Jun 07 2011
How To Downsize Tyres As Fit For Winter
Vehicle owners rarely opt for winter tyres during the winter season. There are a few you are of the opinion that all season tyres do not have a maximum grip in cold or icy condition. Thus they prefer to change to winter tyres during the winter season, so as to prevent accidents which are caused due to skidding of the car.
Cheap Tyres/second hand tyres/part worn tyres are mostly used by vehicle owners. You can get these for winter season too. You have to be very careful while choosing the correct one. They may be fit for all seasons but they should be correctly designed to provide you with maximum grip with old or icy conditions.
The most important point in enhancing the performance of winter tyres, is to see that the right size is fitted on the wheel of your vehicle. The O.E. tyre size is found on the side wall of the tyre. It will read as: 255/50R17. The first number is the width of the tyre i.e. 255 in mm. Here 50 represent the height of the tyres, side wall as a percentage of the tyre width. i.e 127.5mm which is 50% of 255. The last number is the diameter size of the wheel which is in inches. In the above it is 70 inches.
Downsizing tyres is very necessary while selecting winter tyres. Now you can calculate the overall tyre height, in inches with the formula – ((width/25.4) x Side wall Percentage ) x 2. If you calculate the height of the above example it will be done as ((255/25.4) x 50%) x 2 =10.04inches.
Finally you have to combine the overall tyre height with the diameter of the wheel. Taking the above example of, 255/50R17, you will add 10.04 to 17,the tyre height, for a final diameter size of 27.04 inches. By using 3% variance rule. You will install a new tyre and wheel combination i.e between 26.23 inches and 27.85 inches in diameter in total. These calculations will ensure that you put your money for the right tyre.
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