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.
To simplify the determination of tire size, a special tire calculator has been developed that allows the user to bypass the need to decipher the numerical values on the side surfaces of the rubber. With the help of such a calculator, the difference in tire sizes, profile height and other parameters are determined. In addition, such a calculator allows you to receive other related information, for example, on speedometer deviations, changes in ride height, and so on.
Purpose of the visual tire calculator
A visual calculator allows each car owner to easily determine the size of tires and the width of the required disks. With its help, it is possible to determine the diameter of the wheels, the error of speedometers, the increase in the road track and changes in the clearance under the bottom of the car. Using the tire calculator, it is extremely easy to determine the optimal size suitable for a particular car model. The built-in size conversion system allows you to instantly transform values from inch to meter and vice versa.
It is advisable to take advantage of the calculator's potential in cases where the car owner switches to using tires and wheels that are different from the original size. It allows you to visually determine the main dimensions, and then model them for the selected car. In turn, the selection of tires with its help is impossible, since initially it does not provide for division by manufacturer.
Selection and comparison of tires according to the calculator 2.0
In the case of installing new disks and tires of a different size based on the data received from the calculator, it is advisable to additionally carry out a number of measurements. It is advisable to determine the distance on the inside between the wheel and the suspension, as well as from the tread to the shock absorber cup. In addition, you will need to measure the distance between the tread, fender and tie rods.
In turn, when choosing new tires, it is necessary to proceed from the expediency of a slight deviation in the geometric dimensions of new tires from those previously used. A significant size will cause instability in the movement of the car.
Each car is initially created for certain parameters and dimensions. This fully applies to the allowable size of the discs and rubber used. Accordingly, the selected rubber models must be within the established boundaries. The use of a tire calculator allows you to simplify the selection process as much as possible, depending on a particular vehicle.
The Russians have to regularly deal with the replacement of rubber, primarily seasonal. The easiest solution in this situation is to use rubber of the same size. While maintaining the dimensions of the rubber, the wheel will also retain its original dimensions.
In cases where tires of a different size are selected, the selection of appropriate discs is required to obtain a wheel with the required dimensions. At the same time, by changing the typical tire sizes, it is possible to control the driving characteristics of the car, giving additional softness or rigidity. The higher the profile used, the softer the car feels on the road. Rigidity increases with a decrease in the profile, and narrow tires give more grip on snowy surfaces, so they look more advantageous on winter roads.
At the same time, when choosing the dimensions of tires and wheels, it is required to adhere to the allowable sizes. For example, too wide tires will touch the wheel arches in motion, rubbing them, and wearing out intensively on their own. It is also worth considering the fact that changing the size of the wheels affects the operation of the speedometer, in particular, the magnitude of the error.
From the outside, it may seem that the variety of available configurations greatly complicates the calculations, but the tire calculator greatly simplifies the selection process using 3D modeling. Proper selection of tires is not only a necessary safety, but also an optimization of the road capabilities of the car. At the same time, the presence of a metric and inch size system allows you to work without problems with both American and European standard sizes.
Not all car owners can immediately tell which one tire size must be installed on their car model. Moreover, not all car owners know how important the correct selection of tires is for the safe and trouble-free operation of your four-wheeled friend. Let's take a closer look at what can be written on the sidewall of a tire and how exactly tire size affects the safety of your driving.
To determine the type and size of your car's tires, you can use the tire calculator.
The easiest way to determine which tire size must be installed on your car - this is to look into the instruction manual that was given to you along with the car. You can also try to look at the sticker on the pillar between the doors on the driver's side. Several numbers and letters will be written there, something like this - 185/70 R14. What does this "Chinese letter" mean? The first digit in this designation indicates the width of the tire, expressed in millimeters. The second number, located after the fraction, indicates the height of the tire profile, but not in millimeters, but as a percentage of the width. That is, in our case, this means that the tire height is 70% of 185 mm. The higher this figure, the higher the profile of the tire. The letter R - means that the tire has a radial cord (there is also a D marking, which means a diagonal cord, but this type of tire is very rare). And the number after this letter indicates the diameter of the disk for which this tire is intended. So, if someone asked for “wheels of the 14th radius” in front of you, then this person completely misinterpreted the inscription R14. The main inscription may be followed by additional letters and numbers that define the maximum speed for this tire, the maximum load per wheel, as well as the season or type of surface for which this tire is recommended. In addition, it can also be indicated for which type of car (for example, for SUVs) this tire is intended.
