In order to choose the right tires for the wheels, you need to know certain parameters, the non-observance of which will seriously worsen the car's behavior on the road. Since the tire is put on the rim of the disc, the width of the profile must be commensurate with it. We note right away that, despite the tuning common in recent years, automakers categorically do not recommend this. After all, if the sizes of disks and tires vary greatly, then the contact patch will not be even, which means that the control can get out of control.
In general, the question of matching tires and wheels can be considered from two sides. The first is the selection of tires and wheels based on the manufacturer's recommendations, and the second is this fitment. Fitment is the study of the fit of a tire on a rim and the position of the wheels relative to the wheel arches, which includes negative camber, low landing and other delights, which we will not talk about, because we consider it more important to tell you how to choose the right one from the point of view of safety and comfort tires to wheels.
To choose the right tires for the rims, you need to know the labeling of the rims.
Ideally, that is, to be sure of safety, the PCD of the disc (the diameter of the circle of the centers of the mounting holes) cannot be changed. In extreme cases, the sizes of wheels and tires may not match each other quite a bit, but then eccentric bolts are used for fastening, which allow you to install wheels with PCD 100 mm on cars with PCD 98 mm. However, it is worth noting that the maximum difference in displacement should not exceed 2 mm, and ideally, the tires and rims should still match one hundred percent.
The dimensions of the rims and tires must also match with their central hole, but if for some reason this is not possible, an adjusting ring (it is also a spacer ring) will come to the rescue. The adjusting ring has an outer diameter equal to the diameter of the hole in the disk, and the inner diameter corresponds to the diameter of the vehicle hub. If the adjusting ring is set correctly, then the running characteristics will not change. It should be noted that the discs do not have stamped mounting rings. Install them only on .
The labeling of the disks does not indicate the maximum load ( MAX LOAD), you can find out this parameter either in the passport, which some manufacturers of domestic wheels attach to their products, or look for this information on the website of the wheel manufacturer. This information is not very important, since manufacturers usually make discs with a margin of safety. But, if for some reason you decide to put, say, wheels for a car on a jeep, then the maximum load of the disk will be an important parameter. And if it is not taken into account, the wheel may not withstand the load and deform, even falling into a small hole.
In addition, even if the dimensions of the tires and rims match in all respects, there is still a risk that the rim will not fit on the car. The reason for this is the so-called X-factor, when the disc rests on the suspension parts or caliper, which is associated with the shape of the stamping or casting. Therefore, we recommend that you first try it on before beading the tire on the wheel.
Correspondence table for the width of tires and wheels
|
Tire height |
Tire size |
Disc Width (inches) |
||
|
R12 |
||||
|
82 |
125R12 |
3,5 |
3.0 |
4.0 |
|
70 |
145/70R12 |
4,5 |
4.0 |
5.0 |
|
R13 |
||||
|
82 |
145R13 |
4.0 |
3,5 |
5.0 |
|
80 |
135/80R13 |
3,5 |
3,5 |
4,5 |
|
70 |
135/70R13 |
4.0 |
3,5 |
4,5 |
|
65 |
155/65R13 |
4,5 |
4,0 |
5,5 |
|
60 |
175/60R13 |
5.0 |
5.0 |
6.0 |
|
55 |
195/55R13 |
6,0 |
5,5 |
7,0 |
|
R14 |
||||
|
82 |
145R14 |
4,0 |
3,5 |
5,0 |
|
80 |
175/80R14 |
5,0 |
4,5 |
5,5 |
|
70 |
165/70R14 |
5,0 |
4,5 |
6,0 |
|
65 |
155/65R14 |
4,5 |
4,0 |
5,5 |
|
60 |
165/60R14 |
5,0 |
4,5 |
6,0 |
|
55 |
185/55R14 |
6,0 |
5,0 |
6,5 |
|
R15 |
||||
|
82 |
125R15 |
3,5 |
3,0 |
4,0 |
|
80 |
185/80R15 |
5,5 |
4,5 |
6,0 |
|
70 |
175/70R15 |
5,0 |
5,0 |
6,0 |
|
65 |
185/65R15 |
5,5 |
5.0 |
6,5 |
|
60 |
195/60R15 |
6,0 |
5,5 |
7,0 |
|
55 |
185/55R15 |
6,0 |
5,0 |
6,5 |
|
50 |
195/50R15 |
6,0 |
5,5 |
7,0 |
|
45 |
195/45R15 |
6,5 |
6,0 |
7,5 |
|
R16 |
||||
|
65 |
215/65R16 |
6,5 |
5,5 |
7,5 |
|
60 |
225/60R16 |
6,5 |
6,0 |
8,0 |
|
55 |
205/55R16 |
6,5 |
5,5 |
7,5 |
|
50 |
205/50R16 |
6,5 |
5,5 |
7,5 |
|
45 |
195/45R16 |
6,5 |
6,0 |
7,5 |
|
40 |
215/40R16 |
7,5 |
7,0 |
8,5 |
|
R17 |
||||
|
55 |
225/55R17 |
7,0 |
6,0 |
8,0 |
|
50 |
205/50R17 |
6,5 | ||
Car tires are indispensable components of any car. They are able to ensure safety on the road, as well as the implementation of the technical characteristics that were originally declared by the manufacturer. Every year, drivers need to change summer tires to winter tires and vice versa. It is recommended to select tires with the dimensions that were provided by the car company for a particular car model.
