Car shape, weight, size, engine power, and torque all play a vital role in determining the performance of any vehicle. One of the most prominent parts of the car is the tire, as tires are the only thing that your whole car depends on and stands upon, which is why tire width is also crucial to achieving more remarkable performance.
Tire width, a simple explanation, is how wide your tire looks when installed on a vehicle. You may think the wider the tire is, the better the performance due to the more contact area; however, this is not the case.
Sometimes, you can increase the width of a tire, but other times, it will counter the car’s performance. So, the decision you have to make is what tire width is best for your vehicle.
If you go with the recommended level, you might lose the benefits of better gripping and cornering with less aesthetic looks. However, if you go too narrow, you will lose the advantage of acceleration and the benefits of quick brakes.
Tire width modification depends upon the rims you install on your axle shaft; the bigger the rims are, the more modifications are available for the driver.
To assist you in modifying and improving your vehicle’s performance through tire width, we will explain every small detail you might need to achieve greater performance. We will discuss how to measure tire width, rim size charts, how wider and narrower widths impact driving, and many more.
So, without further ado, let’s learn how to measure width.
Table of Contents
How Tire Width is Measured
A. Section Width
Section width will be the talk of this article. The first number after the alphabet you see is your section width, written in mm, if you have metrics tire size. “P225/60R16,” where “225 is the section width.
In flotation tire sizes, you can find the section width of a tire in inches after multiple signs. 37×12.50R17, where 12.50 is a section width in inches. Multiply it by 25.4 to get the section width in mm.
We will discuss this part of a tire size in this article, how you can tweak with section width to improve the performance, and what the options are.
If you want to measure the section width by yourself, take an inching tape and put that on top of the installed tire. Now measure the width from one side of the sidewall to another (the endpoint of one side of a tire to the ending point of another side)
B. Aspect Ratio
Aspect ratio= section height/section width
A tire’s aspect ratio is the ratio of the tire’s sidewall height to its section width. It is represented as a percentage and is vital in determining a tire’s overall height.
For example, in the tire size “P225/60R16,” the aspect ratio is “60,” indicating that the sidewall height is 60% of the tire’s section width.
Similarly, you can confirm the section width with the help of the aspect ratio. If you know that the section height is 135 and the aspect ratio is 0.6, you can divide it to get the section width of a tire. 135/0.6= 225 section width.
C. Rim Diameter
Rim diameter, also known as wheel diameter, is the measurement of the inner diameter of the tire’s mounting rim. It is usually expressed in inches and is a critical factor in ensuring that the tire fits properly on the wheel.
In the tire size “P225/60R16,” the rim diameter is “16 inches.”
The modification in tire diameter totally depends on the size of the rim; you can not change diameter as you can change aspect ratio and tire width.
Selecting Tire Width for Different Wheel Sizes
A wheel tire width chart is a reference tool that helps consumers identify the recommended tire widths for different rim widths.
It provides guidance on which tire sizes are suitable for specific wheel widths, ensuring compatibility and optimal performance.
| Size | Tire Size |
|---|---|
| 4.5×13″ | 155/60R13, 165/50R13, 165/55R13, 175/55R13, 175/60R13, 175/65R13, 185/55R13, 185/60R13, 185/65R13, 195/45R13, 195/50R13, 195/55R13, 195/60R13 |
| 5×13″ | 175/70R13 |
| 5.5×13″ | 185/60R13, 185/65R13, 195/55R13, 195/60R13 |
| 6×13″ | 195/60R13 |
| 6.5×13″ | 195/45R13 |
| 7×13″ | 205/50R13 |
| 4.5×14″ | 185/55R14, 185/60R14, 195/45R14 |
| 5×14″ | 175/70R14 |
| 5.5×14″ | 185/60R14, 185/65R14, 195/55R14, 205/50R14 |
| 6×14″ | 195/60R14, 205/55R14 |
| 6.5×14″ | 195/55R14, 195/60R14, 205/50R14, 205/55R14, 205R15 |
| 7×14″ | 225/55R14, 225/60R14, 225/65R14, 235/55R14, 235/60R14 |
| 7.5×14″ | 215/50R17, 215/55R17, 215/60R17, 215/65R17 |
| 6×15″ | 155/60R15, 165/50R15, 165/55R15, 175/55R15, 175/60R15, 175/65R15, 185/55R15, 185/60R15, 185/65R15, 195/45R15, 195/50R15, 195/55R15, 195/60R15, 205/40R15, 205/45R15, 205/50R15, 205/55R15, 205/60R15, 205/65R15, 215/50R15, 215/55R15, 215/60R15, 225/45R15, 225/50R15, 225/55R15, 225/60R15, 225/65R15, 235/45R15, 235/50R15, 235/55R15, 245/75R15, 255/70R15, 265/70R15, 30X950R15, 31X1050R15 |
| 6.5×15″ | 195/50R15, 195/55R15, 195/60R15, 205/50R15, 205/55R15, 205/60R15, 215/45R15, 215/50R15, 215/55R15, 225/45R15, 225/50R15, 225/55R15, 225/60R15, 235/50R15, 235/55R15, 245/65R15 |
| 7×15″ | 205/65R15, 215/50R15, 215/60R15, 225/50R15, 225/55R15, 235/50R15, 235/55R15, 245/50R15, P225/75R15 |
| 7.5×15″ | 215/50R15, 225/50R15, 225/55R15, 235/50R15, 245/45R15, 255/40R15, 255/50R15, P235/70R15, P245/70R15, P255/75R15 |
| 8×15″ | 255/65R15, P235/70R15, P245/70R15, P255/70R15 |
| 8.5×15″ | 265/70R15, LT235/85R16, LT245/75R16, LT265/75R16, LT285/75R16 |
| 6.5×16″ | LT235/85R16, LT245/75R16 |
| 7×16″ | LT245/75R16 |
| 7.5×16″ | LT265/75R16, LT285/75R16 |
| 8×16″ | LT285/75R16 |
| 8.5×16″ | LT285/75R16 |
| 6.5×17″ | 195/45R17 |
| 7×17″ | 195/50R17, 205/40R17, 205/45R17, 205/50R17, 215/40ZR17, 215/45R17, 215/50R17, 205/R14 |
| 7.5×17″ | 205/40R17, 205/45R17, 215/40ZR17, 215/45R17, 215/50R17, 225/35R17, 225/40R17, 235/60R17 |
| 8×17″ | 205/45R17, 205/50R17, 205/55R17, 215/55R14, 215/60R14, 225/60R14, 225/65R14, 235/50R14, 235/55R14, 245/50R14, 245/55R14, 265/60R15 |
| 8.5×17″ | 235/50R17, 235/55R17, 245/35R17, 245/40R17, 245/45R17, 255/60R15, 255/65R15, 265/65R15, 285/60R15 |
| 9×17″ | 255/40R17, 275/40R17 |
| 9.5×17″ | 255/40R17, 255/45R17 |
| 10×17″ | 255/50R17, 255/55R17, 255/60R17 |
Can Tire Width Be Changed?
