All Tire Questions & Answers

There is an alarming number of car owners who lost the performance of their cars following the installation of a different tire size. This number is growing because not everyone understands what the tire size cause and how crucial it is to cross-check whether the tire size is right for your car or not. why gear ratio and how does tire size connect to gear ratio? So, does tire size affect gear ratio? Yes, it does.  This question got me thinking about tire size beyond just big or small. When tire size is mentioned, don’t think much about it aside from bigger tires having an aesthetic advantage over the small size tires. It is high time we begin thinking beyond this scope and ask relevant questions concerning which aspect of the car’s performance would the tire change impact negatively. It is questions such as this that will reveal what necessary measures to take when going for a large or smaller size tire to ensure that no aspect of the car’s performance is compromised. While it may not be a crime to go beyond the factory tires or carry out other car modifications to create a customized look that sets your car on a different pedestal from others, it could be liable to legal action when such is done without following the right procedure or taking the necessary precautions as some modifications can increase the risk of road traffic accidents. I do not expect you to be a car expert, however, if you are a quick learner like myself or a car enthusiast or someone who prefers to have things done with their own hands, then be ready to learn how to determine your tire diameter,  how to calculate the gear ratio and other parameters. Buckle up and get ready for some learning. Yes, there are a few calculations and formulas mentioned here, particularly on how to determine the tire diameter amongst other parameters. You must not force yourself to understand this formula or learn how to apply them. For some tires, it is unnecessary, as the diameters are well stated. Aside from the calculation or formula method, a gear ratio calculator equally exists. If however, you wish to feel powerful coming up with a value from the mathematical equation that is the same or close to the values provided by the calculator, then you are welcome to give the formula method a shot. Trending Searches How Long Can You Ride On A Patched Bike Tire? Can I Use Tire Jack To Change oil?Find Out What is the effect of bigger tire size on the gear ratio? when speaking of gear ratio, this aspect of the car performance cannot be glossed over without apportioning any form of significance. This is because the gear ratio has bearing on how well or poorly the car accelerates and also dictates other aspects of the car’s performance. Therefore, if looking to change the size of the tire from the factory size to a customized size, and hoping to maintain the optimal performance of your car, you must ensure the size is not such that compromises the gear ratio. Technical terms such as gear ratio are not easily understood by those who are unfamiliar with automobile terminologies or those who did not major in this field. It is, therefore, necessary for my experience to always state what these terms mean to offer a better and more in-depth understanding of the topic of discussion. So, what do you understand by gear ratio in the first place? Every car has an output and input shaft, these two are compared to arrive at what is being referred to as gear ratio. Simply put, the gear is the ratio of the number of turns or rotations made by the output shaft to the single turn made by the input shaft. Do not be taken away by the thought of how good a tall tire will look on the car. that desired final finish is as important as another aspect of the car can good be affected adversely. Therefore, before attempting to have a new set of tires installed, the size of your current tire, the current gear ratio, the size of the incoming tires, and the gear ratio this will produce should all be figured out. Without undertaking the necessary calculations, you could inadvertently compromise the car’s acceleration and overall performance at the expense of beauty. If the larger size tires were desired given improve the performance of the car, then this will be equally defeated when the right thing is not done. Yes, I understand you are not a mathematical and probably do not like to do any form of mathematical calculations, simple or complex. But if you are asking these questions, there is a chance you are familiar with simple calculations associated with the automobile field, if not, you can turn to your tire dealer to explain this to you and do the calculation on your behalf. However, if you are ready to form some simple mathematical calculations, here is how to determine on your own what your tire diameter is; Tire diameter = 2 x section width x aspect ratio + rim diameter Note however that some tire types do not require you to undergo this calculation. The large tires, off-road tires, street style tires, and similar categories of tires come with the tire diameter specified of the sidewall and therefore do not need to be calculated. This is because this size of tires is more likely to need you to account for the gear ratio than the regular size tires. However, for tires such as passenger and light truck tires, this calculation becomes necessary.  What you are mostly concerned about is the drive ratio, therefore, after figuring out what the diameter of the current tires about to be replaced is, and the diameter of the tires you wish to install, these two diameters can be multiplied by each other and the total multiplied by the … Read more

