30206 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 30206 is a ISO 355 radial bearing sized 30 x 62 x 17.25 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 30 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 62 mm |
| Width B | 17.25 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel, stamped ribbon (J-type) |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 50 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 44 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 4.8 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 9000 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 11000 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 230 g |
| Manufacturer designation | SKF 30206 |
| Standard | ISO 355 |
| Catalog version | SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 8.1 metric single-row TRB |
| Last verified | 2026-09-26 |
Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 8.1 metric single-row TRB) · extracted 2026-09-26
Parameters extracted from the official SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 8.1 metric single-row TRB); SKF® and SKF Explorer® are trademarks of AB SKF, used here for identification only — mpnbase is not an authorized SKF distributor. Boundary dimensions are ISO 15 interchangeable; current production values may differ, verify at skf.com.
Dimensions in inches & 30200-series range
| Bore d | 1.181 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 2.441 in |
| Width B | 0.679 in |
| ISO bore code | 06 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 16 mm |
| Smallest bore in 30200-series | 15 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in 30200-series | 580 mm |
| Width range across 30200-series | 11.75–104 mm |
| Bore position in 30200-series (smallest first) | 6 of 37 |
| Bore above smallest 30200-series size | 15 mm |
Mounting, setting & life for 30206
Fits & mounting
- Tapered bearings are separable: press the cup square into the housing and fit the cone on the shaft — usually an interference fit on both seats in wheel/hub positions.
- Mount the cone by induction heating (max 120 °C); never strike the cage or rollers directly.
- Shaft and housing shoulders must clear the ring chamfers so the cone and cup seat fully against their faces.
Setting — the step deep-groove bearings never need
- After seating, set the assembly to a defined end play or preload with the locknut/shim arrangement; locknut torque seats the parts — it is not the final adjustment.
- General free-running positions: back the nut off while measuring with a dial indicator to a small end play (commonly around 0.05–0.15 mm for medium metric hubs — follow the OEM value).
- Pinions and stiff arrangements run a controlled preload; too much preload is the classic cause of early spalling and heat.
- Sealed factory-set units exist for specific designations — the open 30206 assumes the application sets and lubricates it.
Lubrication
Open TRBs are lubricated by the application. Fill the bearing with grease (typically around one third to one half of the free cavity — overpacking a TRB causes churning heat) and provide a relubrication path; intervals depend on contamination and temperature, not on catalogue rating alone.
Why the equivalent load matters more here
TRBs carry combined radial and axial loads, so the dynamic equivalent load P is computed with the bearing's e, X and Y factors for the actual thrust ratio — using the radial load alone over-estimates life badly.
Worked L10 life example (illustrative duty)
For roller bearings the life exponent is p = 10/3: L10h = (C/P)10/3 · 106 / (60·n). Taking an example equivalent load P = 10 kN (20% of C) at n = 1,500 r/min — substitute the real P from the X/Y calculation:
C = 50.0 kN → L10h ≈ 2,375 hours
Choosing a series at the same 30 mm bore
| Series | Open execution | OD × width T | C (kN) | C0 (kN) | Limiting speed (r/min) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 320xx | 32006 | 55 × 17 | 46.0 | 47.0 | 16,100 |
| 302xx | 30206 | 62 × 17.25 | 50.0 | 44.0 | 11,000 |
| 322xx | 32206 | 62 × 21.25 | 63.0 | 62.0 | 14,600 |
| 332xx | 33206 | 62 × 25 | 79.7 | 76.5 | 11,000 |
| 303xx | 30306CA | 72 × 20.75 | 65.0 | 58.5 | 5,500 |
| 323xx | 32306C | 72 × 28.75 | 88.0 | 94.0 | 5,500 |
| 313xx | 31306 | 72 × 20.75 | 58.3 | 50.0 | 9,500 |
Different series at the same bore are not drop-in swaps — OD, width and contact angle all change — and a cone number alone never identifies a complete set. Verify matches per the cross-reference levels guide; envelope variants are on the 30×62×17.25 envelope page.
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30206 | ISO 15 | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | ISO 15 boundary-dimension envelope; standard interchange — confirm clearance class and precision with the supplier. |
| 30206-NTN | NTN | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | Identical ISO 15 envelope, seal and ratings band — standard interchange; re-verify precision class and clearance per supplier. |
Interchange levels: full standard interchange · partial verify parameters · verify manual confirmation required. Links resolve to the equivalent model's specification page where available.