Today, the automotive market offers a wide range of tires, which are produced by different manufacturers. Among themselves, they differ not only in materials of manufacture and design, but also in size. Each car model has its own type of tires that are optimally combined with each other.
Tire dimensions usually mean three parameters - this is the height (the distance between the inner rim and the ground), the tread width and the diameter of the inner hole (in which the disc is placed). It is worth noting that the manufacturer, when determining the size of car tires, takes into account their weight, traction, power, width and purpose of use. If even a slight deviation in tire sizes from the standard is allowed, this can lead to a number of changes, both positive and negative. For example, such as comfort while driving on a highway or dirt road, speedometer readings, fuel consumption and much more. It is for these reasons that changing factory tire sizes must be approached with special care, because the consequences can be unpredictable.
What is a visual tire calculator and what is it for?
Now it is quite simple to correctly determine the size of car tires. All you have to do is use the visual tire calculator. With it, the driver will be able to foresee all the nuances in order to avoid trouble in the future. Also, the calculator will allow you to calculate several options in advance in order to make the next purchase correctly. This application shows the results online, so you can get the result in seconds. Also, the tire calculator will give the most accurate answer, taking into account the speedometer readings, fuel consumption, noise, road conditions, etc. The driver, first of all, needs to focus on the manufacturer's recommendations and select tires depending on the car model, as well as factory and recommended sizes .
Finding tire sizes with a tire calculator
- Select the wheel or tire sizes that will appear from the drop-down list.
- Take a look at the plate below for possible replacement options.
- From the drop-down list, you need to specify the size of the disk or tire for the replacement option.
- A visual tire calculator online will perform the calculation and give the user basic recommendations for the parameters that were specified.
It is worth noting that sometimes the tire calculator does not always offer replacement options, so you can always get advice from an online manager who will answer all your questions.
Thus, the tire calculator will help you correctly calculate the dimensions of a car tire to replace it. If the driver decides to change the factory parameters, then this service will provide important recommendations regarding changing the characteristics of the tires.
The visual tire calculator will help you complete all tasks in seconds. The service is available at any time of the day. You can use the calculator not only through a personal computer, but also through laptops, tablets and smartphones.
Do you want to choose a tire for your car, but do not understand tire markings well? It's not a problem! In this section, we will help you figure out what tire parameters are, what they mean, and which tire is right for your car.
Find tires / tire catalogDeciphering tire markings.
195/65 R15 91 T XL
195 is the tire width in mm.
65 - Proportionality, i.e. profile height to width ratio. In our case, it is equal to 65%. Simply put, with the same width, the larger this indicator, the higher the tire will be and vice versa. Usually this value is called simply - "profile".
Since the tire profile is a relative value, it is important to consider when choosing rubber that if you want to put tires with a size of 205/65 R15 instead of the size 195/65 R15, then not only the width of the tire will increase, but also the height! Which in most cases is unacceptable! (except when both of these sizes are indicated in the car's operating book). You can calculate the exact data on changing the outer dimensions of the wheel in a special tire calculator.
If this ratio is not indicated (for example, 185/R14С), then it is equal to 80-82% and the tire is called full profile. Reinforced tires with this marking are usually used on minibuses and light trucks, where a large maximum wheel load is very important.
