What Are 35-Inch Tires In Metric? | Common Metric Matches

A 35-inch truck tire usually matches closest to sizes like LT315/70R17 or LT285/65R20, not one single metric code.

If you’re trying to match a 35-inch tire to a metric size, the short version is simple: there isn’t one exact metric twin that fits every wheel. “35-inch” is a flotation size, while metric tires spell out width, sidewall ratio, and wheel diameter. That means the closest match changes with the rim you’re using.

That’s why one driver calls a 35-inch tire a 315/70R17, while another points to 325/65R18 or 285/65R20. They’re all circling the same target: a tire that lands near the mid-34-inch range once mounted and inflated. That little gap surprises people, yet it’s normal.

What Are 35-Inch Tires In Metric For Common Wheel Sizes?

Most people asking this question want the metric size that lines up with the wheel they already own. In day-to-day shopping, these are the matches that come up most often:

• 17-inch wheel: LT315/70R17 is the size most people mean.
• 16-inch wheel: LT315/75R16 lands close and keeps a tall sidewall.
• 18-inch wheel: LT285/75R18, LT305/70R18, and LT325/65R18 are all in the same neighborhood.
• 20-inch wheel: LT285/65R20 is the common metric stand-in.

That list works because a flotation size like 35×12.50R17 gives you the overall tire height first, while a metric size gives you the section width first. On a sidewall, the two formats tell the story in different ways. Goodyear’s tire size chart shows that difference clearly: flotation sizes start with overall diameter, while metric sizes start with width.

Why There Isn’t One Exact Metric Twin

A “35” is a label, not a promise that every tire measures a true 35.00 inches on your truck. Brand, tread depth, wheel width, load range, and air pressure all nudge the real mounted height up or down. So when you convert 35-inch tires to metric, you’re usually picking the closest practical fit, not chasing a perfect one-number answer.

That’s also why two tires with the same printed size can stand a bit different next to each other. Mud-terrain tread blocks are deeper. Some sidewalls run squarer. Some tires are measured on a wider test rim than yours. The printed size gets you close; the spec sheet settles the details.

How Metric Sizing Gets You To A 35

A metric code like LT315/70R17 breaks down like this:

• 315 = section width in millimeters
• 70 = sidewall height as 70% of the width
• 17 = wheel diameter in inches

To estimate overall height, double the sidewall height, convert it to inches, then add the wheel diameter. Using that math, LT315/70R17 comes out to about 34.36 inches. That’s why it’s treated as a 35-inch class tire even though the math lands a touch short.

Why Many “35s” Measure Shorter Than The Name Suggests

Plenty of shoppers expect every 35-inch tire to stand at a true 35 on the truck. Then they read spec sheets and see numbers like 34.4 or 34.8. That’s not a mistake. It’s how the market works.

Tire Rack’s light-truck size comparison groups LT315/70R17 and several flotation 35-inch sizes in the same band and also notes that real diameters vary by tread design and molded tread depth. That lines up with what buyers see across all-terrain and mud-terrain listings every day.

So if you’re asking what 35-inch tires are in metric, the safest answer is “the closest size for your wheel diameter,” not “one magic metric code.”

Metric Size	Estimated Diameter	Where It Usually Fits
LT315/75R16	34.60 in	16-inch setups that want a tall sidewall
LT315/70R17	34.36 in	The common 17-inch match for a 35
LT305/70R17	33.81 in	A slightly smaller step for tighter clearance
LT285/75R18	34.83 in	18-inch wheels with a narrower footprint
LT305/70R18	34.81 in	18-inch wheels that want more width
LT325/65R18	34.63 in	Wide 18-inch setups chasing a 35 feel
LT285/65R20	34.59 in	The usual 20-inch stand-in for a 35
LT275/65R20	34.07 in	A slimmer 20-inch choice with more room

How To Pick The Right Metric Match For Your Truck

Start with the wheel diameter you already have. That wipes out half the confusion right away. If you’re on 17s, LT315/70R17 is where most searches end. If you’re on 20s, LT285/65R20 is the name that keeps popping up.

Next, decide what matters more on your truck: width, clearance, or sidewall height. A wider tire can fill the wheel well better and add some grip off-road, but it also raises the odds of rubbing the control arm, sway bar, mud flap, or fender liner. A narrower tire often clears more easily and cuts through slush, rain, and loose dirt with less fuss.

Check These Before You Buy

• Wheel width: Not every metric match likes the same rim width.
• Suspension and lift: A tire that fits one truck may rub on another with the same badge.
• Load range: E-load tires ride stiffer than C or D on many half-ton trucks.
• Spare-tire space: A 35-class tire may not fit in the stock spare location.
• Speedometer shift: A taller tire can make the speed read low.
• Axle gearing: Bigger tires soften acceleration and can change towing feel.

That last point gets brushed aside a lot. A bigger, heavier tire doesn’t just change the look. It changes how the truck leaves a stop, how it holds top gear, and how the brakes feel on a downhill grade. If you tow, haul, or spend lots of time in town, that matters.

When LT315/70R17 Is The Right Answer

This size is the go-to answer when someone says “metric equivalent of 35s” on a 17-inch wheel. It has the right stance, it’s widely sold, and many aftermarket wheel and lift packages are built around it. If you see forum posts, tire shops, and fitment charts circling one metric size for a 35 on 17s, this is the one they keep landing on.

When Another Metric Size Makes More Sense

If your truck runs 18s or 20s, copying a 17-inch answer won’t help. On 18s, LT285/75R18 and LT305/70R18 both hit the 35-inch class with different widths. On 20s, LT285/65R20 is the usual answer. If your truck has tight clearance or you want less wander on the road, a narrower option can be the smarter pick.

Your Goal	Metric Pattern To Watch	Main Trade-Off
Closest 35 feel on 17s	LT315/70R17	Width can create rubbing on stock setups
Tall sidewall on 16s	LT315/75R16	Fewer wheel choices than 17s or 18s
Narrower 35-class tire on 18s	LT285/75R18	Not as wide or square-looking
Wider stance on 18s	LT305/70R18 or LT325/65R18	More width can mean trimming or offset changes
35-class size on 20s	LT285/65R20	Shorter sidewall than a 17-inch setup

Common Mistakes That Trip People Up

The biggest mistake is treating the inch number like a fixed ruler. It isn’t. A 35 from one brand can sit taller or shorter than another brand’s 35. The next mistake is forgetting that wheel diameter locks in the choices. A 35×12.50R17 and a 285/65R20 can be close in height, yet they fit totally different wheels.

Another one is chasing height while ignoring width. Plenty of rubbing problems come from the tire being too wide, not too tall. A truck that clears a 34.8-inch tire may still fight a 12.5-inch section width on the wrong wheel offset.

There’s also the load-range trap. Two tires can share the same size and feel nothing alike on the road. A heavier carcass, stiffer sidewall, and deeper tread can change ride quality more than the printed size itself.

The Metric Match Most Buyers End Up With

If you want the cleanest one-line answer, here it is: LT315/70R17 is the metric size most often treated as the match for a 35-inch tire. That said, it’s only the main answer for trucks on 17-inch wheels.

Once the wheel size changes, the metric match changes too. LT315/75R16, LT285/75R18, LT305/70R18, LT325/65R18, and LT285/65R20 all live in the same 35-inch class. Pick the one that suits your wheel, your clearance, and how you use the truck. That gets you closer than chasing the label alone.