Steering feel
Softer, more relaxed turn-in
More sidewall flex before grip arrives — comfort-tuned, calm at speed.
Tire size meaning
245/70 R16
What the numbers on a 245/70 R16 tire actually mean — width, sidewall, construction and rim — explained in plain language with real-world driving context.
Direct answer
What does 245/70 R16 mean?
245/70 R16 is a metric tire size: 245 mm wide, a sidewall 70% of that width (172 mm), radial construction, fitted to a 16-inch wheel. Overall diameter ≈ 749 mm.
- 245
- Section width in mm (sidewall to sidewall).
- 70
- Aspect ratio — sidewall is 70% of width (172 mm).
- R
- Radial construction — the modern layered build.
- 16
- Wheel rim diameter in inches (406 mm).
Ø 749 mm · 29.50″ · 425 revs/km
Dimensional breakdown
- Section width
- 245 mm
- Aspect ratio
- 70%
- Sidewall height
- 171.5 mm
- Rim diameter
- 16″ (406.4 mm)
- Overall diameter
- 749 mm
- Circumference
- 2.354 m
- Revs per km
- 425
- Construction
- Radial (R)
What 245/70 R16 feels like on the road
A 245/70 R16 tire is a tall-sidewall comfort or off-road profile. With a sidewall of 172 mm, it absorbs bumps and rough surfaces well, ideal for comfort cruisers, SUVs and light off-road use.
The 245 mm contact width delivers maximum contact patch for high-performance and SUV applications. Combined with a 16-inch wheel, this size is most commonly found on mainstream hatchbacks, sedans and small crossovers.
At highway speed each tire completes about 425 revolutions per kilometre — the figure your speedometer and ABS were calibrated against if 245/70 R16 is the OEM specification.
Common alternatives to 245/70 R16
Sizes within ±3% overall diameter — generally safe swaps for speedometer accuracy and clearance. Click any size to open a full side-by-side comparison.
Driver feel · telemetry
What 245/70 R16 usually feels like
A driver-perspective read on this size — steering, comfort, highway stability and rough-road behavior.
Ride comfort
Softer over potholes
Tall sidewall absorbs expansion joints and broken tarmac — great for long drives.
Highway stability
Planted at highway speed
Wider contact patch resists crosswinds and tramlining — strong straight-line confidence.
Pothole comfort
Forgiving over impacts
Sidewall cushions the rim from sharp edges — ideal for poor roads.
Sporty vs OEM tone
Comfort-leaning OEM setup
Tuned for ride quality and economy over outright bite.
Sidewall172 mm
Ø749 mm
Width245 mm
Revs/km425
Related tire sizes for 245/70 R16
Explore neighbouring sizes by intent — similar, wider, lower-profile, OEM-safe, or aggressive. Each link opens a full side-by-side comparison.