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255/45 R21 Tyres

Everything we know about the 255/45 R21 tyre size: 3 owner reviews covering 42,613 miles of driving, and EU label data for the tyres you can actually buy in it.

  • 3owner reviews
  • 42,613 milescovered on them
  • 61tyres made in this size
255/45 R21 To scale, mm
Ø 763 255 115 21" 115

255/45 R21 EU tyre label data

EU label values are declared for each individual size, so the figures here are exact for 255/45 R21 rather than a range across a model. 55 tyres carry label data in this size. The most common load index is 106 (up to 950 kg per tyre). Speed ratings on offer: (Y) (301 km/h), Y (300 km/h), W (270 km/h), V (240 km/h), H (210 km/h), T (190 km/h), S (180 km/h). 24 tyres in this size carry the 3PMSF severe snow marking.

A Best wet grip

20 tyres in this size hold the top EU wet grip rating, class A. The highest scoring on Tyre Reviews:

A Lowest rolling resistance

The most fuel efficient choice: 10 tyres in this size reach rolling resistance class A. The highest scoring on Tyre Reviews:

68dB Quietest tyres

The quietest 255/45 R21 tyres are labelled at 68 dB external noise:

Label values come from the EU EPREL database and apply to the EU market versions of each tyre. Wet grip and rolling resistance run from class A (best) to E; noise is the measured drive-by figure. A good label is a floor, not a verdict - the tests and owner ratings above tell you far more.

What does 255/45 R21 mean?

A 255/45 R21 tyre is 255 mm wide, its sidewall is 45% of that width (115 mm) tall, and it fits a 21 inch wheel. That gives an overall diameter of roughly 763 mm.

255/45 R21 nominal dimensions
Section width255 mm
Sidewall height115 mm
Rim diameter21" (533 mm)
Overall diameter≈ 763 mm
Circumference≈ 2,397 mm
Revolutions per km≈ 417
Revolutions per mile≈ 671

Also written as

255/45R21 255/45 ZR21 255-45-21 255 45 21

Figures are calculated from the nominal size. A loaded, rolling tyre runs a few percent smaller, and true widths vary slightly between makes.

Comparing two sizes? Use the tyre size calculator →

What cars use 255/45 R21 tyres?

The cars most often running this size in our owner reviews. Each links to the best rated tyres for that exact car.

What drivers say about their 255/45 R21 tyres

The most recent owner reviews fitted in this size, in their own words.

87%
Continental SportContact 7 255/45 R21 6,050 miles September 16, 2026

The overall experience of the SC7 is quite good, but when the temperature drops to around 18 degrees Celsius, coupled with light rain and wet ground, the confidence one feels when driving at high speeds through corners is not very strong.

53%
Michelin Pilot Sport EV 255/45 R21 Chery Luxeed R7 10,563 miles September 8, 2025
My car is a Luxeed R7, weighing 2.3 tons and with 17,000 kilometers on it. It's rear-wheel drive and has a horsepower of just over 300. At that power, it tends to slip in corners. Its grip is the worst of any Michelin tire I've ever used. My biggest complaint about this tire is its wet grip, which is extremely poor and lacks any confidence. Comfort and quietness are decent, though. But considering it costs only 2,000 RMB, while a Continental SC6 only costs 1,800 RMB and a Pirelli PZero E only 1,200 RMB, the Michelin PSEV offers a very poor value for money. I won't consider it again for my next tire change.
50%
Pirelli Scorpion Zero All Season 255/45 R21 Volvo 26,000 miles August 9, 2023
Had as OEM on Volvo XC60 Recharge- never great, but with 5/32 left and 26k miles hydroplaning was scary. Hate that foam means even minor puncture is difficult to repair - replaced with Michelin Cross Climate 2 which appear nearly as quiet without foam and do not slip as much with aggressive acceleration

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Where this data comes from

Owner ratings are submitted through the review form on this site, naming the tyre, the size and the distance covered, and are checked by hand before publication. Test results come from independent published tyre tests indexed by size, and label values from the EU EPREL database.

About the TR Score

The Tyre Reviews Score rates each tyre out of 10 using independent test results and the full body of owner reviews, so you can check a car-specific ranking against the wider evidence.

Who does the testing

Every test published as a Tyre Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tyres independently since 2007.

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