Tire dimensions play an essential role in the performance of your car. Tire dimensions can affect the handling, safety, and gas mileage. Wrong size car tires can lead to decreased fuel economy and can even harm the transmission. Larger than the recommended size will increase the rolling resistance and thereby the gas mileage. They can also alter the functioning of the vehicle, which can affect the transmission. Larger tires can reduce the car’s effective gear ratio as the larger tires rotate slower to cover the same amount of road, which can cause strain on the transmission. Wrong size tires can also affect the handling, your odometer as well as braking (ABS). Wider tires can also increase the risk of hydroplaning.
Therefore, when buying new tires, you should always look up the correct tire dimensions for your car or SUV in your car manual. Whether you are looking for all-season, all-weather, or winter tires, the recommended tire dimensions should be followed. The tire dimensions are noted on the sidewall and in your car manual. If the dimensions are 225/50R17, you need to buy 225/50R17 all-season tires, 225/50R17 all-weather tires, or 225/50R17 winter tires. With 225 signifying the tire width in millimeters, 50 is the aspect ratio, R stands for the construction type (in this case, Radial), and the wheel diameter is 17. Other markings on the sidewall are the DOT symbol, load index, tire type, tire identification number, and the Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG)
As mentioned above, the wrong size tires affect the rolling resistance, which is the resistance your car has to overcome to move forward. Larger tires have a higher rolling resistance which translates to lower fuel economy. Other things that affect rolling resistance are how aggressive the tread is. For example, winter tires and all-weather tires have more aggressive tread than all-season tires, making them less fuel-efficient. A low rolling resistance tire can save you as much as 6 percent on fuel costs. If you want to do something good for the environment and lower your fuel costs, you should invest in a low rolling resistance tire. The best way to reduce fuel costs and do something good for the environment is to invest in tires with low rolling resistance while respecting the correct dimensions. Larger tires have one advantage over smaller tires in that they improve handling. Larger tires have wider tread faces and stiffer sidewalls allowing for decreased braking distance and improved acceleration, especially in muscle cars and high-performance vehicles. Wider tires offer better grip; however, due to the tire compound being softer and with this softer compound, the tires are wider to hold the car’s weight.
Using the correct size tire dimension for your car or SUV is essential. Correct tire dimensions allow for the best performance and handling of your car or SUV. The right tire dimensions, in turn, will allow for the best fuel efficiency, thereby saving fuel and making the tires more environmentally friendly.
For more information regarding right size tires, visit: https://www.nokiantires.com/