How To Know What Size Tire Fits Your Rim

Wheel Sizes Explained

Perchance you've decided it'southward fourth dimension to upgrade the await of your ride with new wheels, or because some other set up of wheels and tires for specific purposes similar off-roading or winter driving. If finding original equipment (OE) replacement tires is fairly straightforward, the introduction of wheels into the equation tin brand things quite a fleck more than complicated. Just about whatever vehicle tin accommodate a larger or smaller bicycle size than stock, and depending on your vehicle and purposes, the platonic cycle size and specification can vary significantly.

To get y'all briefed on the basics and headed in the right direction, let's start with some commonly asked questions well-nigh bicycle sizes and aftermarket wheels.

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What is wheel (rim) width?

Imagine a wheel separated from the vehicle and positioned upright every bit normal (ready to coil). Equally you await downwardly at the bicycle, the width is the measurement from left to correct between the cycle edges, besides chosen the wheel lips.

The width of the cycle, from left to correct.

Wheel width is measured in inches, and typically in ½" increments.

Sometimes the four stock wheels and tires on a vehicle are the aforementioned width. This is called a "foursquare" setup. A "staggered" setup is a example in which the bicycle and tire widths at the forepart and rear axles are different. For more information encounter Staggered vs. square tire and wheel setups.

How wide or narrow should your new wheels be?

Wheel width on a new set of wheels should be primarily adamant past ii considerations: Clearance and purpose.

What do we mean by "clearance?"

Within each wheel well is spacing between the wheel and tire and the surrounding vehicle components. This amount of space varies from vehicle to vehicle. Certain trucks have the bicycle well space to adapt a much wider bike than stock, whereas other vehicles are able to fit only a slightly wider wheel than stock (if at all) without modification in the wheel well expanse. The space between your stock wheels and tires, and all surrounding vehicle components is called clearance.

Regardless of whether your purpose in plumbing fixtures new wheels is avant-garde past a wider set of wheels, you are outset and foremost limited by the bachelor clearance.

To make up one's mind clearance, an automotive professional will need to measure and evaluate the space between your stock wheels and tires and all surrounding components. Clearance should be evaluated at both the front and rear axles, and while the suspension is loaded with the vehicle weight. (Unloaded suspension changes the geometry, and could lead to inaccurate clearance measurements.) Be certain to likewise take clearance measurements in the front wheel wells while moving the steering wheel from lock to lock.

If you conduct heavy loads or haul a trailer, and/or drive over crude roads, be sure to account for the added vehicle weight, a compressed suspension system, and an associated loss of clearance.

A safe clearance between the wheels and tires and all vehicle components in the wheel wells should e'er be maintained. If the bicycle and tire setup is also wide, serious vehicle damage and compromised vehicle safety tin can event.

Clearance measurements and maximum wheel width recommendations are best handled past automotive professionals.

The other important consideration when deciding on wheel width is "purpose."

If your purpose in fitting a new ready of wheels is to enhance or alter the look of your ride, then sticking with the OE wheel width(s) front and dorsum is the all-time route. The stock wheel widths were established afterwards considerable engineering science and vehicle testing, and and so if in that location's no practiced functioning reason to alter bicycle width, well and then, at that place'southward just no good reason.

If specific performance is the goal, and then it may be that going with a wider or narrower cycle than stock will help you better accomplish those goals.

For instance, winter tire and bicycle setups are conventionally narrower than stock wheels and tires. The narrower footprint allows the wheels and tires to meliorate "piece" through wintry precipitation.

On the other hand, off-road performance is typically enhanced past a wider wheel and tire footprint. A wider setup allows for more than tire contact patch, and more than traction in diverse off-road atmospheric condition.

The same is true of high performance driving – the maximum grip level of performance cars can be enhanced with a wider wheel and tire setup. At Track Days and loftier performance driving events, wider wheels and tires are the norm.

And then a decision on wheel width comes down to clearance and purpose. Both variables have to be carefully considered.

How to tell if rims volition fit my tires?

This is typically a question for drivers who are looking to upgrade the look of their wheels, only keep their stock tires and not modify vehicle performance.

Equally previously suggested, when pursuing a wheel upgrade for corrective purposes, the best (and safest) route is to maintain the stock bicycle specifications – this means maintaining both wheel width and diameter.

If these bicycle specifications are kept consistent, then your stock (OE) tires volition fit the new rims equally well.

If you change rim width or bore, due east.g. moving from an 18" bicycle to a nineteen" bicycle diameter, and then your stock tires will no longer fit the rims.

How do I tell wheel size?

If you're looking to learn the bore of your stock vehicle wheels – sometimes thought of every bit wheel elevation, or how tall the bike is – the easiest method is to review your tire size information.

