72212-72487 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 72212-72487 is a ISO 355 radial bearing sized 53.975 x 123.825 x 36.512 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 53.975 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 123.825 mm |
| Width B | 36.512 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel, stamped ribbon (J-type) |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 174 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 160 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 19.6 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 4300 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 5600 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 2000 g |
| Manufacturer designation | SKF 72212/72487 |
| Standard | ISO 355 |
| Catalog version | SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 8.2 inch single-row TRB |
| Last verified | 2026-09-28 |
Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 8.2 inch single-row TRB) · extracted 2026-09-28
Parameters extracted from the official SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 8.2 inch 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 & 72000-series range
| Bore d | 2.125 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 4.875 in |
| Width B | 1.437 in |
| ISO bore code | — |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 34.9 mm |
| Smallest bore in 72000-series | 53.975 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in 72000-series | 123.825 mm |
| Width range across 72000-series | 36.512–36.512 mm |
| Bore position in 72000-series (smallest first) | 1 of 1 |
| Bore above smallest 72000-series size | 0 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72212-72487 | Timken | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | Same inch-series cone/cup boundary envelope (d/D/T); load ratings and speed limits are brand-specific and may differ. |
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 72212-72487 model number is decoded
Note the minimum-axial-load requirement: at light radial load and high speed the rollers of 72212 must still be held into the rib contact, which is another reason the catalogue recommends paired mounting with controlled setting. Operating context for the 53.975 mm bore: a shaft of this diameter in the medium-bore band typically runs between 43180 and 64770 r/min in real machinery, and the 123.825 mm outside diameter places the housing shoulder at 132 mm outer abutment; the 36.512 mm width and 2000 g mass together set the shaft critical speed and the housing resonance check for this 72200-series envelope. A single-row inch tapered bearing is quoted as a cone/cup pair because the boundary dimensions belong to the combination, not to either half alone: in 72212 the 72212 cone contributes the 53.975 mm bore and roller set, the 72487 cup contributes the 123.825 mm OD raceway, and the assembled 36.512 mm width is the catalogue value.SKF 72212 (SKF 72212/72487) is the 72000-series tapered roller choice for a 53.975 mm shaft — one row of tapered rollers on an asymmetric raceway inside the 123.825×36.512 mm envelope.In SKF inch-series tables 72212 sits at 53.975 mm bore (2.125 in) with a 123.825 mm cup OD and 36.512 mm total width — dimensions that trace back to the original Timken boundary plan for the 72000-series family. The SKF catalogue adds the ISO 355 dimension-series code after the bare number (e.g. ); it is the dimensional series, not a separate part number. Catalogue mass 2000 g for the 53.975×123.825×36.512 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.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- automotive and light-truck wheel hubs
- industrial gearbox shafts and reducers
- differential and pinion drives
- industrial gearbox shafts and reducers
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
- false brinelling on idle paired sets exposed to machine vibration
- thermal preload runaway in an O-arrangement pair when inner-ring heat expands the setting
- cage pocket scoring when the bearing starts cold with grease of too-high base-oil viscosity
- edge loading from shaft deflection or housing misalignment
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- On this 53.975 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 72212 pair heats, loses setting control and smears the roller-rib contact.
- The 72000-series inch series at 53.975 mm bore (123.825×36.512 mm) follows the Timken cone/cup convention; substitutions must match both the cone and cup reference exactly — interchanging with another series or a metric 3xxxx bearing of the same bore changes OD, width and contact angle, so re-run the pair setting and shoulder-diameter checks before swapping.
- The tapered contact angle creates an induced axial load under pure radial force; include it in the 72212 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 72212 pushes the rings apart under load, so a non-located cup walks its seat even when the shaft is fixed.
- Catalogue reference speed and limiting speed are different limits: the 4,300 r/min reference is a thermal criterion under load, while the 5,600 r/min limiting value is the mechanical ceiling — observe both.
- The 174/160 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 72212 (basic, B steeper angle, Q/J2 clearance variants); they are not interchangeable order numbers — quote the full SKF 72212/72487 designation when purchasing and match the execution to the mounting arrangement.
Frequently asked questions
How does 72212 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 72212 position and vice versa — verify load direction, Fa/Fr ratio and speed before substituting.
What shaft and housing fits suit 72212?
For a rotating shaft under normal load, seat the cone on a k5 shaft fit; the cup is usually a loose-to-transition fit in the housing so it can creep slightly and distribute wear. Chamfer and shoulder diameters must clear the bearing rings so the 36.512 mm-wide cup seats square; the mounting setting (end play or preload) is set by the axial position of the cup relative to the cone.
Is 72212 interchangeable with other brands?
Inch-series tapered roller bearings follow a long-standing industry boundary plan, so cones and cups of the same basic number are generally dimensionally interchangeable across manufacturers. However, internal geometry, cage design and load ratings differ by brand, so for paired or precision applications keep both halves of the set from one manufacturer — or re-verify ratings and setting when mixing.
What are the dimensions and catalogue data of 72212?
The SKF 72212/72487 is a single-row tapered roller bearing with 53.975 mm bore, 123.825 mm outer diameter and 36.512 mm width (2.125 × 4.875 × 1.437 in). From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: basic dynamic load rating C 174 kN, C0 160 kN, fatigue load limit Pu 19.6 kN, reference speed 4,300 r/min, limiting speed 5,600 r/min, mass about 2000 g. It is an open, separable bearing with a pressed-steel cage.
How does the 72212 inch-series designation work?
Inch-series tapered roller bearings use a Timken-style cone/cup convention: the number before the slash identifies the cone (inner ring with roller and cage assembly), the number after the slash identifies the cup (outer ring), and the 72000-series code marks the dimensional series. The metric dimensions 53.975×123.825×36.512 mm are the converted equivalents of the original inch boundary dimensions.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 8.2 inch single-row TRB on 2026-09-28. Read our editorial & correction policy.