Now you know Which tire size recommended your car manufacturer, but you don't always want to follow these recommendations. Often, a car owner wants to distinguish his car from the crowd, and he wants to do this by installing custom-sized tires. However, here you can expect a lot of pitfalls and now we will talk about some of them.
First, if you want to fit larger tires (more accurately, fit larger rims and put tires on them with a higher profile height), then you will need to make sure that the new wheels do not rub against the suspension or bodywork. Moreover, for the front wheels, you need to check the absence of contact with the body or suspension at all steering positions. And for the rear wheels, you need to make sure that they do not touch the arches when the car is fully loaded. If these requirements are not met, then your brand new tires can become unusable in just a few hundred kilometers, and even seriously let you down somewhere far from home.
Secondly, it is not uncommon for a driver to want to install so-called low-profile tyres, i. tires with a profile height of 55 or even 45 percent of the width. Such tire size gives the car an unusual look, but it is worth remembering that in this case you seriously reduce the ground clearance of your car. Of course, if the roads on which you move have excellent coverage, and your car does not leave the country road, then the clearance will not interest you and you can put tires of any height. However, most often, when buying such tires, the owner forgets about such nuances, but remembers this on the first pit or bump during a trip to the country. Yes, and it is much easier to deform such a tire when it hits a hole, and not everyone can afford to change tires after a couple of unsuccessfully encountered potholes. Pay attention to someone else's low-profile rubber - you can often see swelling on its side (lateral hernia) on it.
Further, when driving in the summer, you can select tire size with greater width. In this case, traction with the road surface is improved. But for winter, it is better to take tires with a smaller width, which will increase the pressure in the contact patch and improve traction on snowy or ice-covered roads. Consider the maximum speed of your vehicle and the maximum weight of your vehicle with a full load when choosing a tire type. Also pay attention to the climate in your area and the work of road services in winter. If you have a lot of snow in winter, then inexpensive all-season tires are unlikely to suit you. In addition, pay attention to the condition of your roads in the summer, if you regularly travel on roads with a lot of holes, then you should think about purchasing tires with a higher load index, since such a tire will have a reinforced sidewall, which means it has a significantly better chance survive after meeting with the pit.
Good day, dear readers. Today I want to answer immediately a lot of questions related to wheel sizes. Many of my readers do not understand what they mean and why they are needed at all! Today I will try to explain in a simple and understandable language what the dimensions of rubber on cars mean ...
The dimensions of the rubber wheel contain a lot of useful information, you just need to be able to read it. Without this information, you will not be able to choose the right tires for your car, they simply will not fit in size. Although now on the bodies of many brands there are special plates with recommendations, you just read them and go to the store to buy the same ones. However, there are not always such plates and you need to determine the dimensions of the tires yourself! A small clarification, I will only talk about overall dimensions, there have already been many articles about other characteristics, links will definitely be below.
I will talk about them using the example of my winter wheels, KAMA EURO 519, it should be noted that they are in no way inferior to their foreign counterparts. Read informative.
To begin with, the overall dimensions
I have a wheel size R16 205/55 , these are the so-called overall dimensions. Rubber is considered low profile (more).
The notorious letter R
Many mistakenly think (to be honest, I thought so too) that the first English letter R means the abbreviation "RADIUS"! But it's not! The letter R means radial tire, read the article -. This is such a method of assembling rubber and metal cord during production. Of course, you can also meet the letter D in front (diagonal), but such a designation is now really rare. In fact, this letter has nothing to do with size. Let's go further...