The final number in your tire size (before the separate load index and speed rating) denotes both tire and wheel size. In the diagram just beneath, the size is 17 which translates to 17". This tire is fitted to a 17" bike.

Where to notice your tire's bore

Determining wheel width is a fleck trickier. The tire section width, which is the kickoff number in the tire size sequence and expressed in millimeters ("225" in the diagram in a higher place), hints at the wheel width, but does not give a certain or conclusive answer. This is because any given bicycle width can accommodate more than one tire width. A 225 millimeter section width tire, for example, can be fitted to an 8" or 8.5" broad bicycle.

To determine cycle width and the full specification details of your stock wheels, the dealership service section is ofttimes a skilful resources. Then with the full stock wheel specification in manus you can wait for equivalents or close matches.

What is bicycle diameter?

Wheel bore is perhaps most hands thought of as the measurement from top to bottom, or across the face of the wheel.

Tire size details are a clear indication of wheel diameter as detailed above.

If wheels are not fitted with tires, a standard measurement with a tape measure out will tell you what y'all need to know. Exclude the outer wheel lips that hold the tire in place as a office of the bore measurement. The bore measurement occurs beyond the front face of the wheel, excluding the lips/edges.

The wheel bore

What is the diameter of a wheel?

Bike size has been both popularized and simplified in modernistic pop civilization. In music or elsewhere you might have heard wheels referred to as "20s," "22s," "Dubs,"etc.

These are references to the bore of the wheel. Because the bore (face up) of the wheel is near influential on the look and profile, that'southward what gets the attention.

The cycle "face"

In reality, the bore is merely one of the of import wheel specifications and measurements, along with bicycle width, offset, and backspacing.

To become a proper wheel fitment for your vehicle y'all'll definitely need to consider more just wheel diameter, no matter how absurd simply having "20s" may exist.

What is wheel get-go?

So far we've touched on exterior wheel measurements and clearance factors, but that'southward only function of the equation. What occurs in the space within of your wheel barrels once they're mounted is equally important.

Wheel offset is a measurement from the rear (inside) the wheel mounting face to the center of the bicycle. Wheel offset adjusts the wheel either inward or outward once mounted. Like to the diameter and width, offset direct affects vehicle component clearance.

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The wheel "offset" (click for larger)

What is wheel backspacing?

Wheel backspacing is substantially an extension of the cycle showtime measurement. Instead of to the centerline of the wheel, the backspacing measurement occurs from the rear of the mounting face up to the back (inside edge) of the wheel lip.

Both wheel backspacing and starting time influence the spacing to the components inside of the wheel well, especially the brake calipers, likewise as diverse suspension components. Like clearance measurements for bike diameter and width, confirming sufficient clearance to these vehicle components is vital to ensure proper vehicle performance and rubber.

If in doubtfulness, or don't desire to take any take chances, selecting a wheel that is an OE equivalent in terms of bore, width, offset, and backspacing measurements is safest.

How to brand sure that rims will work with tires?

Width and diameter are the 2 factors that determine tire and rim compatibility. For diameter you lot'll need to be sure that your tires and wheels are an exact friction match, e.k. a 215/65R17 tire will only fit on a 17" diameter wheel.

There'due south a bit more flexibility when it comes to cycle widths. Here is a guide for appropriately matching up tire and wheel widths:

Matching tire width to wheel width depends on your purpose. For off-roading, the tire width is typically wider than the wheel. This creates more sidewall bulge to protect your cycle from rocks and keeps the tire from de-beading off the wheel when running low psi off-road. For case a tire size 35X12.50-xx is typically fitted on a nine.0" wide wheel, therefore the tire width is 12.5" with the wheel much narrower than the tread width. For sports cars, the general dominion of thumb is to match the wheel width to the tread width in inches. For example a tire size 285/35-19 has a tread width of 9.9". The ideal wheel width would be ten.0" for that tire. The tread width can be found on the tire manufacturer'southward websites under the specifications along with the minimum and maximum rim width range.

What do bigger wheels practise for a auto?

You mean, other than enhance the cool cistron?

Bigger aftermarket wheels are perhaps about frequently fitted to vehicles for cosmetic purposes. They can have a profound influence on the look and presence of a vehicle.

Bigger wheels and the accompanying bigger tires can have a favorable influence on certain vehicle performance purposes like off-roading.

For on-road purposes, fitting a larger wheel generally means decreasing the tire sidewall and increasing tire width. A decrease (shortening) of tire sidewall can meliorate vehicle responsiveness, handling, and feel, while expanding tire width can amend all-around grip under acceleration, braking, and cornering.

Looking to get started on a search for aftermarket wheels for your vehicle? Check out our collection of wheels.