Whats The Deal On Tire Sizes?
11-06-2003, 08:52 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Peoria, AZ
Posts: 10,906
I thought the 1st # indicated the width of the tire and the 2nd indicated the width of the sidewall. I have a set of t2 rims/tires and they are 205/55R16 and a set of n/a rims/tires and they are 205/60R15s, but the t2 rims are a 1/2" wider... So does it vary from tire manufactor to manufactor??? What exactly do the 1st and 2nd #s stand for... 
11-06-2003, 09:16 PM
#3
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: union, new jersey
Posts: 8,079
be careful though.... first number is not always accurate, some tires have wider contact patch than others with the same 1st number...... maybe the first number indicates the distance between the 2 sidewalls
11-18-2003, 03:00 PM
#4
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 191
Those numbers are just "ballpark", there are large variations between manufacturers and even between product lines. If you want more accurate info go to the manufacturers web site and look at the tire specs. It'll tell you rolling diameter too so you know exactly which tire will work when you get plus size rims, so your speedo will be the same.
Good luck
Good luck
11-26-2003, 03:33 PM
#10
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, Ontario
Posts: 2,871
Width of the rim also plays a factor. Putting a wide tire on a narrow wheel can take away contact patch...
With low profile sidewalls you generally need a wheel closer to the treadwidth of the tire.
With low profile sidewalls you generally need a wheel closer to the treadwidth of the tire.