What Size Snow Tires Do I Need

When it comes to winter tires, follow the three-per-cent rule

A different bike/tire combination is sometimes better, but there's not much leeway when irresolute the diameter

Oct 11, 2018 • May 19, 2021 • 2 minute read • Bring together the conversation

At that place's simply so much leeway you lot have in changing tire sizes before it's likewise much. Photograph by Jack Boland /Toronto Sun

If yous've recently picked up a new (or new-to-yous) ride, you lot could exist excused if you reel back with some sticker stupor when shopping for winter tires — or fifty-fifty summer rubber, for that matter. Cars of near every type, price betoken and function now seem to come equipped with larger diameter, low-contour tires. And tire prices seem to ascension almost exponentially when you striking rim sizes higher up sixteen inches and profiles below 60 per cent.

Just equally a reminder, tires are sized by their width in millimetres, their profile or height as a percentage of their width, and their rim size in inches — makes perfect sense, right? Then, a tire with the its sidewall marked 225/65R17 means the tread is 225 millimetres wide, the sidewall top is 65 per cent of the tread width, and it will fit a 17-inch wheel.

When y'all hit the 19-inch size and move upwards, things can become really expensive. So, to avoid a credit carte meltdown, many consumers shop effectually for smaller-diameter tires to be installed on wheels simply for wintertime. If things are sized correctly, moving to a smaller and narrower tire can actually improve winter traction and driving prophylactic, as particularly wide tires — such equally 275 millimetres and upwardly — can easily ride up on snow instead of cutting through it. But how depression tin you go? And will your ride be able to live with your choice?

At that place are a lot of things to consider when looking at downsizing your wheels and tires for winter. The offset question you lot should consider is, will smaller wheels clear the brakes on your vehicle? Dealership parts departments and tire retailers can usually answer this question.

Hither's why yous need wintertime tires

Next, will unlike tire sizes have clearance for turning and not rub on inner fender liners? The three-per-cent solution answers this business organisation — this refers to the limit in the change of the tire's circumference, either up or downwards, that nigh recommend. Only circumferences aren't printed on the sidewall of tires, nor does this spec announced in any publicly accessible tire catalogues.

To find out what the circumference is on any particular tire, you could grab a length of string and measure information technology. But in that location is an easier way — there are many tire size calculators online, simply allowing you lot to do a side-by-side comparison past entering your original size and what you may be because as a wintertime tire. If the two circumferences are more than three per cent apart, check out some other size.

More than one computer or sensor on just nigh anything on 4 wheels today requires an authentic and constant idea of how far and fast a vehicle is travelling. Nigh become this from wheel speed sensors, meaning if you put the wrong sized tires on a vehicle, the speed/altitude information will be inaccurate.

This can pb to cheque engine lights, transmission shifting troubles, anti-lock restriction malfunctions, forth with a possible long list of problems. On certain vehicles, it can even crusade a stall of the engine, which will not restart.

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