considering only the aspect ratio. No matter how small the difference, it is still considered to choose the right tire size. 

Now, you not only know the difference between 265 70R16 and 265 75R16 but you are also one step closer to determining the right tire for your car. Thanks for reading this article, you will see you at the next one.

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