Disc diameter
The second number (in this case we have 16) indicates the diameter of the hole in the rubber, or which disc you can put this rubber on. We have 16, which means it's 16 inches! Remember that this size is always given in inches (1 inch = 25.4 mm). if we knock out our size, it turns out - 16 X 25.4 mm = 406.4 mm. The disc cannot be larger or smaller than the diameter of the wheel, you simply cannot put it on. That is, if the rubber is 16 (406.4 mm), then the disk should be 16 (406.4 mm).
Width
A large number almost always characterizes the width. In this case, this figure is 205. It is measured in millimeters, that is, the width of my wheel is 205 mm. The wider the rubber, the wider the track, respectively, the patency and adhesion increases.
Cord height
This is the smaller number that is applied through the fraction. In my case, this is 55, measured as a percentage of the width (of the larger number). What does it mean? To find the height (in my case) you need to calculate 55% of 205 mm. Thus it turns out:
205 X 0.55 (55%) = 112.75 mm
This is the height of the cord of our rubber, also an important indicator, see the figure.
Total wheel height
Let's calculate the total height of my wheel. What happens.
Rubber cord 112.75 X 2 (since the height is on both sides, top and bottom) = 225.5 mm
Under the disk 16 inches = 406.4
Total - 406.4 + 225.5 = 631.9
Thus, my wheel is a little more than half a meter high, namely 0.631 meters
Let's look at the most common tires that are used by most cars, there are three of them - these are R13, R14 and R15
Tire sizesR13
The most common of all isR13175/70 such are installed on many models of the domestic VAZ (although now it is moving away).
What happens:
R13 - diameter 13 inches (multiply by 25.4) = 330.2 mm
Width 175
Height - 70% of 175 = 122.5
Total - (122.5 X 2) + 330.2 \u003d 574.2 mm
Tire sizesR14
One of the most common isR14175/65, are also installed on domestic VAZ models, more recent years of production, such models as Priora, Kalina, Grant, as well as on some inexpensive (folk) foreign cars - for example, Renault Logan, Kia RIO, Hyundai Solaris, etc.
What happens:
R14 - 14 inch diameter (multiply by 25.4) = 355.6 mm
Width - 175
Height - 65% of 175 = 113.75
Overall dimensions - (113.75 X 2) + 355.6 mm = 583.1 mm
Tire sizesR15
The most common example is -R15 195/65, installed on many foreign cars (folk) class, but in high trim levels.
What happens:
R15 - diameter 15 inches (multiply by 25.4) = 381 mm
Width 195
Height - 65% of 195 = 126.75
Total - (126.75 X 2) + 381 \u003d 634.5 mm
As you can see, it is not so difficult to calculate the size of the rubber.
Of course, there is still other useful information on the wheel, I have already written articles about it below. For you I will list the points, read useful and interesting:
In general, read the heading - there is much more information there. As you can see, all this information can be read from the tire, sometimes you can’t even believe it!
When choosing a new "shoe" for a car, it is important to understand how to match wheels to tires. Many wheel parameters should be taken into account so that there is no dangerous situation on the road due to a bent rim or a bolt that has popped out. The seat is always calculated for a specific brand of car.
Why buy stock wheels?
Before you deal with the question of how to choose wheels for tires, you should check with the service: will your actions affect the warranty. If you independently select new wheels that differ in design from the standard ones, the manufacturer can remove your car from the warranty, and you will have to pay for all repairs out of your own pocket. It is better to inquire about all permitted rim and tire sizes for your brand.
Most dealers have ready-made twin wheel models for sale. They can also tell you how to choose wheels for tires, and show the calculation method. Keep in mind that their prices will be much higher. It is better to deal with this issue yourself and choose what you need.
Wheel width
If, nevertheless, it is decided to change the wheels yourself, then we will consider how to choose wheels for tires. First, the owners decide on the type of rim material: forged, cast are more often in demand. It is strictly not recommended to make the wheel heavier, therefore, the weight of the rim is compared with that available on the machine.
