just curious anyone help here

[deleon87]

why is it that the 185/60HR14 rub

and the 195/45R15 don't?

[FB71]

let's do the math...

185/60/14 = 185mm tread width / 60% of tread is sidewall height = 111mm / 14in rim = 355.6mm

so 355.6(rim) + (2 x 111)(sidewall at the top and bottom) = 577.6mm tall

195/45/15 = 195mm tread width / 45% of tread is sidewall height = 87.75mm / 15in rim = 381mm

so 381(rim) + (2 x 87.75) = 556.5mm tall

therefore, the 14in rim tire is 577.6mm tall and the 15in rim tire is 556.5mm tall, a difference of 21.1mm

that means the 185/60/14 tire is about 13/16in taller than the 195/45/15

[qaking]

Thanks "Professor Jim"! :wink:

[Safety Guy]

Also on the various tire websites, they often have tire specs available which may list the diameter of the particular size tire, as well as it's weight.

However, figure in that the "pure math" that we can do on paper may not accord with the actual tire sizes in the real world. Perhaps different tire manufacturers measure their tires in slightly different ways, etc.

In the gun world, a ".38 Special" ain't a ".38 caliber." It's .357 caliber. I bet there are some similar issues going on in other areas of manufacture.

However, I've done my share of figuring tire sizes on paper and it should give a pretty decent idea of how much size difference there is between tires.

Karl

[deleon87]

does anyone know if anyone makes a 175/50r14

[Safety Guy]

I doubt it very much. I've never seen it, and don't recall ever seeing it.

Go the various tire stores on line and use their "tire size" selectors to see what's available.

Karl