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So you want to find out the size of your tires. Chances are this means you shopping for a new set and have never taken the time to check before. Well if you're going to go talk to tire salesmen you had better buff up on this. Don't let them teach you everything about your car or they will have more power over you, and I can say that because I was a tire salesperson for a year.

You can always check the side of your tire for this information. Every tire sold in the United States must have it printed on the sidewall. Some low profile tires are harder to read since the manufacturer was working with limited space to print on. Even though that is a good way to find this information, if you are driving a used vehicle the previous owner may have modified the tire size for one reason or the other so the most accurate source is the tire placard on the driver's side door frame, or your owner's manual. If the tire size has been modified you need to try to figure out why, and decide if you want to stick with what is on your vehicle or go back to the OE (original equipment) fitments.
The size may look something like this P225/60R16 92T, or LT255/70R17 110S. All newly manufactured tires will appear this way so unless your car hasn't been driven in ten or more years you'll find this information.
The letters "P" or "LT" are what kind or fitments they are, passenger or light truck. You do not necessarily need LT tires on a pick up but if they are on there already that probably means you will want to shop for them again. LT should signal to you that this is a sturdier tire meant for hauling and will have extra plies.
The first set of numbers, usually three digits long is the width of the tread in millimeters.
The second number, usually two digits long, is the height. It is presented as a percentage of the width (or 60% of the first number.) That being said a 225/60 16 is not the same height as a 235/60 16 because 60 will be the same percentage of a greater number.
The letter "R" means radial. Your tire is made of multiple plies that are molded together. The other kind of tire is a bias-ply tire which have long been out of use in the United States. Ever wonder why Michelin tire company names all of their tires with the letter X (LTX M/S, MXV4 plus?) That is because Michelin invented the first radial tire in what the company referred to as "project x" and commemorates the profitable occasion by naming their tires so. Bias-ply tires are sized differently so if you have already

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