255/50/21 Car & Truck Tires

When you’re determining if you need new tires, the most important thing to watch is the tread depth. Once it gets too low, it's not safe to keep driving on them. Ideally, you should swap out the tires when the tread depth hits 4/32 of an inch, though the legal minimum is 2/32 of an inch.

Shopping for tires can be confusing because there are so many types that physically fit your vehicle. All-season tires handle mild year-round weather. Winter tires, or snow tires, are designed for cold weather. Summer tires suit performance vehicles in warm, dry conditions. For more information about tire types, check out the eBay Motors blog.

The size of your tire is usually written on the sidewall of your vehicle, such as: 225/50R17 94V. The first number (225) is the section width, then aspect ratio (40), followed by the construction type (R), and the rim diameter (17). Lastly, you'll see the load index (94) and the speed rating (V). Learn more about how to determine your tire size on the eBay Motors blog.

There are three common methods for measuring tire tread depth:

• Checking each tire’s tread wear indicator bars
• Measuring with a tire tread depth gauge
• Using the penny test

The tire speed rating is the maximum speed a tire can safely travel. If a vehicle exceeds the rating for the tire, it’s no longer considered safe. The load index is a number assigned to the tire designating its maximum load-carrying capacity. Ex. 94V shows a load rating of 94 (1477 lbs) and a speed rating of V (149mph).

eBay offers tire installation services through our installation partners, CarAdvise and SimpleTire. For eligible tires, you can choose to add installation during the checkout process and select your preferred installation shop and location.