Tyre size explained: what does 205/55 R16 91V mean?

On the sidewall of every car tyre there is a code such as 205/55 R16 91V. It contains everything you need to know to choose the right tyre: how wide and how high the tyre is, which rim it fits, how much weight it can carry and how fast you may drive on it. This article takes you through the code step by step, with a table for the load index and the speed rating, and shows where to find the sizes approved for your car.

By the team at Autobedrijf Willemsbrug, RDW-approved APK (MOT) test station since 1979 · Updated 7 November 2026

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The short answer

In 205/55 R16 91V, 205 is the width of the tyre in millimetres, 55 is the height of the sidewall as a percentage of that width, R stands for radial, 16 is the rim diameter in inches, 91 is the load index (load capacity, 91 = 615 kg per tyre) and V is the speed rating (up to 240 km/h). The sizes approved for your car are in the owner’s manual, on the certificate of conformity (CoC) and often on a sticker in the door pillar or behind the fuel flap. A new tyre must have at least the load index and speed rating that the manufacturer specifies.

Tyre service at Autobedrijf Willemsbrug: new summer, winter and all-season tyres for all makes and sizes, including electric cars, vans and motorhomes up to 3,500 kg. We tell you the price in advance based on your registration number, including fitting, balancing and disposal of the old tyres. Call +31 10 479 00 00 with your registration number and we tell you the price and when we can do it. You bring the car and we call you when it is ready. A loan bike is free while one is available. Saturdays too. Our team speaks English. More about our tyre service

What does each part of 205/55 R16 91V mean?

The tyre size is made up of five parts that you read from left to right: width, profile height, construction with rim size, load index and speed rating. Manufacturers use the same notation worldwide, so this explanation applies to every car tyre, whether you bought the car in the Netherlands, the UK or anywhere else.

Part Example Meaning
Width 205 The width of the tyre in millimetres, measured from sidewall to sidewall.
Profile (aspect ratio) 55 The height of the sidewall as a percentage of the width. 55% of 205 mm is about 113 mm. A lower number means a lower, stiffer sidewall.
Construction R R stands for radial: the cord layers in the carcass run across the direction of travel. Almost every modern car tyre is radial.
Rim diameter 16 The diameter of the rim in inches. One inch is 25.4 mm, so 16 inches is about 406 mm.
Load index 91 The load capacity per tyre. 91 stands for 615 kg. See the table below.
Speed rating V The highest speed the tyre is approved for. V stands for 240 km/h. See the table below.

How a tyre size is built up. Sources: ANWB and Pirelli, consulted 7 November 2026.

Some tyres have a letter in front of the size. P (passenger) is an American marking for car tyres. LT stands for light truck. In Europe you will more often see a C after the rim size, for example 215/65 R16C. That is a van tyre with a reinforced carcass for a higher load. CP is a motorhome tyre, designed for a high tyre pressure and for crosswinds on a tall body.

What does the load index mean?

The load index is a number that tells you how many kilograms one tyre may carry at the specified tyre pressure. The number itself is not a weight. You look it up in a table. Load index 91 stands for 615 kg per tyre, so 2,460 kg for four tyres. Load index 104 stands for 900 kg per tyre. You often see that number on tyres for heavy electric cars and SUVs.

Load index Load capacity per tyre Load index Load capacity per tyre
75 387 kg 101 825 kg
76 400 kg 102 850 kg
77 412 kg 103 875 kg
78 425 kg 104 900 kg
79 437 kg 105 925 kg
80 450 kg 106 950 kg
81 462 kg 107 975 kg
82 475 kg 108 1,000 kg
83 487 kg 109 1,030 kg
84 500 kg 110 1,060 kg
85 515 kg 111 1,090 kg
86 530 kg 112 1,120 kg
87 545 kg 113 1,150 kg
88 560 kg 114 1,180 kg
89 580 kg 115 1,215 kg
90 600 kg 116 1,250 kg
91 615 kg 117 1,285 kg
92 630 kg 118 1,320 kg
93 650 kg 119 1,360 kg
94 670 kg 120 1,400 kg
95 690 kg 121 1,450 kg
96 710 kg 122 1,500 kg
97 730 kg 123 1,550 kg
98 750 kg 124 1,600 kg
99 775 kg 125 1,650 kg
100 800 kg

Load index 75 to 125 according to the Pirelli table, consulted 6 November 2026. For cars, SUVs and light vans.

