What to Know About Flotation Sizes for Off-Roading

Do you know tires can float? Just kidding…but if you’ve ever gone off-roading and ended up with your tires sunk in the sand or sediment, you definitely would have recognized the purpose of a high-flotation tire. In this Tire Review Continental Tire Garage Studio video, let’s talk about why these tires are important and when to suggest them to off-road adventurers.

You’re probably used to hearing about flotation tire sizes when it comes to ag tires, like tractor tires working in the fields. Those are typically used to avoid soil compaction, and sort of have the same purpose when it comes to off-roading.

When we talk about flotation tires in off-road environments, these tires are meant to have a particularly wide footprint, which can be maximized by running lower inflation pressures, thus expanding the tire’s durable and reinforced sidewalls. So, rather than digging and clawing through terrain like sand and silt, these tires at low inflation pressures have an expanded contact patch that allows them to “float” on top of the surface of softer soils.

So, what’s the difference between high-flotation tires and metric tires?

Well, flotation tires are measured in inches, while metric tires are measured in millimeters (other than the wheel diameter, which is always measured in inches). While metric tire sizes provide you with the section width, aspect ratio and wheel diameter, flotation tire sizes include the total tire diameter, or tire height, the tire width and the wheel diameter. So, how do you read flotation sizes for trucks?

The first number, 33, is the tire diameter or overall height of the tire. Then, the second number, 12.50, shows the tire width from one sidewall to the other. The R next to it indicates if it is a radial or diagonal bias construction. Depending on its construction type, flotation tires will have the letters R for radial or D for diagonal. Lastly, the Rim Diameter, 17 in this example, indicates the rim diameter the tire needs to be fitted on.

Flotation tires also feature a load index and speed rating, as shown by the 114 and Q respectively. These indicate their load and speed capacity, much like with metric tire sizes.

Some of the most popular flotation sizes for pickups, SUVs and Jeeps are 33-, 35-, 37- and 40-inch fitments, according to TireBuyer.

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TJ Beroth comes from a long line of proud independent tire dealers that have demonstrated passion for serving their community. And TJ is no exception. TJ’s grandfather, Tom, started Mock-Beroth Tire & Automotive in 1966 with the Mock brothers in the greater Winston-Salem area. It started as a recapping business and has evolved to 11 retail locations today. TJ’s dad, T, took over for Tom in the late 70s and developed the motto of “do more, give more” within the communities the business serves. After T passed away from ALS last year, TJ took over the helm as president, overseeing the operations of seven stores under Beroth Tire & Automotive, as he continues his family’s legacy.