Considerations for Changing Tire Width
It is possible to change tire width according to your needs and style. However, you should always get assistance from your mechanic or change the width with the help of the tire rim and width chart given above.
Because if it goes out of balance, there are chances that you might damage your tires as well as wheels and rims. So make sure whenever you go to modify the tire width, go with the recommended settings to avoid any trouble.
Compatibility with Rims
With the help of the wheel size and tire width chart, you can find different options to change your tire width. Only based on that, change tire size, or it will not benefit you in the future.
Although the most prominent size of the tire is stock size, however, if you want certain features more by compromising on other performance features, changing the tire width following the rims could help you achieve that.
Why Wider Tires Are Better
Improved Traction
The larger contact area of the wider tires delivers better traction and grip in dry road conditions. However, wider tires won’t help at a fast pace because it takes more time to turn due to the larger tread area. Similarly, cornering at a fast pace with wide tires won’t help you achieve proper track rides.
In wet conditions, grip might improve with wider tires; however, when it comes to hydroplaning resistance in deep water, wider tires take more time to channel water. The longer the tire takes to channel water, the more chances of aquaplaning, so if you plan to drive on wet and snowy roads, the narrow tire will be a better option.
Brakes Enhancement
With wider tires, a vehicle’s brakes improve because the tire grips the ground properly. Increased traction and contact area of the tire improve braking and acceleration performance. So, with wider tires, you can improve your vehicle performance; that is why drivers prefer wider tires with their sports cars for better traction, brakes, and acceleration performance.
Enhanced Handling and Stability
Another good thing about wide tires is that they improve your vehicle’s handling response and stability. Larger contact improves stability and straight road ride, with responsive handling due to more balance and controlled driving on the road.
Aesthetic Appeal
Lastly, wider tires are more aesthetically looking than narrow and stock tires. This is another reason for installing them on sporty vehicles. Unlike all terrain and mud terrain tires, which are also wide, wider tires with lower aspect ratios look far better and improve the overall design of a car.
Why narrow tires are better
Snow and Ice Traction
Most snow tires are narrower than summer dry tires because they are more capable of handling snowy and wet conditions. Unlike wide tires, narrow tires have higher surface pressure, which digs through deep snow to offer optimal winter terrain rides.
With that, narrow tires might have less grip on dry conditions; however, when it comes to wet conditions, they are better for resisting hydroplaning due to pressure and low weight. This is why F1 drivers use narrow tires in rain and wet conditions.
Fuel Efficiency
Fuel efficiency also improves with narrow tires. Wide and stock tires will take more energy to move due to weight, creating low rolling. With the help of narrow tires on all axles, you can immensely reduce your fuel consumption.
With that, narrow tires are more eco-centric due to low rolling resistance, so if you care about sustainable driving, then again, switching to a narrower width will be an excellent modification.
Comfort and Noise
Another benefit of driving with narrow tires is that they offer a more comfortable and soundproof performance. Regarding comfortable rides, narrow tires are better on straight tracks; however, wider tires offer more comfortable rides for bumpy roads and potholes.
Tire tread noise is more prominent with narrow-width tires; the smaller contact area and less rubber on the ground make it less noisy and vibrate less, meaning overall comfortable and quiet rides.
Cost and Weight
Both the cost and weight of the narrow-width tire are lower. So you can get cost-effective and high-performance tires if you switch to narrow widths based on your rims. The low weight also improves speed, cornering, and control at a fast pace.
Conclusion
Modifying your tire width can have certain benefits if you go through the recommended tire width from the rim size chart. If you put wider or narrower tires on rims that might not support them, then you could damage your wheels, tires, or axles. So, make sure you follow the guidelines of manufacturers or specialists before making changes to tire width.
Wider and narrower widths have many benefits, and drivers change their tire widths based on the performance they require from their tires. A slight change in tire size can bring a significant driving experience.
We hope you learned about how to measure and change tire width, so if you think you endorse wider tire benefits, then go with wider width; otherwise, stay to your stock sizes or narrow down your tire’s width for other benefits.
