What tyre size does my car need?
Enter your registration and we'll show the tyre sizes your car left the factory on.
- Official DVLA & DVSA data
- No sign-up required
- Unlimited free checks
Or find it on the car itself
The definitive answer is always on the car: the size is moulded into the sidewall of every tyre, and repeated on a placard in the driver's door shut. Our data tells you what a model was built with, which is what you want when the tyres already fitted might be the wrong size, or when you're pricing up a car before going to see it.
Reading a tyre size
205/55 R16
Width
205 mm
Tread width across the tyre
Profile
55%
Sidewall is 55% of the width — about 113 mm
Rim
16 in
Wheel diameter the tyre fits
The R means radial construction, which every modern car tyre uses. A sidewall also carries a load index and speed rating after the size (for example 91V). Those vary by engine and trim within one size, so match them to the tyre already fitted rather than guessing.
Tyre sizes by make and model
MINI
Coverage is the best-selling models on UK roads and grows over time. Can't see yours? The sidewall of a tyre already fitted is always the definitive answer.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I find out what tyre size my car needs?
- The size is moulded into the sidewall of every tyre on the car, reading like 205/55 R16 91V. Most cars also carry a placard in the driver's door shut, inside the fuel filler flap or in the handbook, listing the sizes and pressures the manufacturer specifies. Our guides below list the sizes each model left the factory on, which is the right starting point if the tyres currently fitted might be the wrong size.
- What do the numbers on a tyre mean?
- In 205/55 R16, the 205 is the tread width in millimetres, the 55 is the profile (the sidewall height as a percentage of the width, so 55% of 205mm is about 113mm), and the 16 is the wheel diameter in inches. The R means radial construction. The numbers and letter after the size, such as 91V, are the load index and speed rating.
- Why does one model have several tyre sizes?
- Manufacturers offer a range of wheel sizes across a model range: an entry-level car might come on 15-inch wheels while the sports trim gets 17s or 18s. All of those are factory fitments for the same model, so the size on your car depends on the wheels it was built with, and on anything a previous owner has changed since.
- Can I fit a different size to the one listed?
- Only within limits. Tyre size affects speedometer accuracy, handling and whether the tyre clears the bodywork and suspension, and fitting a tyre below the load index the vehicle requires is dangerous and can invalidate insurance. Stick to a size the manufacturer lists for your car unless a tyre specialist has confirmed an alternative is suitable.
- Where does this tyre data come from?
- Our own reference table of factory tyre sizes for the best-selling models on UK roads. It lists the options a model generation was offered with, not the wheels on one specific car, and it is a guide rather than a definitive record — the tyre on your car is the authority. Always confirm against the sidewall or the placard in the driver's door shut before buying.
Ready to check a vehicle?
MOT history, tax status and mileage records in seconds. Free, no sign-up.