A higher load index than specified is allowed. According to Pirelli, a higher load capacity causes no problems, while a lower load capacity than specified is not allowed. A tyre that carries too little gets too hot when the car is fully loaded and can blow out. Pay attention to this with an electric car, a motorhome or a van: they weigh more than they look. If the tyre is marked XL (extra load) or RF (reinforced), it is a reinforced version with a higher load index than the standard tyre in the same size. Continental also uses the marking HL (high load) for tyres with an even higher load capacity, intended for heavy electric cars.

What does the speed rating mean?

The speed rating is a letter that gives the highest speed the tyre has been tested for. The letter comes after the load index. A tyre with rating T is approved up to 190 km/h, a tyre with rating V up to 240 km/h. The order is not fully alphabetical: H sits between U and V.

Rating Maximum speed Found on
L 120 km/h Off-road vehicles and light commercial vehicles
M 130 km/h Emergency and spare wheels
N 140 km/h Emergency and spare wheels
Q 160 km/h Winter tyres for four-wheel-drive vehicles
R 170 km/h Smaller heavy-duty commercial vehicles
S 180 km/h Family cars and MPVs
T 190 km/h Family cars and MPVs
U 200 km/h Saloons and coupes
H 210 km/h Sports saloons and coupes
V 240 km/h Sports cars
Z (ZR) over 240 km/h Sports cars
W 270 km/h Supercars
Y 300 km/h Supercars
(Y) over 300 km/h Supercars

Speed ratings and vehicle types according to Pirelli, consulted 7 November 2026. According to Continental, ZR in the size (for example 245/40 ZR18) means a tyre for more than 240 km/h.

The rule is: at least the speed rating that the manufacturer specifies. Higher is allowed. Winter tyres are the exception. According to the ANWB, winter tyres with an M+S marking may have a lower speed rating than specified for the car, but you may then not drive faster than that lower rating allows. For winter tyres the ANWB advises rating T (up to 190 km/h) or H (up to 210 km/h), because those perform better in snow than tyres with a higher rating.

Which other markings are on the sidewall?

Besides the size, there are a few more markings on the tyre that matter when you choose and fit it. These are the main ones:

  • M+S (or M.S, M&S): mud and snow. A marking by the manufacturer without a compulsory test. On its own it says little about performance in snow.
  • 3PMSF (mountain with a snowflake): the tyre has passed the snow test of UNECE regulation 117. In Germany, since 1 October 2024 only a tyre with this symbol counts as a winter tyre, including an all-season tyre. See winter tyre rules in the Netherlands and abroad.
  • DOT code: the last four digits are the week and year of production. 4521 is week 45 of 2021. How old a tyre may be is explained in when should you replace your tyres.
  • Rotation with an arrow: the tyre has a direction of rotation and must be fitted so that the arrow points forwards. At the APK (MOT), the compulsory periodic vehicle inspection in the Netherlands, the wrong direction of rotation is a fail.
  • Outside and Inside: an asymmetric tyre with a fixed outer and inner side. The inspector checks this too.
  • TWI: tread wear indicator. Marks the position of the wear indicators in the grooves, small blocks 1.6 mm high.
  • XL, RF, HL: reinforced version with a higher load capacity (see above).
  • Manufacturer codes such as MO, N0, AO, * or RO1: the tyre was developed for or approved by a car manufacturer (for example Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Audi, BMW). Not compulsory, but on some cars the best match for the set-up of the chassis.

Which tyre size is approved for my car?

You will find the tyre sizes approved for your car in the owner’s manual, on the certificate of conformity (CoC, in Dutch certificaat van overeenstemming or CVO) and often on a sticker in the door pillar on the driver’s side or behind the fuel flap. These are the places the ANWB lists. The quickest check is the tyre that is on the car now, but be careful: a previous owner may have fitted a different size. That is why we look up the approved sizes for your car using your registration number (in Dutch: kenteken) in the type approval data, and compare them with what is on the tyre.

The ANWB advises keeping to the original size. A different rim size is possible, for example 18 inches instead of 17, but the tyre then needs a lower sidewall so that the overall rolling circumference stays almost the same. The ANWB example: 225/45 R18 can be replaced by 225/40 R19. According to the ANWB, the circumference may be at most 1.5% larger and 2% smaller than the original size. If you go further, the speedometer reads wrong, ABS and ESP work with wrong data and the tyre can rub against the wheel arch. According to the ANWB, a wrong size can also mean a fail at the APK or problems with your insurance.

