How to read OTR tire size 23.5-25 is a three-part sidewall job: section width, construction mark, and rim diameter. 23.5 is the approximate section width in inches. The hyphen means a diagonal (bias) construction in this marking family. 25 is the rim diameter in inches. A 23.5R25 is not the same tire; the R means radial. Confirm the machine plate, not a warehouse nickname, then match the wheel loader tire or dump size you actually run. Off-the-road tyre product standards sit under ISO ICS 83.160.99 (2026). For mine and quarry duty, keep the NIOSH mining program pages (2026) in the safety file next to the size list. China Baowu New Materials Co., Ltd. quotes mixed OTR sizes once width, construction, and rim are written clearly.
OTR sidewalls are crowded. Pattern codes, star or ply marks, and tube type sit next to the size, so crews often order by the biggest number they see. That is how a 23.5-25 bias loader tire lands on a machine that needs 23.5R25. The hyphen versus R is the first filter. The second filter is whether the rim you already own is a 25-inch OTR wheel with the right width.
You do not need a full standards library to place a wholesale order. You need a photo of the running sidewall, the machine plate, and a size written in the same format the factory uses.
Key takeaways
- Read 23.5 as width, the hyphen or R as construction, and 25 as rim diameter.
- 23.5-25 and 23.5R25 are different products; do not substitute them on a PO.
- Match the machine plate and the wheel you already have before you shop a catalog photo.
- Write TT or TL, plus ply or star mark, on the same line as the size.
- Mixed OTR containers are fine; mixed constructions on one machine are not.
How to read OTR tire size 23.5-25 without guessing the nickname
Start at the size group, not the pattern name. In 23.5-25, 23.5 is section width in inches and 25 is the rim diameter in inches. The hyphen is the construction flag for a bias carcass in this family. If you see 23.5R25, stop and treat it as radial. That one letter changes the casing, often the wheel fit practice, and the load mark system.
- Photograph the full sidewall, including size, TT/TL, and ply or star marks.
- Copy the size exactly as molded, including hyphen or R.
- Read the machine plate for recommended size and inflation, not the last tire a yard bought “because it looked close.”
- Confirm rim diameter 25 in and whether the wheel is set up for tube type or tubeless.
- Put width, construction, rim, and quantity on one inquiry line.
If any step fails, do not “round” 23.5-25 into a 26.5-25 because the loader looks big. Overall diameter and width both move, and fenders and duals will tell you after the container lands.
Hyphen, R, and what they change on a 25-inch OTR rim
A hyphen size such as 23.5-25 is the bias path. An R size such as 23.5R25 is the radial path. Both can sit on 25-inch OTR wheels, but you still match rim width, valve, and tube hardware. Bias OTR often ships tube type. Radial OTR is often tubeless. Neither rule is safe to assume without the sidewall.
The ISO ICS 83.160.99 tyre classification (2026) is the standards map for off-the-road tyres. It does not replace the number on your machine. Use it when a buyer asks “which ISO family is this,” then return to the molded size.
For quarry and mine fleets, keep NIOSH mining guidance (2026) next to maintenance rules. Size mistakes show up as instability and heat, which is a safety issue, not only a warranty issue.
Browse current OTR tire sizes only after the sidewall photo and plate agree. If you need dump-specific patterns, open the dump truck tire list with the same 23.5 / 25 logic.
Load marks that sit next to 23.5-25
The size is not the load rating. Ply rating on bias OTR and star rating on radial OTR live beside the size. Copy them. A 23.5-25 with one ply mark is not a substitute for the same size with a higher mark, and a one-star radial is not a three-star radial.
Tube type (TT) versus tubeless (TL) is the other sidecar mark. If the wheel needs a flap and tube, a TL tire will not make the assembly legal or airtight by hope. If you are converting, say so in the brief; do not hide it in a pattern name.
When two vendors write “23.5-25 loader” and nothing else, you do not have a spec. You have a category.
How to read OTR tire size 23.5-25 against the machine plate
The plate wins when the warehouse memory disagrees. Plates list recommended sizes, sometimes dual options, and inflation. If the plate says 23.5-25 and the parked tire says 23.5R25, you are already off spec. Decide whether you are matching the plate or converting the fleet. Conversion needs rim, load, and clearance checks, not a one-line swap.
Write the application: wheel loader, dump, or other. A 23.5-25 E3/E4 dump pattern is not an L3 loader pattern even when the size string matches. Pattern family belongs on the same PO line as the size.
China Baowu New Materials Co., Ltd. can mix loader and dump sizes in one container. That only works if each line is readable. “23.5 mixed” is how the wrong pattern is packed.
| Factor | 23.5-25 (hyphen) | 23.5R25 (radial) | Best for | Watch-out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction mark | Bias / diagonal | Radial | Match the mark on the running tire | Substituting R for hyphen on a PO |
| Typical hardware | Often tube type | Often tubeless | Match the wheel you own | Ordering TL onto a TT wheel |
| Load mark style | Ply rating (PR) | Star rating | Copy the mark beside the size | Assuming PR equals stars |
| Machine match | Common on older bias loaders | Common on radial loader/dump programs | Follow the plate | “Looks the same in the yard” |
| Wholesale line | Width-hyphen-rim | Width-R-rim | Clear packing lists | Nickname-only orders |
Bottom line: How to read OTR tire size 23.5-25 is width, hyphen, rim. If the letter R appears, you are in a different casing family. Pack only what the plate and wheel can actually run.
Photos and packing notes once the size is locked
After the size is locked, inspect before packing: molded size, pattern, quantity, and appearance. Keep the sidewall photo with the PO. Mixed mining tire and loader sizes can share a container if lots are labeled.
Send application, size, quantity, and destination port. WhatsApp +86 131 7335 1630 is the fast path if you need a second set of eyes on a blurry sidewall photo.
Questions buyers still ask
Does 23.5 mean metric 235?
No. In this OTR inch format, 23.5 is section width in inches, not a 235 mm passenger size. Do not convert it as if it were a car tire.
Can I fit 23.5-25 if my plate says 23.5R25?
Only as a planned conversion with rim, load, and clearance checks. It is not a silent substitute. Write the change, or keep the plate size.
What does the 25 mean?
Rim diameter in inches. If your wheel is not a 25-inch OTR rim, the size is already wrong no matter how close the loader looks.
Where do I put ply or star rating?
On the same PO line as 23.5-25 or 23.5R25. Size without a load mark is how under-rated tires get packed.
What if the sidewall is worn and I cannot read the hyphen?
Photograph the opposite side, the machine plate, and the rim stamping. Do not guess R versus hyphen from a catalog picture.
How to read OTR tire size 23.5-25 is straightforward once you split width, construction, and rim. Copy the molded string, match the machine plate, and send that line to Baowu Tires or WhatsApp +86 131 7335 1630 with quantity and destination port. Use the OTR program only after hyphen versus R is settled.