How Much Difference in Tire Size Is Acceptable?

Call Off-Road Rim Financing at (888) 871-2346 for all your after-market tire needs. 

Tire size plays a critical role in your vehicle’s performance and safety. So, before you even think of where to get affordable wheels and tires financing, you should find out how much difference in tire size is acceptable. 

In this blog post, we explore everything you should know about tire size and help you select the right tires for your car. 

Three Top Reasons You Need the Right Sized Tires

You don’t want to waste your hard-earned money on a set of tires that would hurt your vehicle’s efficiency or compromise your safety. It pays to choose tires suitable that meet the manufacturer’s specifications. Here are three key factors to keep in mind before replacing your tires:

1. Handling: If the tires are too narrow or too wide, it will take a toll on your vehicle’s stability and responsiveness. As a result, you might have a hard time cornering and braking, especially if you have anti-lock brakes. 
2. Safety: Fitting tires that are too small or too large on your vehicle can adversely impact its ability to grip the road surface and compromise traction. You won’t want to drive your vehicle under unforgiving weather conditions. 
3. Fuel efficiency: Using smaller or larger tires than the recommended size can disrupt your vehicle’s balance. This increases rolling resistance and reduces fuel economy. 

Having the right-sized tires is essential for passenger cars, trucks, crossovers, and every other type of vehicle. How much difference in tire size is acceptable? Keep reading to find the answer. 

Choosing The Right Tire Size for Your Vehicle

Understanding how to measure tires will help you pick the right ones for your needs. Manufacturers use a combination of numbers and letters to represent tire sizes. If you have a car, you’ve certainly seen something like P205/55R15 or 215/45ZR17 written on the tires. 

These codes provide critical information about the tire’s characteristics and dimensions:

• Width: The first part of the code, like P205 or 215, denotes the width of the tire in millimeters. It indicates the length from one sidewall to the next. You’ll often get better traction and stability from a wide tire. 
• Profile: The second part, such as 55 or 45, denotes the tire profile or aspect ratio. It’s the ratio of your tire’s sidewall height to its width. A lower aspect ratio, or lower sidewall height, offers improved handling and cornering. 
• Tire diameter: The third part of the code represents the tire’s construction type and rim diameter in inches. You must match the rim diameter with the right tire size to ensure a property fit. 

When it comes to replacing tires with smaller or larger ones, the acceptable range for diameter is 3%, width 2%, and circumference is 1.5%. 

Consult the Experts

If you want to know more about how much difference in tire size is acceptable, talk to the experts at Off-Road Rim Financing. We’ll provide the perfect tires for your vehicle to suit your lifestyle and budget. Contact us at (888) 871-2346 for a free quote today!