R- means a tire with a radial cord (in fact, almost all tires are made this way now).
Many mistakenly believe that R- stands for the radius of the tire, but this is precisely the radial design of the tire. There is also a diagonal design (indicated by the letter D), but recently it has practically not been produced, since its performance is noticeably worse.
15 - diameter of the wheel (disk) in inches. (It is the diameter, not the radius! This is also a common mistake). This is the “landing” diameter of the tire on the disk, i.e. is the inside size of the tire or the outside of the rim.
91 - load index. This is the level of maximum permissible load on one wheel. For passenger cars, it is usually done with a margin and is not a decisive factor when choosing tires (in our case, IN - 91 - 670 kg.). For minibuses and small trucks, this parameter is very important and must be observed.
Tire load index table:
T- tire speed index. The larger it is, the faster you can drive on this tire (in our case, IS - H - up to 210 km / h). Speaking about the tire speed index, I would like to note that with this parameter, the tire manufacturer guarantees the normal operation of the rubber when the car is constantly moving at the specified speed for several hours.
Speed index table:
American tire markings:
There are two different markings for American tires. The first one is very similar to the European one, only the letters “P” (Passanger - for a passenger car) or “LT” (Light Truck - light truck) are placed before the size. For example: P 195/60 R 14 or LT 235/75 R15. And another tire marking, which is fundamentally different from the European one.
For example: 31x10.5 R15(corresponds to European size 265/75 R15)
31
is the outside diameter of the tire in inches.
10.5
- tire width in inches.
R- a tire of a radial design (older models of tires were with a diagonal design).
15
is the inner diameter of the tire in inches.
Generally speaking, except for inches that are unusual for us, the American tire marking is logical and more understandable, unlike the European one, where the height of the tire profile is not constant and depends on the width of the tire. And here everything is simple with decoding: the first digit of the standard size is the outer diameter, the second is the width, the third is the inner diameter.
Additional information indicated in the marking on the sidewall of the tire:
XL or Extra Load- Reinforced tire, the load index of which is 3 units higher than that of conventional tires of the same size. In other words, if a given tire has a load index of 91 marked XL or Extra Load, then this means that with this index, the tire is able to withstand a maximum load of 670 kg instead of 615 kg (see the table of tire load indices).
M+S or M&S tire marking (Mud + Snow) - mud plus snow and means that the tires are all-season or winter. Many summer tires for SUVs are labeled M&S. However, these tires must not be used in winter, as winter tires have a completely different rubber compound and tread pattern, and the M&S badge indicates good flotation performance.
All Season or AS all season tires. Aw (Any Weather) - Any weather.
Pictogram * (snowflake)- rubber is designed for use in harsh winter conditions. If this marking is not on the sidewall of the tire, then this tire is intended for use only in summer conditions.
Aquatred, Aquacontact, Rain, Water, Aqua or pictogram (umbrella)- special rain tires.
outside and inside; asymmetric tires, i.e. It is important not to confuse which side is the outside and which is the inside. When installing, the Outside inscription must be on the outside of the car, and Inside on the inside.
RSC(RunFlat System Component) - RunFlat tires are tires on which you can continue driving a car at a speed of no more than 80 km / h with a FULL pressure drop in the tire (due to a puncture or cut). On these tires, depending on the manufacturer's recommendations, you can drive from 50 to 150 km. Different tire manufacturers use different designations for RSC technology. For example: Bridgestone RFT, Continental SSR, Goodyear RunOnFlat, Nokian Run Flat, Michelin ZP, etc.
rotation or arrow this marking on the sidewall of the tire indicates a directional tire. When installing the tire, you must strictly observe the direction of rotation of the wheel, indicated by the arrow.
Tubeless - tubeless tire. In the absence of this inscription, the tire can only be used with a camera. Tube Type - indicates that this tire must be used only with a tube.
Max Pressure; maximum allowable tire pressure. Max Load - the maximum allowable load on each wheel of the car, in kg.
Reinforced or the letters RF in the size (for example 195/70 R15RF) means that this is a reinforced tire (6 layers). The letter C at the end of the size (for example 195/70 R15C) indicates a truck tire (8 layers).
Radial - this marking on the rubber in the standard size means that this is a radial tire design. Steel means that there is a metal cord in the tire structure.
