How Do I Know What Size Tires Will Fit My Car?

This article is meant to help the reader understand how to determine what size tires will fit their car. It is important to know this because the wrong sized tires can cause problems with the car's handling and stability.

There are a few things that need to be considered when determining what size tires will fit a car.

How do I know if tires will fit my car?

Size

The first thing to consider is the size of the tires. There are a few different ways to measure tire size, but the most common way is by the width and height. The width is measured in millimeters (mm) and the height is measured in percentages. For example, a tire might be described as being 225 mm wide and 50% tall.

The width is the measurement from one sidewall to the other and the height is the measurement from the top of the tire to the bottom. The width will usually be between 175 and 235 mm. The height will usually be between 30 and 60%.

Aspect Ratio

The aspect ratio is the second thing to consider when determining tire size. The aspect ratio is the height of the tire divided by the width. For example, a tire with an aspect ratio of 50% would be 50 mm tall and 100 mm wide.

The aspect ratio is important because it affects the car's handling and stability. A higher aspect ratio means that the tires are taller and narrower. This can make the car more stable at high speeds and better able to handle turns. However, it can also make the ride less comfortable and increase road noise.

A lower aspect ratio means that the tires are shorter and wider. This can make the car more comfortable to ride in and decrease road noise. However, it can also make the car less stable at high speeds and less able to handle turns.

The aspect ratio is usually between 40 and 60%.

Wheel Size

The third thing to consider when determining tire size is the wheel size. The wheel size is the diameter of the wheel that the tires will be mounted on. For example, a wheel might be described as being 15 inches in diameter.

The wheel size is important because it affects the car's handling and stability. A larger wheel size means that the tires are taller and the car will be more stable at high speeds. However, it can also make the ride less comfortable and increase road noise.

A smaller wheel size means that the tires are shorter and the car will be more comfortable to ride in. However, it can also make the car less stable at high speeds and less able to handle turns.

The wheel size is usually between 14 and 18 inches.

Offset

The fourth thing to consider when determining tire size is the offset. The offset is the distance from the center of the wheel to the mounting surface of the tire. For example, an offset might be described as being 30 mm.

The offset is important because it affects the car's handling and stability. A larger offset means that the tires are closer to the center of the wheel and the car will be more stable at high speeds. However, it can also make the ride less comfortable and increase road noise.

What happens if you put the wrong size tires on a car?

Putting the wrong size tires on a car can cause problems with the car's handling and stability. The wrong sized tires can make the car less stable at high speeds and less able to handle turns. Additionally, the wrong sized tires can make the ride less comfortable and increase road noise.

Conclusion

It is important to consider the size, aspect ratio, wheel size, and offset when determining what size tires will fit a car. Putting the wrong sized tires on a car can cause problems with the car's handling and stability.