Understand Your Tire Size Before You Shop
A tire size like 265/70R17 tells you several important things about the tire, but it does not guarantee that the tire fits your vehicle. Start by understanding the numbers, then verify your vehicle’s actual requirements before purchasing.
Where Should You Find Your Correct Tire Size?
Don’t rely only on what is currently mounted on the vehicle. Start with verified vehicle information whenever possible.
Driver-Door Placard
The tire information label inside the driver’s door area is often one of the best starting points for factory tire-size and pressure information.
Owner’s Manual
Use manufacturer documentation to verify the intended tire and wheel requirements for your specific vehicle configuration.
Verified Fitment Data
Year, make, model, trim, drivetrain, wheel package, and modifications can all affect which tire sizes are appropriate.
Research Tires by Size
Select a tire size to explore Black Hills driving considerations, tire categories, fitment reminders, and buying guidance.
Size-specific buying considerations for Black Hills driving.
Open Guide →275/65R18Research winter, all-terrain, highway, and fitment considerations.
Open Guide →265/65R17Learn what to compare before purchasing tires in this size.
Open Guide →265/70R18Research tire categories and Black Hills driving priorities.
Open Guide →275/60R20Tire-selection guidance for highway, winter, and mixed-use driving.
Open Guide →285/70R17Compare all-terrain, winter, and road-use priorities in this size.
Open Guide →285/65R18Black Hills-focused tire research and fitment reminders.
Open Guide →275/55R20Research everyday, highway, winter, and tire-type considerations.
Open Guide →Load Index & Speed Rating Still Matter
Two tires can share the same basic size but have different load, speed, construction, or service characteristics.
Load Index
Load index relates to how much weight the tire is designed to support under specified conditions. Trucks, SUVs, towing, hauling, and other uses can make load requirements especially important.
Speed Rating
The speed symbol is part of the tire’s service description and should be considered along with the vehicle manufacturer’s requirements.
Choose the Right Tire Category
Once the correct size and specifications are confirmed, the next question is what kind of tire best matches the way you actually drive.
Winter Tires
Dedicated options for cold pavement, snow, ice, and winter conditions.
Explore Winter Tires →All-Terrain Tires
Mixed pavement, gravel, trucks, SUVs, rural roads, and rugged use.
Explore All-Terrain →All-Season Tires
Everyday road use, highway miles, comfort, and year-round practicality.
Explore All-Season →Compare Tire Types
Not sure which category makes sense? Compare the main tradeoffs first.
Compare Tires →The Same Size Can Serve Very Different Drivers
A highway-focused tire and a severe-snow-rated all-terrain tire can sometimes share the same basic size while being designed around very different priorities.
Consider your actual mix of snow, gravel, highway driving, towing, mountain roads, commuting, and seasonal use before selecting a tire.
See Available Tires in Your Size
Once authorized affiliate product feeds are connected, individual size pages can automatically show verified tire models, product images, specifications, retailer availability, and approved pricing where allowed.
Live products will be matched from authorized data sources — not scraped retailer pages.Start With Your Vehicle or Compare Tire Types
If you’re not confident about your tire size yet, start with your vehicle and verify fitment before shopping.
Black Hills Tire Guide provides independent educational tire information. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through affiliate links at no additional cost to you. Always verify tire size, load and speed requirements, wheel compatibility, vehicle fitment, pricing, availability, and installation requirements before purchasing.
Check current shopping options
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