The size of the tire to the size of the disk must be matched to the width. It would seem that it should be the same, this is understandable and without recommendations. But the inner part of the rim is chosen according to the formula: W1=W2x(23%-30%), where W1 is the required value of the rim width, W2 is the tire width. Accordingly, the rim size is selected less than the tire itself by 25 or 30%.
How to calculate the width?
Let's give an example of calculation by known tire parameters. Let's take standard tires with a width of 195 mm and select discs. Tires are always taken with a smaller rim. Which limit to take, 25% or 30%, depends on the nearest standard value. That is, we multiply 195 by 0.25 and 0.3 and get 48.75 and 58.5 mm.
According to the correspondence table, which is often presented in inches, we find the nearest value. It is more rational to choose a rim width of 5.5 inches, this size is closest to the available tires. It is not recommended to take a narrower rim: there will be strong tread wear. This is due to the sagging of the rubber around the edges.
A smaller tire width to rim width will also work poorly. The fit of the rubber in the rim will be loose, making it impossible to use a tubeless setup. With the chamber, the wheel will also constantly move laterally, which will cause cracks or early failure of the wheel.
The maximum loads on the tire go during the turn, and here the cord breaks with a narrow or wider profile. The appearance of bumps or cracks in the sidewalls will be guaranteed. The lateral rigidity of the rubber is lost. There are standard values for the maximum dimensional deviation:
- For 14" wheels = 0.5 to 1".
- For 15-inch = 1 to 1.5 inches.
Values exceeding the specified range reduce the most important parameter of vehicle movement - stability. However, the greatest safety can only be obtained if the tire and rim dimensions are fully matched.
Diameter
There is a standard ratio of tires to disks. Common disc diameters are 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. Larger values apply to trucks. Car wheels are trying to increase when buying a new car.
Why increase the disk size? The answer is simple: it looks more aesthetically pleasing, large wheels go through pits more easily. But the main criterion for choosing a larger diameter is the desire to put low-profile tires. It is more designed for speeds and holds lateral loads better.
When replacing high rubber with low-profile, the overall diameter of the wheel does not increase. The dimensions of the disk itself change, and the thickness of the tire decreases. However, the wheel must not change its mass, so light alloy products will be preferred over forged ones. The latest models need to be selected more carefully.
Installation nuances
It is unacceptable to select the size and type of disk for the car by eye. It is rare that a person can see a deviation of 2 mm. And such versions of tires and disks exist. The diameter of the center of the holes for mounting the wheel must correspond to 100%.
So, models from various manufacturers with a diameter of 100 mm have analogues with dimensions of 98 mm. And often motorists turn a blind eye to this. Such an installation is unacceptable; over time, an emergency may occur due to the destruction of the metal.
When designing a car, tolerances are assigned to the minimum in the positive direction. That is, a larger diameter of 1 mm from the installation is allowed, but a smaller one is already strictly prohibited. This is due to the fact that there will be differences in tightening the nuts. Only one of them will sit down as it should, the rest will gradually unwind from vibration.
Extra options
Among the many other disc sizes, the main ones can be distinguished: the diameter of the central hole, wheel offset, types of bolted connections. The first parameter, oddly enough, is observed only by manufacturers of original products. Beautiful alloy wheels are often made universal, so the diameter can be larger than the seat. We have to turn a blind eye to this for the sake of the original texture of the wheel. The resulting gaps can be closed with bushings and inserts offered together with the disc.
A parameter such as wheel offset is measured relative to the bolt mounting plane. This dimension does not affect the handling of the vehicle. Positive offset allows you to create a bizarre shape of the wheel. However, there are limits that car manufacturers do not recommend exceeding.
Bolted connections are changed to the so-called secrets. These are connections with a similar thread, but with a unique key. Without it, attackers will not be able to quickly remove the beautiful wheels. In order to protect your property, you should not save on this. Also, the replacement of bolted connections occurs when the disc offset changes. You will need to choose a longer thread. And you should remember a simple rule: before putting the tire on the rim, try on the disk on the seat. Often an ordinary marriage prevents you from fully installing a purchase on a seat.
