205/65R16C tire size

A 205/65R16C (C = commercial / van) tire is 26.49 inches (672.9 mm) tall, 8.07 in (205 mm) wide and fits a 16-inch wheel. In inch notation it is roughly a 26.5x8.1R16.

205/65R16C dimensions
Overall diameter	26.49 in	672.9 mm
Section width	8.07 in	205 mm
Sidewall height	5.25 in	133.3 mm
Circumference	83.23 in	2,114 mm
Revolutions	761.3 per mile	473.0 per km
Rim diameter	16 in	406.4 mm

Compare 205/65R16C with another size

Current size

New size

Speed in mphkm/h

Overall diameter difference

+0.45%

60 mph on the speedometer = 60.3 mph actual

Within the ±3 % diameter range most tire fitters accept.

Ground clearance: +1.5 mm (+0.06 in)
Revolutions: 761 → 758 per mile

205/65R16C 245/55R16

Side-by-side dimensions

	Current	New	Difference	%
Diameter	26.49 in	26.61 in	+0.12 in	+0.45%
Diameter	672.9 mm	675.9 mm	+3.0 mm	+0.45%
Width	8.07 in	9.65 in	+1.57 in	+19.51%
Width	205.0 mm	245.0 mm	+40.0 mm	+19.51%
Sidewall	5.25 in	5.31 in	+0.06 in	+1.13%
Sidewall	133.3 mm	134.8 mm	+1.5 mm	+1.13%
Circumference	83.23 in	83.60 in	+0.37 in	+0.45%
Revs per mile	761.3	757.9	−3.4	−0.44%

Speedometer error

Speedometer shows	Actual speed	Difference
20 mph	20.1 mph	+0.1 mph
30 mph	30.1 mph	+0.1 mph
40 mph	40.2 mph	+0.2 mph
50 mph	50.2 mph	+0.2 mph
60 mph	60.3 mph	+0.3 mph
70 mph	70.3 mph	+0.3 mph
80 mph	80.4 mph	+0.4 mph

Alternative sizes on the same 16-inch wheel

Sizes in use within ±3 % of the overall diameter of 205/65R16C:

Plus and minus sizes for 205/65R16C

Size	Wheel	Diameter	Difference
205/70R15	Minus 1 (15 in)	26.30 in	−0.73%
215/70R15	Minus 1 (15 in)	26.85 in	+1.35%
215/65R15	Minus 1 (15 in)	26.00 in	−1.84%
255/60R15	Minus 1 (15 in)	27.05 in	+2.10%
245/50R17	Plus 1 (17 in)	26.65 in	+0.58%
215/55R17	Plus 1 (17 in)	26.31 in	−0.68%
205/60R17	Plus 1 (17 in)	26.69 in	+0.73%
235/50R17	Plus 1 (17 in)	26.25 in	−0.91%
215/50R18	Plus 2 (18 in)	26.46 in	−0.10%
195/55R18	Plus 2 (18 in)	26.44 in	−0.18%
235/45R18	Plus 2 (18 in)	26.33 in	−0.62%
245/45R18	Plus 2 (18 in)	26.68 in	+0.71%
235/40R19	Plus 3 (19 in)	26.40 in	−0.34%
195/50R19	Plus 3 (19 in)	26.68 in	+0.70%
245/40R19	Plus 3 (19 in)	26.72 in	+0.85%
225/40R19	Plus 3 (19 in)	26.09 in	−1.53%

Vehicles approved with 205/65R16C tires

Models whose Swiss type approval lists 205/65R16C as a standard or optional size (565 approvals in total). Always check your own vehicle's placard or papers.

Source: Swiss Federal Roads Office (FEDRO/ASTRA), open government data. Original data (downloaded 2026-09-29). Data processed by us; errors in processing are ours, not the publisher's.

Nearby 16-inch sizes

Reading the 205/65R16C size

205 — section width in millimetres (8.07 in).
65 — aspect ratio: the sidewall is 65 % of the width, 133.3 mm.
R — radial construction (ZR on the sidewall means a high-speed rated radial; the dimensions are the same).
16 — fits a 16-inch diameter wheel.
C — commercial (van) construction with a higher load capacity at higher pressure.

The load index and speed rating (for example 91V) follow the size on the sidewall. They must meet at least the values on your vehicle's tire placard.