car tire size?

Question

my car tire size is 215-45-R17 what does those numbers stand for?I know the 17 is the diameter but which is the width ?i know they are low profile tires,and i like that .They are pretty wide to but i wanna make sure when i buy tires they are the same width.Please explain it to me,It seems my speedometer is off also which has saved me from getting a few tickets because i have been doing over the speed limit and passed radar and they did not come after me,which could be a good thing cause it says under what i am actually doing ,is that because of the low profile tires?Any info would be appreciated.

Answer 1

A few people have answered you correctly. 215 is tire width, 45 tells the wall height (it's a % not an exact measurement) and 17 is the rim size. Now as far as your speedometer being off, if you have aftermarket wheels and tires whoever put them on didn't do their homework. To keep your speedometer tracking properly you need to keep the same tire diameter as factory. Or you can have a dealer recalibrate your vehicle for the new tire size (smaller or larger tire). Look inside the drivers door jam on your vehicle, it should tell you what the original equipment tire size was for that vehicle. Most tire shops can help you pick a tire that will fit your car and keep your speedometer reading correctly.

Answer 2

Average Car Tire Size

Answer 3

215 is the width of the tire footpring, ie the tread; 45 indicates low profile; R is radial and 17 in the size of the rim opening. When buying new tires, specify the numbers to the mechanic and you will get the size you want. Larger size (rim size) tires will cause your speedometer to register faulty, if they are not the size specified in the owner's manual. This if because the speedometer cable connected to the transmission revolution gear, which is determined at the factory for the size tires on the vehicle. Any change in tire size without compensating the revolution gear will produce a faulty speed reading.

Answer 4

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RE:
car tire size?
my car tire size is 215-45-R17 what does those numbers stand for?I know the 17 is the diameter but which is the width ?i know they are low profile tires,and i like that .They are pretty wide to but i wanna make sure when i buy tires they are the same width.Please explain it to me,It seems my...

Answer 5

ok this is how it works the 215 is the outside diameter the 45 is the width and the 17 is your rim size, if you have smaller tires on the vehicle then what came on it originally your car would be slower then what your speedometer says but if the tires are the same size or bigger your vehicle would be very close to what the speedometer reads , it all has to do with the outside diameter of the tire .

Answer 6

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These will not work on your truck. First a quick rundown on what the size means. P225/70R15 100S (yes, the whole thing matters) P = the tire conforms to "Passenger Metric" load and inflation tables. I won't bore you with what that means. 225 = the "section width" or the width of the tire (not the tread) at its widest point - about half-way down the sidewall expressed in milimeters. 70 = the "section height" (sometimes called the "aspect ratio") or how tall the tire is from the bead (where it mounts to the rim on the inside) to the top of the tread on the outside expressed as a percentage of the section width. In other words, the sidewall is 70% of 225 milimeters. R = the tire is of radial construction 15 = The wheel diameter on which the tire is mounted. 100S = the "service description" of the tire which tells us 2 things. The load carrying capacity of the tire and the speed rating, or how fast the tire is rated to travel for a sustained period. 100S means the tire can carry a load of up to 1,753 lbs at 35 psi and can travel at up to 112 mph. If you figure out the section height, convert it to inches, multiply by 2 and add the wheel diameter you can figure out the overall diameter of the tire. The P185/70R14 87S tires on a Contour are too narrow, too small in diameter, need to be mounted on narrower and smaller diameter wheels and don't carry nearly enough weight (1,201 lbs at 35 psi) to be used on your truck.

Answer 7

well the first two # are for hight and with, i think the 1st one is the with! when you go buy tires just give them the same # and youll get the same size!!

the speedometer is probably because of the tires, i think the speedometer issue is because of the tires, there usually in zink with the factory tires!!

Answer 8

215 millimeters is the width of the tire and 45% of that is the sidewall height.