With every size, the load index and speed rating must be at least what the manufacturer specifies. If you are not sure, call us on +31 10 479 00 00 with your registration number. We tell you which sizes are approved and what the tyres cost, including fitting and balancing.

What does the APK check about tyre size?

At the APK, the tyres on one axle must have the same size marking. That is in article 5.2.27 of the Regeling voertuigen (the Dutch vehicle regulations), which the RDW, the Dutch vehicle authority, works out in its APK handbook. Different brands on one axle are allowed, different sizes are not. Front and rear may differ, as on many sporty cars and BMWs with wider rear tyres. A spare wheel of a different size may not be fitted during the inspection.

The inspector also checks the direction of rotation (Rotation) and the inner and outer side (Inside, Outside) on asymmetric tyres. The inspector does not check whether the load index and the speed rating are correct. A value that is too low is unsafe, though. All the requirements on tread, damage and tyre pressure at the inspection are in tyre tread depth and the APK: what is the requirement.

How do we choose the right size for your car?

If you call us with your registration number, we check four things before we suggest a tyre. First the approved sizes from the type approval. Then the load index against the weight of your car, with extra attention for electric cars, motorhomes and vans up to 3,500 kg. Then the speed rating the manufacturer specifies, for winter tyres according to the rule above. And finally the EU tyre label of the tyres that qualify, so that you can choose between a budget tyre, a mid-range tyre and a premium tyre with the same size and markings. How to read that label is explained in the EU tyre label explained.

During fitting, the mechanic compares the code on the new tyre once more with the order and with the tyre on the other side of the axle. Then we balance each wheel. More about how we work, on Saturdays too, is on tyre replacement in Rotterdam.

Frequently asked questions

Can I fit a tyre with a higher load index?

Yes. According to Pirelli, a higher load capacity than the manufacturer specifies causes no problems. A lower load index is not allowed. The tyre then gets too hot when the car is fully loaded and can be damaged.

Can I fit a lower speed rating than specified?

No, except on winter tyres with an M+S marking. According to the ANWB, a lower speed rating is allowed on those, but you may then not drive faster than that rating allows. For summer and all-season tyres, keep to at least the specified rating.

What is the difference between 91H and 91V?

The load capacity is the same (615 kg per tyre). The difference is in the speed rating: H is approved up to 210 km/h and V up to 240 km/h. If the manufacturer specifies V, an H tyre is not an approved replacement.

Can I fit wider tyres on my car?

Yes, if the size is in the type approval of your car or the rolling circumference stays within the ANWB margin (at most 1.5% larger, 2% smaller) and the tyre does not rub. A wider tyre often gives more grip on a dry road, but more rolling resistance, more noise and earlier aquaplaning. Call us with your registration number and we check which sizes are approved.

What does XL mean on a tyre?

XL stands for extra load. The tyre has a reinforced carcass and a higher load index than the standard tyre in the same size. Manufacturers often specify XL for heavier cars, such as SUVs and electric cars. If your current tyre is marked XL, choose XL again.

What does ZR mean in a tyre size?

ZR in the size, for example 245/40 ZR18, means the tyre is approved for more than 240 km/h. The actual maximum speed is in the speed rating after the load index, usually W (270 km/h) or Y (300 km/h).

Is the tyre size on the Dutch registration certificate?

No. The registration certificate (in Dutch: kentekenbewijs) does not list the tyre size. You will find the approved sizes in the owner’s manual, on the certificate of conformity (CoC) and often on a sticker in the door pillar or behind the fuel flap. We look the sizes up for you using your registration number.

Can the front and rear have different tyre sizes?

Yes, if the manufacturer specifies or allows it. The tyres on one axle must have the same size, otherwise it is a fail at the APK. With different sizes front and rear you cannot swap the tyres from front to rear.

Which tyres fit your car?

Call +31 10 479 00 00 with your registration number. We look up the approved sizes, check the load index and speed rating, and tell you the price of the tyres in advance, including fitting, balancing and disposal of the old tyres.

You will find us at Boterdiep 11 in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, close to Stadion Feijenoord (De Kuip). We work by appointment. Call us with your registration number and we tell you the price and when we can do it.

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