In this Article, we will cover:

• What are Flotation Tires?
• What's the difference between a flotation tire and a metric tire?
• How do you read flotation tire sizing?
• Flotation tires p-Metric Equivalent?

What are Flotation Tires?

Flotation tires is an alternate format of tire sizing. Flotation tire sizes are typically larger truck tires, but ATV/UTV tires also fall into this category.

What's the difference between a flotation tire and a metric tire?

The major difference between a flotation tire and a metric tire is that flotation tires is measured in inches and metric tires in millimeters (except for diameter, which is measured in inches). Most of flotation tire sizes have a metric tire size equivalent.

How do you read flotation tire sizing?

This tire is sized 40x13.50R17LT.

Tire Diameter: The first number denotes the tire diameter or total height of the tire. Tire diameter of this Toyo Open Country tire is 40 inches.

Tire Width: The following number represents the width from sidewall to sidewall. This tire is 13.5 inches wide.

(R) Construction: This letter indicates the structure of the tire and can either be radial construction (R) or diagonal bias construction (D). The difference between radial and diagonal bias structure is the degree that a tire's piles run to the centerline. In radial construction, piles run at 90 degrees whereas piles diagonal bias construction run at degrees lower than 90.

Wheel or Rim Diameter: The wheel diameter or diameter of the hole within the tire is 17 inches. This tire would fit 17" diameter wheels.

Load Range: Sometimes after wheel diameter or underneath the flotation tire label is load range. This tire is marked with a load range C. This marking provides a comparative idea of the tire’s capacity to hold air and ability to carry weight.

Just like p-metric tires, Flotation tires feature U.S. DOT and Safety Standard Markings and load index and speed ratings. This

Flotation Tires p-Metric Equivalent

Most Flotation tires have p-Metric sized equivalents. For Example, the equivalent of 27x8.50R14 is 215/75R14. You can find the p-Metric equivalents using a tire size converter or send us a message below to give you your correct tire size.

We'd love to hear from you!

What's your current tire size? Need help finding the p-metric equivalent to your current tires? We can help!