![Difference Between 265 75r16 And 265 70r16 : [ 2022 Updated ]](https://myvehicletalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/265-75r16-720x405.jpeg)
When buying a new set of tires for your car, you might find yourself stuck choosing between 265 75r16 and 265 70r16. Both these tires are very popular, although 265 70r16 has been around for longer.
The 265 70r16 tires had already found application in a variety of cars, SUVs, and trucks when manufacturers came up with the 265 75r16. So, are 265 75r16 a better choice? Let’s find out about it below.
Difference between 265 75r16 and 265 70r16
The 265 75r16 tires are essentially a minor variation of the 265 70r16 tires. As you might notice, the tire index number is mostly the same, except for the 75 replacing the 70.
This might make you wonder how much the two tires differ from each other and which one is a better choice. After all, buying the right set of tires for your vehicle is crucial. Your car’s performance and handling depend largely on its tires.
While the tire index numbers might look unnecessarily complex, they serve an important purpose. The tire index provides you with details regarding the dimensions of the tire.
Quite essentially, this means 265 75r16 and 265 70r16 have slightly different dimensions from each other. Before we get to the differences, let’s check out how to read the tire indexes and what they mean.
The first part of the tire index represents the width of the tire in millimeters, followed by another number that stands for the height/width aspect ratio. The alphabet represents the construction type of the tire. The very last number in the tire index is for the rim diameter.
Width
As you might notice, both the tire indexes start with the number 265. This means 265 75r16 and 265 70r16 both have the same width. Both these tires are always 265 millimeters wide, regardless of the manufacturer.
In this regard, you might want to note that most vehicle rims can accommodate tires of this width. Considering that tire width is the biggest factor behind whether a tire would fit a particular rim, it’s safe to assume that both 265 75r16 and 265 70r16 should fit your vehicle. However, you’ll also have to check out other aspects to ensure the perfect fit.
Aspect ratio
This is where the two tires differ from each other. As we mentioned earlier, the second number in the tire index represents the aspect ratio between the height and the weight of the tire.
A 265 70r16 tire comes with an aspect ratio of 70. This implies that the height of this tire is 70% of that of its width. On the other hand, a 265 70r16 tire has a higher aspect ratio of 75, meaning its height is 75% its width.
Like tire width, the aspect ratio is also an important factor behind tire-rim compatibility. Although the difference in aspect ratio between the two tires is only five, it can have a major impact on whether or not you can use both tires on your car. For a car that’s compatible with 265 70r16 tires, a 265 75r16 tire may or may not fit very well.
Construction Type
The alphabet in the third segment of the tire index stands for the construction type of the tires, i.e., the manufacturing style. How the manufacturer assembles the tire has a direct influence on the handling and the durability of the tire.
Usually, the letter representing the construction type of a tire is either R or B. While R stands for radial type, B tires are bias play (cross ply) in design.
Radial tires are more sophisticated and hence more common. Both the tires in question are of radial construction too, as shown in their tire indexes. One can distinguish radial-type tires by their square-shaped footprints. These tires also have a cord extension running between the beads, at an angle of 90 degrees.
Rim Diameter
Ultimately, we have come to the last segment of the tire index. This number is the diameter of the rim, which usually ranges between 14 and 19 inches for standard road vehicles.
The diameter may be wider for optimized performance in costlier vehicles, such as SUVs, sports cars, and luxury cars.
In this case, both the tires have the same rim diameter – 16 inches. In this regard, you might want to note that unlike other parameters of a tire, we use inches when measuring the rim diameter.
Other differences
Besides the parameters that one can derive from the tire indexes, there are a few other areas in which one can differentiate the two tires too. These are:
- Revolutions per mile: As compared to the older 265 70r16 tires, the 265 75r16 tires show fewer revs per minute. This makes 265 75r16 a more fuel-efficient choice.
- Steering: You’ll find it easier to steer a car with a set of 265 75r16 tires as it offers better steering quality. This is due to the difference in the aspect ratios of the two tires – a higher aspect ratio ensures a quicker response time and a smoother ride.
- Speedometer reading: Switching to a different tire size will also result in a different speedometer reading until you reconfigure the speedometer. In this case, the 265 70r16 will have a 3.4% higher speedometer reading and vice-versa.
As you can see, the 265 75r16 and 265 70r16 tires aren’t very different from each other, besides their aspect ratio. Let us quickly summarize the dimensions of the two tires so that they’re easy to compare:
| Parameters | 265 70r16 | 265 75r16 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circumference | 2442 millimeters | 2526 millimeters | +83 millimeters (+3%) |
| Overall diameter | 777 millimeters | 804 millimeters | +27 millimeters (+3%) |
| Section width | 265 millimeters | 265 millimeters | 0 millimeters (0%) |
| Aspect Ratio | 70 | 75 | +5 (+3.5%) |
| Sidewall height | 186 millimeters | 199 millimeters | +13 millimeters (+7%) |
| Revolutions per km | 409 | 396 | -13 (-3%) |
| Price | USD 160 to USD 165 | USD 150 to USD 155 | -USD 10 |
Putting together all these differences, we can see that 265 75r16 is only slightly bigger than 265 70r16. The former offers greater stability and is slightly cheaper, while the latter is a bit more fuel-efficient.
If you are considering switching from 265 70r16 to 265 75r16 or vice-versa, go for it. As the differences are minor, there won’t be any drastic changes in your driving experience. Adapting to your new tire size shouldn’t be too hard.
Conclusion: Which one to choose & when
Ultimately, we come to the part for which you are on this page in the first place – deciding which tire is the better choice. Well, as 265 70r16 and 265 75r16 are very similar, you are good to go with either one.
If you want slightly higher speed and traction, 265 75r16 is a better choice. On the other hand, 265 70r16 is ideal for buyers to whom the RPM matters the most. Regardless, both tires are good options and you may feel free to choose whichever suits your preferences the best.
