How to Calculate Wheel Diameter

Wheel diameter, the distance of the line that goes through the center of the wheel, is necessary to know if you want to match the right tire to the right wheel. Wheels and tires are matched if the wheel diameter is the same as the tire's rim diameter. You can calculate wheel diameters with online wheel/tire calculators. These calculators will automatically calculate the wheel diameter given the tire size and rim size. You can also use the radius, the circumference or the area of the wheel to calculate the diameter.

Things You'll Need

  • Calculator
  • Pencil
  • Paper
  • Calculate the wheel diameter given the radius. Multiply the radius by 2 to obtain the diameter of the wheel. A wheel with a radius of 2 inches will have a diameter of 4 inches

  • Calculate the wheel diameter given the circumference. Divide the circumference by 3.14. The result will be the diameter. For example, the wheel diameter for a wheel with a circumference of 10 inches is 3.18 inches.

  • Calculate the wheel diameter given the area. Divide the area by 3.14. Take the square root of that result. Multiply the result by 2 to obtain the diameter. For a wheel with an area of 10 square inches, the diameter is 3.57 inches