I dont really know how the tire numbers read. for instance i think mine are 235/60/98s and they are on the 10 spoke 15x7. Now will those fit other size rims or only the 15x7? I was looking at 16" ponies.....also, if they wont fit the ponies, can you please explain what the numbers mean. thanx for reading my lame question
the tires you have are probably 235/60/15s. the first number is the width of the tread. the second number is the ratio of the tread width, i.e. 60% of 235. the third # is the rim diameter. if you are going to get a set of 16" pony wheels, those tires won't fit. you would have to get a set of 16" tires, preferably 225/55/16 sized tires.
Width x Aspect Ratio = Section Height x 2 = Combined Section Height + Wheel Diameter = Tire Diameter Example...185/60R14 85H or 185/60HR14 185mm x .60=111mm x 2=222mm + 355.6mm(14")= 577.6mm or 22.74" The first number is the width of the tire in millimeters, measured from sidewall to sidewall. To convert to inches, divide by 25.4 In the example above, the width is 185mm or 7.28". The second number is the aspect ratio. This is a ratio of sidewall height to width. In the example above, the tire is 7.28" wide, multiply that by the aspect ratio to find the height of one sidewall. In this case, 185x0.60=111mm or 7.28"x0.60=4.36". The last number is the diameter of the wheel in inches. To figure the outside diameter of a tire, take the sidewall height and multiply by 2,(remember that the diameter is made up of 2 sidewalls, the one above the wheel, and the one below the wheel) and add the diameter of the wheel to get your answer.
15" tires will not fit 16" rims Like what was stated before, it's a 3 number setup. 225/55/16 is the stock tire size for pony rims. Some guys go with 245/50/16's for a little wider tire 225 is the tread width in millimeters. The patch of rubber touching the ground would be 225 millimeters wide. A 245 series tire is 20 millimeters wider the second number is the aspect ratio. It's a PERCENTAGE of the treadwidth. This is then the sidewall height. 55 means the sidewall height is 55% of the tread width which is 225. You always gotta remember it's the percentage of the width because a 195/50 is not the same sidewall height as a 255/60 the final number is the rim diameter. Like i said before, 16" tires only fit on 16" rims. You can't shoehorn a 15" tire on it.
If you want to convert the numbers into something easier for the typical american to understand just divide any millimeter measurements by 25.6 and that will get you the width and sidewall height in inches.
225, as mention'd above, is the width measured at the sidewall. Tread width, depending on tire design, can be significantly less.
true - hence why some passenger tires have less of a contact patch than a same numerically-sized performance tire. some passenger tires have quite an overhang of sidewall over the edge of the tread. (note that most performance oriented tires have a lower profile [aspect ratio], so there is less overhanging - so my analogy is skewed as it is harder to find performance tires and passenger tires of the same size (and aspect ratio). i think ya kinda get what im tryin to say).