Desiring bigger size tires is a common finding and not seen only by those who wish their vehicle to have a more sturdy look. Rather, larger tires are also desired by those who wish to customize their vehicle, add something to it that will allow it to be easily differentiated from other vehicles, and also improve its driving performance at the same time. You cannot however go ahead to fit whatever tire size you deem fit for your car as not all sizes can fit a stock Jk without some form of modification. So, Will 35’s fit on a stock JK? Most of the answers to this question will come in the phrase ” it depends”. For a tire to fit perfectly well, one of the factors to bring first into consideration is the wheel of the car well. Different models of JK cars, depending on the year of production have different sizes of wheels well. This means, that a larger tire size such as 35s may fit one model of JK but not the other. Take, for example, JK 2007-2018 models do not have any problem with larger tire sizes and do not require any form of adjustment to have a large size tire such as 35 inches installed. This is because these models have the largest wheel well and can accommodate a tire that large. Not all the JK models however have this advantage, see will require some fo pf adjustments or modifications following the installation of large-size tires. Take the 2017 sports model for example, yes, the 35-size tires can be installed on them, but this will require lifting and other adjustments. What is needed to install 35′ tires on a stock JK? The moment you step outside the factory tires for your car, you are faced with the question of whether the new customized size will fit perfectly or create additional problems for you. For this reason, care must be taken to only go with what is most fitting for your car. The most common of the challenges faced by those who install large size tires such as the 35-inch size tires without considering the dimensions of their car and that of the tire is that they soon discover the tire runs against some part of the vehicle. In the case of the 2017 model of the JK sports car, the challenge is common with the splash guard. The splash guard is a necessary but expendable car accessory that keeps the body of the car protected from muddy roads and other wet road conditions. When the 35-inch tire is installed, the tire tends to rub against the splash protector, this is neither okay for the splash guard nor the tire and will cause an unpleasant characteristic noise. When faced with this sort of challenge, what is commonly done by some is to have the splash protector trimmed in such a way that there is enough allowance between it and the tire to keep the tire away from rubbing off on it. It has also been advised to have the splash protector or guard removed completely. The splash guard is not an indispensable car part and can be removed as a cost you pay for beauty. Trending Searches Will Flat Tire Damage Rim? Can Tire Shine Damage Paint? What is the recommended tire size for a stock JK? Why the advocacy to stick with certain sizes and not install certain sizes of the tire? This is on account of the different challenges faced with inappropriate tire size. Usually, for front tires, the front of the tire is not commonly an issue as there is usually enough allowance there. The space between the car frame and the tire is enough to allow the installation of a 35-inch tire size. Most of the challenge is faced with the space behind the front bumper. This space is not usually as spacious as that in front and tends to create a rubbing problem with large tires. If you drive a wrangler, you probably will not have any cause to worry about apart from the front tires. This is because the rear of this model is accommodative enough and the 35-inch tire size will not constitute any problem. Concerns about the large tire rubbing on parts of the framework of the car are seen only where there is not enough space or allowance. When discussing what is recommended for a stock JK, the literature, as well as advice from experts based on their findings and experience, has it that the 33-inch inches tire size is what is commonly advanced to have on your stock JK. remember tire size is not a function of a single factor, several things are bought into consideration before deciding on what fits and what does not. For example, in deciding the right tire size for your stock JK,  you must consider the model of the car in terms of a year, the offset of the well as well as its clearance. Can 35s fit a stock JK without a lift? Depending on your JK model 35 inches of the tire can become a big deal, especially with a model that does not have enough wheel well allowance. When the question of whether a 35-inch tire fits a stock JK without a lift is asked, I always tell people to have in mind not all tires designated as 35 inches are 35 inches in size. Some companies have been noted to have tires whose sizes are considerably close to the slated size on the sidewall while others have sizes that differ by more than 1.25 inches from what is stated. It is therefore possible to have a tire that is said to be 35 inches but in actual sense is just about 33.75 or there about. Therefore once you hear a 35-inch tire, do not be quick to assume this will be exactly the case. Tire companies such as Nitto have over time maintained a tire size not … Read more

The question “will Mercedes wheels fit Audi?” is frequently asked because both car manufacturing companies originate from the same country – Germany. There have also been rumors about the companies being closely knitted to one another, well, that would have to be a discussion for another day. The answer to the question “will Mercedes wheels fit Audi?” is NO; Mercedes wheels will not fit Audi. The reason might vary based on the assessment of different experts, but speaking on specifics; the offset for Mercedes is 37mm while that of Audi is around 45mm, besides, the center bore for Mercedes is way larger than those of Audi which makes it practically impossible for Mercedes wheels to fit Audi.  