How To Find Your Tire Size

Watch this short video to find which tires fit your car or truck

 

You might have a lot of questions when it comes to replacing your tires. With measurements, performance types, and load capacities, there’s a lot you might feel you need to think about. 

The truth is there aren’t a lot of factors to worry about, but there are just a few important things you need to consider.

Identifying Compatible Tire Sizes

You can check three different places to find the tire size on your  vehicle. The first is in the driver’s door jam. Open up the driver’s door and look within the door jam or on the door itself and locate the  sticker that has your tire information on it. Here you will find the wheel (rim) and tire size your vehicle came equipped with from the factory. It is important to note that if you purchase your vehicle used or had the wheels changed, the tire size could be different from when the vehicle left the factory.

For this reason, it is always a good idea to check the tire itself. You will see a series of letters and numbers that will look like this for example: 205/55R16. This will confirm the size of the tires on your vehicle. Make sure all 4 tires read the same size, as some vehicles come with staggered fitments which means the front and rear wheels and tires can be different sizes. 

You can also check your owner’s manual but the first two options will be the best.

Tire Width

When you look at the tire size, you will see a label that reads something like P215/60R16  94T. With this example, the first number, 215, is the width of the tire in millimeters. The number 60 indicates the sidewall height and width ratio of 60%. Finally, 94 shows the tire’s load capacity or how heavy a car the tires can support.

The primary factor to think about is your car’s tire width vs. rim size. If you plan to keep your rims, their size will determine which tires will work well and which ones won’t.

If you are looking to put a narrower or wider tire on your vehicle, than it currently has, there are a lot of factors to consider. This will change the way the vehicle handles, suspension geometry, anf fuel mileage. You typically have some flexibility if you are looking to get a wider tread pattern, a higher sidewall, but you cannot change to a size that varies by a great deal. It’s best to ask before you purchase tires so the right tires are installed the first time. JACK Mobile Tire can recommend the best tire size for your vehicle. 

Rims

The size of the rims you have will determine the range for the size of tires you can have on your car. This means that your wheels are compatible with a range of tire sizes that will allow your car to function optimally. You can view the Rim width size chart for comparison.

As an example, you can look at the 5 in. rims in the chart. You can see that the minimum tire width these rims are compatible with is 155 mm tires. The optimal performance width is between 165 and 175 mm, and the maximum is 185 mm. You have some options when you compare tire width vs. rim size, but these online guides are not what you should also go off of – you should always consult an expert first. Call us at JACK Mobile Tire to verify the proper fitment. 

Reasons to Change Tires

There are a few reasons why people change tires. Sometimes it’s for maintenance reasons, but other times it is for performance and aesthetics. In general, tires need replacements every 3 to 4 years, depending on how much you drive. It’s best to go with tires and brands that you feel will last at least that long.

Performance

There are several types of tires that drivers can pick from. As you change out your tires, you have the option to choose from these tire categories for increased performance on the roads you want to prepare for. There are all-season, summer, winter, and all-weather tires. 

All-season tires are convenient options because they have a good overall performance on most kinds of roads. As an all-around option, they are good for everyday use but are not recommended for driving in wintry conditions, as the compounds get hard in extreme cold.

Summer tires are great for dry pavements and also for wet roads. Most performance vehicle owners will opt for a summer tire for the best performance in warmer climates.

Winter tires offer traction in the snow and on icy roads. Traction and stopping distance are greatly improved with winter tires. The compounds that make up winter tires are different from all-season and summer tires. The tire stays soft in extremely cold conditions. If you live in an area that experiences a good amount of winter weather, do yourself a favor and get a set of winter tires. 

Owners of summer and winter tires usually exchange tires as the seasons change to match the road conditions. 

All-weather are snowflake rated, like winter tires, which means they can be used in wintery conditions. However, all-weather tires will wear out faster than all seasons tires do throughout the course of a year. 

Aesthetics

For aesthetics, you can purchase larger wheels (rims) and tires if you are looking to change the appearance of your vehicle. Wheels and tires usually have the largest impact, next to the paint, on the overall appearance of a vehicle. If you would like a wider tire or get a larger or thinner sidewall, it’s always best to consult an expert at JACK Mobile Tire Installation first.

Improperly fitted tires can cause your car’s speedometer to be off, driving experience to decline, and overall performance to suffer—causing more automotive issues later on.

Ask For Help

If you’re still unsure what size tires or what kind of tires you need for your car, you can always contact one of the certified technicians at Jack Mobile.

At JACK, technicians want to help you get the tires you need and get back onto the road. Since there are many kinds of tires out there, technicians can recommend some great options for your car.