How the 30206 model number is decoded
Ordering number SKF 30206 in SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000 denotes a single-row tapered roller bearing for a 30 mm shaft, standard section, with an open pressed-steel-cage execution and one-direction axial capacity.Numbering ties the bearing to its envelope: 30206 means tapered-roller type 3, standard section series 0, 30 mm bore — which is why the 62×17.25 mm outline swaps dimensionally with other ISO 355 bearings of the same code. SKF lists the plain number as the basic execution; letter suffixes such as B denote a steeper contact angle and are different order numbers. Catalogue mass 230 g for the 30×62×17.25 mm open execution covers the pressed-steel cage and standard roller complement; sealed or special-clearance variants differ slightly in mass and carry their own order numbers. A single 30206 locates the shaft in one axial direction only; mount it against a second bearing in O (back-to-back) or X (face-to-face) arrangement, and set the running clearance by the mounting procedure — not by feel.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- machine-tool spindles
- belt-driven fan and blower shafts
- axle-boxes in material-handling equipment
- automotive and light-truck wheel hubs
Known failure patterns
- cup or cone misalignment when the separable rings are not seated square during mounting
- loose cup rotation in the housing when the specified press fit is not achieved
- thermal preload runaway in an O-arrangement pair when inner-ring heat expands the setting
- uneven load sharing in a pair when spacer faces are not parallel to the bore
- pressed-steel cage wear or fracture after prolonged running above the limiting speed
- fretting corrosion on a loose rotating shaft seat
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- On this 30 mm bore, interference and temperature rise consume clearance inside a preloaded pair; calculate the residual clearance after mounting and at operating temperature — an over-tight 30206 pair heats, loses setting control and smears the roller-rib contact.
- The 302 series at 30 mm bore (62×17.25 mm) is the standard tapered-roller envelope; stepping to a 32206 or 32306 changes OD, width and heat generation — it is not a drop-in swap when the housing and speed are fixed.
- The tapered contact angle creates an induced axial load under pure radial force; include it in the 30206 rating calculation (and account for it in both bearings of a pair) or the unloaded bearing skids its rollers.
- When the outer ring rotates, reverse the fit logic and provide cup location; the tapered contact of 30206 pushes the rings apart under load, so a non-located cup walks its seat even when the shaft is fixed.
- The 30206 shares its ISO 355 envelope with other tapered bearings of the same code but is not a drop-in replacement for a ball bearing: it cannot run effectively under pure radial load without a minimum axial load, and a deep-groove bearing cannot replace its combined-load duty.
- The 50/44 kN ratings are SKF catalogue 17000 values for the basic execution; SKF can revise internal geometry without changing the order number, so keep the catalogue version (PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN, 2018) with the specification and re-verify for critical drives.
- SKF lists several executions of 30206 (basic, B steeper angle, Q/J2 clearance variants); they are not interchangeable order numbers — quote the full SKF 30206 designation when purchasing and match the execution to the mounting arrangement.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions and catalogue data of 30206?
The SKF 30206 is a single-row tapered roller bearing with 30 mm bore, 62 mm outer diameter and 17.25 mm width (1.181 × 2.441 × 0.679 in) per ISO 355. From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: basic dynamic load rating C 50 kN, C0 44 kN, fatigue load limit Pu 4.8 kN, reference speed 9,000 r/min, limiting speed 11,000 r/min, mass about 230 g. It is an open, separable bearing with a pressed-steel cage.
How does the 30206 bore code work?
The last two digits of 30206 are bore code 06, so 06 × 5 = 30 mm bore. The 62 mm OD and 17.25 mm width come from the ISO 355 dimension-series plan, shared with other tapered bearings of the same code.
What do the 30206 series and basic execution designations mean?
The leading 3 marks a single-row tapered roller bearing; the second digit 0 is the ISO 355 series (standard section). The SKF catalogue lists the ISO 355 dimension-series code after the bare number. A steeper-contact-angle variant (B suffix) is a different order number and is not interchangeable with the basic execution.
Can a single 30206 take axial load in both directions?
No — one single-row tapered roller bearing reacts thrust in one direction only, and under radial load its contact angle induces an axial force. Use two bearings as a matched pair: O (back-to-back) for a rigid, moment-resisting arrangement, X (face-to-face) where thermal expansion must be tolerated, or tandem where one-direction thrust is shared.
How does 30206 compare with a ball bearing of the same bore?
A tapered roller bearing has line contact and a steep contact angle: much higher combined axial-plus-radial capacity and shock resistance than a ball bearing of the same bore, at the cost of speed, one-direction thrust, mandatory pairing for reversing loads and a minimum axial load requirement. A ball bearing cannot be dropped into a combined-load 30206 position and vice versa — verify load direction, Fa/Fr ratio and speed before substituting.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 8.1 metric single-row TRB on 2026-09-26. Read our editorial & correction policy.