What is the difference between R15 and R16 tires?
2 Answers
The difference between R15 and R16 tires lies in the rim diameter: R15 indicates a rim diameter of 15 inches, while R16 indicates a rim diameter of 16 inches. Tires are marked with tire type codes, rim diameter, and load index. For example, in 175/70R1477H, 175 represents the tire width of 175MM, and 70 indicates that the tire's aspect ratio is 70%. Tires, commonly referred to as such, are typically made of wear-resistant rubber materials and can be divided into solid tires and pneumatic tires. Pneumatic tires consist of an inner tube and an outer tire. Generally, manufacturers set the service life of tires at 3 years. If a vehicle is driven 20,000 kilometers per year, replacement may be considered after 2 to 3 years.
I just upgraded to R16 tires. The main difference in size compared to R15 is that the wheel diameter is larger, making the overall tire slightly taller. In daily driving, the steering feels much more precise, and the grip during cornering is noticeably better—unlike R15 tires, which tend to slip more easily at high speeds. However, this also leads to a slight increase in fuel consumption; in city driving, it can cost a few extra liters per 100 kilometers. On the plus side, they look much cooler, giving the car a high-performance vibe. The downside is that the car must originally support R16 tires; otherwise, you’d need to change the rims, which can be quite costly. After driving several types of cars, I think R16 is better suited for those who enjoy spirited driving, but for daily commuting, R15 is more cost-effective—cheaper to maintain and with a shorter tire replacement cycle.
