1996 Volvo 850 — R Wagon
The 1996 Volvo 850 R Wagon shipped with 2 different factory tire sizes, depending on the wheel package it left the factory with (this can also reflect a staggered front/rear setup). Check your tire sidewall or door placard to confirm which one applies to your vehicle.
This trim shipped with more than one tire size (staggered fitment, front/rear, or optional wheel package). Confirm which one matches your vehicle by checking your tire sidewall or door placard.
205/50R16
| Section width | 205 mm |
|---|---|
| Aspect ratio (sidewall height) | 50% (102.5 mm) |
| Rim diameter | 16" |
| Overall tire diameter | ~24.1" |
| Revolutions per mile | ~838 |
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205/45R17
| Section width | 205 mm |
|---|---|
| Aspect ratio (sidewall height) | 45% (92.3 mm) |
| Rim diameter | 17" |
| Overall tire diameter | ~24.3" |
| Revolutions per mile | ~831 |
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What this size means for your Volvo 850
On the 1996 Volvo 850 R Wagon, the factory 205/50R16 measures about 24.1″ in overall diameter with a 102.5 mm (4″) sidewall, and completes roughly 838 revolutions per mile. Its 50-series aspect ratio gives a balanced everyday-passenger profile — enough sidewall to soak up road shock while keeping steering response crisp. In tire terms it is a passenger (P-metric / Euro-metric) size.
The 205/50R16 and 205/45R17 roll within 0.2″ (0.8%) of each other in overall diameter, so they are interchangeable from a speedometer standpoint — the second size is an optional wheel package rather than a different rolling size.
On a vehicle of this age, the Volvo 850 may have been refitted with a slightly different replacement size somewhere in its life, so check the current sidewall — not just the factory spec — before buying.
Other 1996 Volvo 850 trims
- R Sedan 205/50R16 / 205/45R17
- Sedan 195/60R15
- Turbo Sedan 205/50R16 / 205/55R16
- Turbo Wagon 205/50R16 / 205/55R16
- Wagon 195/60R15
Volvo 850 tire sizes by year
- 1997 Volvo 850 205/55R16
- 1995 Volvo 850 195/60R15
- 1994 Volvo 850 195/60R15
- 1993 Volvo 850 195/60R15
How to read a tire size
A tire size like 225/45R17 breaks down into three parts:
the first number is the section width in millimeters
(the tire's width from sidewall to sidewall), the second is the
aspect ratio — the sidewall's height as a percentage of
that width — and the number after the "R" is the rim
diameter in inches. A letter prefix (P or LT) indicates
Passenger or Light Truck construction; its absence usually means
Euro-metric sizing.
Some trucks and off-road tires instead use "flotation" sizing, like
37X12.50R17 — here the numbers are the tire's overall
diameter and width in inches directly, with the rim diameter last.
Always verify against the tire information placard on your driver's-side door jamb or your owner's manual before purchasing — tire size can vary by factory option package even within the same trim.