When it comes to tire dimensions, you have alphanumeric code on the sidewall of the tire. You have 3 different measurements, the rim size, the depth of the tyre sidewall, this will be the total diameter of wheel and the tyre width. The depth of the tyre sidewall is measured as a percentage of the tyre width. So, if you have a marking indicating 225/65R17, the width is 225 mm, the height is 65% of the 225 mm, so 146,25 mm. The rim being 17, which is in inches, so the rim size is 17 inches. When you are looking for new all-season tires, you can then search directly for 225/65R17 all-season tires or then all-weather tires if you need tires for the summer season or then winter tires for the winter season.
The owner’s manual of the vehicle will specify what rims and tire dimensions should be used. It is recommended that you stick with those dimensions, if you really want to change you should not go more than 1-2 inches bigger rims. Bigger rims mean that you should have a lower profile tire so that the distance that the wheel covers during each rotation will be constant. A deviation will impact the speedometer and the distance reading as well as it can increase the wear of other components. Bigger wheels can add weight, the same goes for wider tires. The added weight will increase also the fuel consumption and wear. You can also use an online tire selector to find the dimension.
People tend to think that wide low-profile tires look cool and want to equip their cars with tires that will enhance the look of the car, but there are a lot to think about before doing this. There can be some benefits of having wider tires such as better cornering and handling, you will have better grip and traction, but you will have a bumpier ride. It will give a feeling of very hard shock absorbers. If you go to a larger dimension and added width, you might end up with problem of the tire fitting under the arches and still allowing the suspension to work and the turning of the front wheels is not hindered.
Narrow tires start at around 200 mm and below, while wide tires are 250 mm and above. When it comes to the profile, low profile tires are around 50 and below and high 65 and above. Looks is only one aspect, but the safety of the car should always be of the highest priority. As long as the safety isn’t impacted by cosmetic choices, the tire dimensions can be altered within reason. However, changes are always associated in changes to some properties, where it tends to be a tradeoff which has to be taken into account. If you change between all-season and winter tires, you might want to have the same dimension on both sets to preserve the driving properties throughout the year.
For more information if you plan to buy new tires with a different size, visit: nokiantires.com