Letter E(in a circle) - the tire meets the European requirements of ECE (Economic Commission for Europe). DOT (Department of Transportation - US Department of Transportation) is an American quality standard.
Temperature A, B or C heat resistance of tires at high speeds on a test bench (A is the best indicator).
Traction A, B or C- the ability of the tire to brake on a wet roadway.
Treadwear; relative expected mileage compared to a specific US standard test.
TWI (Tread Wear Indication)- Tire tread wear indicators. The marking on the TWI wheel can also be with an arrow. Pointers are located evenly in eight or six places around the entire circumference of the tire and show the minimum allowable tread depth. The wear indicator is made in the form of a protrusion with a height of 1.6 mm (the minimum tread value for light vehicles) and is located in the tread recess (usually in the drainage grooves).
DOT- Encoded manufacturer's address, tire size code, certificate, issue date (week/year).
Using the tire calculator, you can easily calculate how the outer dimensions of the wheel, ride height (clearance), speedometer readings and other characteristics will change when you install tires with a different size on your car. The calculator calculates all tire sizes in millimeters, and the vehicle speed in km / h.
Also, the calculator will help you calculate the required rim width for a specific tire size.
How to use the tire calculator:
First enter the standard size installed on your car, and then the one you want to install and click "calculate". The table on the right will show the results of the calculator's calculations.
Detailed information about tire marking in the section: tire marking.
We recommend that you install only the factory tire sizes that are listed in the owner's manual for your machine. Installation of non-standard sizes may void your dealer's warranty and may affect vehicle performance and handling.
Tire calculator for European tires
Old size:
new size:
145 155 165 175 185 195 205 215 225 235 245 255 265 275 285 295 305 315 325
/ 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Found in catalogue:
175/70R13-
175/70R13-
When recalculating tire sizes on a calculator, it should be borne in mind that:
With an increase in the diameter of the rim (and, as a result, a decrease in the height of the tire profile so that the outer diameter of the wheel remains unchanged), the load on the car suspension increases, as well as comfort worsens (the car will become noticeably stiffer).
With an excessive increase in the tire profile, the car becomes a “roll”, it is worse controlled, and at critical values \u200b\u200bof the profile height, the tire may begin to cling to body parts and suspension of the car, which will subsequently lead to its destruction.
Car owners use a tire calculator to select tires and rims of the right size. All calculations are done online. The user does not have to deal with lengthy, incomprehensible calculations. The application is multifunctional, since the motorist will be able to understand how to change the dimensions of the wheel, taking into account changes in the size of tires and wheels. Consider the features of using the service.
Tire calculator functionality
To help with the selection of tires suitable for a particular car in terms of size and characteristics, the tire selection calculator can. Vehicle owners resort to the services of the service when it is time to replace the tires and wheels on the vehicle. In order not to waste time on meaningless "changing shoes", checks, use the proposed online service. Tire calculator features:
- you can calculate the size of tires;
- the service provides different parameters - wheel diameters, changes in the height of the clearance between the road and the car (clearance), track expansion;
- help in converting inches to millimeters or vice versa, using the American and European size charts.
The tire calculator has been designed to speed up the selection of tires, making the procedure much easier. Since every owner of a car faced the difficulties of choosing, online calculators very quickly gained popularity among users.
How to use the tire calculator
There are several tips to help you use the tire size calculator for its intended purpose. The step-by-step instruction consists of the following steps:
- In the form you will need to enter the size of the tires installed on the car, as well as those that you would like to install.
- The user will see a special table with the results of calculations. From this data, it will be possible to find out which tires are needed for a particular vehicle.
- After selecting tires, you can proceed to the calculation of the size of the disks. Here you will need to set the exact data - the maximum / minimum width of the disk installed on the car. All calculations will be performed automatically.
- If you need to convert inches to millimeters, you can use the online converter. This action will allow you to find analogues with American sizes and with European ones. Comparison through the tire calculator will be as accurate as possible, since all the necessary information has been entered into the online service database.
The general selection procedure is very simple, but the owner of the car will definitely need to enter the initial data. The parameters should be as accurate as possible so that there are no errors or inaccuracies in subsequent results.
You can use this service on our website. The program is freely available, anyone can make calculations in a few minutes. To simplify the process of use, it is worth using the instructions given.
