Tire size meaning

275/40 R22

What the numbers on a 275/40 R22 tire actually mean — width, sidewall, construction and rim — explained in plain language with real-world driving context.

Share

Direct answer

What does 275/40 R22 mean?

275/40 R22 is a metric tire size: 275 mm wide, a sidewall 40% of that width (110 mm), radial construction, fitted to a 22-inch wheel. Overall diameter ≈ 779 mm.

275
Section width in mm (sidewall to sidewall).
40
Aspect ratio — sidewall is 40% of width (110 mm).
R
Radial construction — the modern layered build.
22
Wheel rim diameter in inches (559 mm).

Ø 779 mm · 30.66″ · 409 revs/km

Section width 275 mmSidewall 110 mmR22 (559 mm)Ø 779 mm (30.66″)

Dimensional breakdown

Section width
275 mm
Aspect ratio
40%
Sidewall height
110.0 mm
Rim diameter
22″ (558.8 mm)
Overall diameter
779 mm
Circumference
2.447 m
Revs per km
409
Construction
Radial (R)

What 275/40 R22 feels like on the road

A 275/40 R22 tire is a low-profile sporty tire. With a sidewall of 110 mm, it gives precise turn-in with a reasonable ride compromise — typical for sport sedans and hot hatches.

The 275 mm contact width delivers maximum contact patch for high-performance and SUV applications. Combined with a 22-inch wheel, this size is most commonly found on performance SUVs, luxury sedans and aftermarket plus-size setups.

At highway speed each tire completes about 409 revolutions per kilometre — the figure your speedometer and ABS were calibrated against if 275/40 R22 is the OEM specification.

Common alternatives to 275/40 R22

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 275/40 R22 usually feels like

A driver-perspective read on this size — steering, comfort, highway stability and rough-road behavior.

Steering feel

Balanced, OEM-style response

A familiar OEM feel — predictable inputs without trade-offs.

Ride comfort

Comfortable daily ride

A balanced compromise — bumps muted, steering still precise.

Highway stability

Planted at highway speed

Wider contact patch resists crosswinds and tramlining — strong straight-line confidence.

Pothole comfort

Reasonable impact protection

Enough sidewall to protect the rim from typical urban hits.

Sporty vs OEM tone

Balanced everyday character

A factory-style balance between feel, comfort and grip.

Sidewall110 mm
Ø779 mm
Width275 mm
Revs/km409

Related tire sizes for 275/40 R22

Explore neighbouring sizes by intent — similar, wider, lower-profile, OEM-safe, or aggressive. Each link opens a full side-by-side comparison.

Share

Frequently asked questions