What is the 3 percent rule for tires?

As a general rule, you want replacement tires that are within 3 percent of the diameter (height) measurement of your existing tires' diameter — assuming your current tires are what your owner's manual recommends.

How much difference in tire size is acceptable?

When changing tire sizes, we recommend staying within 3% of the diameter/height of the original tire. Any more than this and you face the risk of brake failure.

Should you go down a size for winter tires?

Downsizing your tires (aka minus sizing) can be effective for winter driving. Rather than using your factory rim and tire size, a smaller diameter wheel is matched with a more-narrow-but-taller tire. Overall, the tire is intended to be the same height as you'd choose a higher profile tire.

How much can I deviate on tire size?

Generally, it is recommended to not exceed a 3% difference when changing from the OEM size on a non-modified vehicle. A green row means that the alternate tire diameter matches the calculated tire diameter.

Can I downsize my tires?

The simple answer is no! It is unsafe to downsize your car tires, regardless of the many virtues which you may have heard earlier. It is not a safe thing to do; several things can go wrong and there might even be accidents. For one, you will lose the element of acceleration.

How to Read a Tire Size

Can you change the aspect ratio of your tires?

That said, the only dimensions you can change are the width and aspect ratio — never the wheel size, unless you buy replacement wheels — and you should always strive to keep the total height of the tire the same as the OEM. So, if you widen the tire, you may need to decrease the aspect ratio, and vice versa.

Do you need an alignment after changing tire size?

When the tire size is different from the factory, a car's alignment will need to be adjusted after a tire change. This is because tires that are wider or taller than original equipment tires stretch the suspension slightly and cause changes in camber and caster angles, as well as toe angles.

What happens if one tire is bigger than the rest?

A: The mismatched tire is a dangerous situation. It should be replaced with the proper size immediately. And they have placed the tire on the worst possible end of the car, the rear. Mis-sized rear tires can lead to a loss of control under hard braking (the car can spin).

Will changing tire size void warranty?

Changing your tire size shouldn't void your warranty unless they can somehow prove that the larger tires caused something to fail. Pretty unlikely with the tire size you are talking about. There are a lot of others putting far larger and heavier tires on their truck than you are.

Can I use 235 tires instead of 245?

The quick answer is yes you can replace 245/50-18 tyres with 235/50-18 but they will have 10mm (0.4 in) smaller overall diameter. Will only slightly effect speedo and odometer - ie speedo will read about 1.5% high.

What tire width is best for snow?

A narrower tire does a better job in snow. As a rule of thumb, for winter tires you can reduce the width 10mm, increase the aspect ratio 10 percentage points, and get a wheel one inch smaller — in this case 215/60R16. This is called Minus One sizing.

Are 18 or 20 inch wheels better?

They may provide less comfort.

Due to a decreased sidewall, 20-inch tires can increase the discomfort you feel when going over potholes, speed bumps, gravel roads, and other road hazards. If you're into off-roading, 20-inch tires might not be the best choice.

Are skinnier tires better in snow?

– In the winter, narrow tires are better under extreme conditions as they provide higher surface pressure against the road. Narrow tires also work better than wider ones in loose snow and slush.

What happens if one tire is smaller than the rest?

Smaller tires can cause inaccurate information from your speedometer and odometer, create transmission shifting issues, cause anti-lock brakes to malfunction, and may even trip your check engine light.

Can you drive with 2 different size tires?

Having different sizes on some four wheel and all wheel drive vehicles can actually do damage to the vehicle. Since tires vary from brand to brand, and even from model to model, damage can even occur with tires of the same size if they have a large enough difference in circumference.

What happens if I put the wrong size tires on my car?

Reduced Performance Quality. Firstly, driving on tires that don't fit properly can severely hinder your car's performance capabilities. They do this by preventing the treads from coming into full contact with the pavement and lessening traction as a result.

Does new rims void warranty?

NOTHING will void your warranty. Warranty claims can be DENIED if an aftermarket part can be proven to have been a direct cause of the problems. It doesn't mean that dealers won't go as far as they can to deny your claim - but you have clearly documented rights. Wheels and tires aren't a concern at all.

Will a tune void my warranty?

The manufacturers might want you to believe this but nothing is further from the truth. Aftermarket replacement parts will not void your new car's warranty. However, modifying or tuning your car might run afoul of your car's warranty coverage.

Does putting a lift on a truck void the warranty?

Lifting Your Truck Voids Your Warranty…

Lifting your truck past 2” (or at all for some brands, like Toyota) will void the warranty on parts that are affected or damaged by the lift kit. However, anything not related to or affected by the lift kit will still be covered.

Can I use 165 tires instead of 175?

Yes, you can replace the 165 tires wit 175 tires. The circumference of the 175/65 is slightly smaller so your speedometer will read slightly lower than it did before for any given engine speed.

Do front and rear tires need to match?

For optimal safety and performance, Continental recommends fitting the same tires to every wheel position on your car, so drivers should have the same brand, size, tread pattern, load index, and speed rating on the front and rear tires.

Can you put different size tires on front and back?

What happens if wheels are different sizes. In a front- or rear-wheel-drive vehicle, as long as both rear wheels are the same and both front wheels are the same and the suspension geometry is set up to accommodate this, the vehicle will operate fine.

How much does wheel alignment cost?

The cost of an alignment depends on several factors: The number of wheels: A front-end alignment, which involves only the two wheels on the front of the car, typically costs anywhere from $50 to $75. Four-wheel alignments cost more, usually $100 to $150.

How often should you rotate your tires?

Namely, it's a best practice to rotate tires every 5,000 to 7,500 miles or so. This is a rule of thumb, however, and you'll want to double-check with your vehicle's owner's manual for more specific information.

Should I get new tires or an alignment first?

For the most part, doesn't matter whether you get your alignment before or after having your new tires put on. Most experts agree that the only effect worn tires have on your alignment is a change to the vehicle's ride height which, given today's steering and suspension design, should be negligible.