1996 Volkswagen Jetta — GLS
The 1996 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 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.
185/60R14
| Section width | 185 mm |
|---|---|
| Aspect ratio (sidewall height) | 60% (111 mm) |
| Rim diameter | 14" |
| Overall tire diameter | ~22.7" |
| Revolutions per mile | ~887 |
Compare prices at:
195/60R14
| Section width | 195 mm |
|---|---|
| Aspect ratio (sidewall height) | 60% (117 mm) |
| Rim diameter | 14" |
| Overall tire diameter | ~23.2" |
| Revolutions per mile | ~869 |
Compare prices at:
What this size means for your Volkswagen Jetta
On the 1996 Volkswagen Jetta GLS, the factory 185/60R14 measures about 22.7″ in overall diameter with a 111 mm (4.4″) sidewall, and completes roughly 887 revolutions per mile. Its 60-series aspect ratio gives a taller, comfort-biased sidewall that favors ride quality and shrugs off rough pavement. In tire terms it is a small-diameter fitment typical of older or economy vehicles.
The 185/60R14 and 195/60R14 differ in both width and overall diameter (0.5″, 2.2%), which usually means a staggered front/rear setup — the two sizes are not interchangeable side to side, so match each to its correct axle.
On a vehicle of this age, the Volkswagen Jetta 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 Volkswagen Jetta trims
- GL 185/60R14 / 195/60R14
- GLX 205/50R15
- TDI 185/60R14 / 195/60R14
- Trek 185/60R14 / 195/60R14
- Wolfsburg Edition 185/60R14 / 195/60R14
Volkswagen Jetta tire sizes by year
- 2026 Volkswagen Jetta 225/45R18
- 2025 Volkswagen Jetta 225/45R18
- 2024 Volkswagen Jetta 225/45R18
- 2023 Volkswagen Jetta 225/45R18
- 2022 Volkswagen Jetta 225/45R18
- 2021 Volkswagen Jetta 225/45R18
- 2020 Volkswagen Jetta 225/45R18
- 2019 Volkswagen Jetta 225/45R18
- 2018 Volkswagen Jetta 225/40R18
- 2017 Volkswagen Jetta 225/40R18
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.