Good for where the size is printed, explained by the maker
Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3
See it on PirelliOpens Pirelli's site. Not a referral link.
Guide: tire sizes
How to read a tire size
Everything you need to buy the right tire is printed on your door frame and on the tire itself.
- 235/65R17
- Width, sidewall ratio, radial, rim size
- 104H
- Load index and speed symbol
Federal tire rules (49 CFR) and the RAV4 LE's factory size.
On this page
Start with the placard, not the old tires
Federal rules require a "Tire and Loading Information" placard, normally on the driver's side B-pillar (the post you see when the driver's door is open). It must show the vehicle manufacturer's recommended cold tire inflation pressures and the tire size designation of the original equipment and spare tires1.
Use the placard rather than the tires on the car: a previous owner may have fitted a different size. If the placard is missing, the owner's manual or the automaker's specification sheet for your trim (like the ones we use on our vehicle pages) lists the factory size.
Decoding 235/65R17 104H
| On the tire | Part | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 235 | Width | Section width in millimetres |
| 65 | Aspect ratio | Sidewall height as a percentage of the width |
| R | Construction | Radial |
| 17 | Rim diameter | Fits a 17-inch wheel |
| 104 | Load index | A code for the maximum load per tire; match or exceed the placard |
| H | Speed symbol | A code for the maximum sustained speed; match or exceed the placard |
| P or LT in front | Service type | P-metric passenger tire or LT light truck tire; they carry different load ratings |
The example size is the 2026 RAV4 LE's factory size4; SimpleTire listed the Bridgestone Alenza A/S Ultra in 235/65R17 104H at $205.96 per tire on October 2, 20265.
The date code: how old is the tire?
Every tire carries a tire identification number (TIN) beginning with "DOT". Its last four digits are the date code: the first two give the week and the last two the year of manufacture. Federal rules give the example 0109, meaning the first full calendar week of 20092.
Check the date code on tires when they arrive. A new-looking tire can have sat in a warehouse; ask the seller about its policy on older stock before you mount them.
UTQG grades: treadwear, traction, temperature
Most passenger tires carry three Uniform Tire Quality Grades3.
Deep-tread winter-type snow tires, space-saver spares and tires for rims of 12 inches or less are excluded from these grades3. For mileage, the maker's tread life warranty is the more direct number (see tread life warranties compared).
Tire size questions
Can I fit a different size than the placard?
Sometimes, with the right wheels and a matching overall diameter and load rating, but it can affect the speedometer, stability systems and clearance. Ask a tire professional; this guide is not a fitment recommendation.
Where is the date code?
At the end of the tire identification number that starts with "DOT" on the sidewall: week, then year2.
Tires in the example size and others
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Good for a size and vehicle chooser on the maker's page
Michelin Defender2
See it on MichelinOpens Michelin's site. Not a referral link.
Good for per-tire prices in your exact size
SimpleTire SUV tires
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Also on SimpleTire's site
About this page
We do not earn anything from purchases today. Every product link is a plain link to the merchant's own page, without an affiliate code. We may join merchants' affiliate programs in the future, and this notice will say so before that changes.
Tire prices change often and depend on the exact size, load index and speed rating. Every price here is the retailer's per-tire price on the date shown, before installation, fees and tax. The retailer's own page is the final word on price, availability and terms.
Always confirm the size on your own vehicle's Tire and Loading Information placard before you buy. TreadFit Guide does not sell or install tires and does not take your details.