Regardless of the differences, the wheels on an Audi should fit a Mercedes, but I wouldn’t bank on it though. What is the wheel bolt pattern on an Audi? The wheel bolt pattern of Audi models including S8, A8, S6, A6, S4, and A4 have a bolt pattern of 5X112. The Audis with a different bolt pattern is the TT model which has a bolt pattern of 5X100. Audi Q7 has a different bolt pattern as well. The offset of all Audi vehicles will also tend to vary depending on the actual model, but also relative to its rim width. The actual measurement is usually determined by the wheel to bolt up a level to the hub face to the wheel’s center line. For a particular width – depending on the model of Audi – the lower the offset of the vehicle, the greater its wheel will be pushed outward in the direction of the fender.  Audi models such as A8 19’s and 18’s with an 8 ½ width have their offset measured at 45mm. However, the offset on the 9/20 is measured at 46mm which doesn’t really differ in the actual sense, but when you consider the maths involving the wheel centreline and the bolt up level, you’ll see that half of the width increase will face inwards – about ¼ inch – while the other half will face outwards. In the case of the A8 series, they can sufficiently handle the increase that comes in the offset without causing damages to the suspensions inwardly or outwardly rubbing the fenders. Anyone looking to give their Audi a more robust look can consider reducing the offset to a particular width, or better still, use spacers. This correction will place the load away from the bearing, but it will sufficiently increase the wear on the suspension parts. Owners of Audi OEM rims looking to achieve a robust look might not be able to do it without spacers since most of the Audi rims are built with similar offsets with a particular width. The exemptions in this category are RS6, S6, C5, A6, and 4.2C5; and the reason they are exempted from the list is that they are produced with big fenders. Usually, Audi reduces the offset to about 10mm in a given width, but it use to be a bit more.  Regardless, if you want 18s, the only option you might have would be to use RS6 wheels which can be quite rare to find. Those who have a set of these hard-to-get wheels will tell you that they slightly move outside the edge compared to the 20’s you know, even though the ’20s are designed with 275/35’s and RS 6 wheels are designed with 255/45. There are more choices out there in the open market, usually around ET 35 which are closely related to the C5 fender flare group. Spacers will allow you to do a lot without wheel expenses or changeouts. For instance, when spacers are used at the rear, the wheels are more tucked inside the fenders than in the front. The same goes for more issues with suspension loading, the wheel bolts will have to be properly fit. Finally, all these should be adhered to if you want a good set that puts the diameter in the same proportion as the wheel bolt-up level, to help reduce the effect of the added appearance. Trending Searches How do I know what rims will fit my car? Because of the many options available to us in wheel styles, one can easily get confused as to what wheel will fit a particular ride. You might like a particular set of wheels but it’s definitely not a guarantee that it would fit on your vehicle. Not to worry, the steps clearly outlined below will help you solve this dilemma regardless of the vehicle type. Step 1 Ensure you know the bolt pattern Knowing the bolt pattern of your vehicle is the foundational knowledge you must have. I have already started the Audi bolt pattern to be 5X112 for most of the car series except the TT model and Q7. If you aren’t sure about the bolt pattern of your vehicle, you can always Google it, or better still, count the number of lugs on a wheel, then use a tape to measure the distance between any opposing lug nut. Step 2 Measure the stock dimension of your wheel To get the true measurement of a wheel, you have to measure the wheel diameter and the overall width using your tape. If the replacement tire you have fits the measurement, go right ahead and do the exchange. Some wheels might also fit even if they have a larger diameter or wider wheels, but note that you’re going to have issues when it comes to clearance. However, if you still wish to install wheels with larger diameters than required, then installing low profile tires would be the way to go because they help put the outer dimension of the tire and wheel in the same bracket – one does not exceed the other. This also means that using a wider wheel will require you to install wider tires.  Step 3 Know the offset of your rear wheels For those who don’t know, the offset of … Read more

I remember traveling to Africa – Nigeria to be precise – for an engineering conference when I overheard some technicians funnily referring to the BMW model, they practically called it “Be My Wife”; and while it sounded funny back then, I bet we can all agree that having a BMW packed in our garage is considered a big step up. However, there have been some questions raised concerning the wheels with some asking “will Mercedes Wheels Fit BMW?” NO, Mercedes wheels won’t fit because Mercedes wheels are designed with a bolt pattern of 5X112, while BMWs have a bolt pattern of 5X112. What this is means is that the massive difference between the bolt pattern makes it practically impossible to not only fit BMWs but also dispels the use of wobbles since it is more than the 2mm safety line required for wobbles to be used. Trending Searches Do all BMWs have the same lug pattern? As a matter of fact, most of all the BMWs in the market today come with a 5-lug bolt and a 120mm bolt circle. The few exemptions would be the G01 7-series (2009 model), and all the G-chassis as well. These vehicles use the 5X112 bolt pattern with the same amount of lug bolts, with a difference of an 8mm tighter circle. Which wheel will fit perfectly for my BMW? I will be taking out time to outline some of the best wheels that would be adequate or perfect for your BMW depending on the model. Based on the information I got from www.bimmerworld.com the wheel specs are broken into categories to give you the best fit possible. Stock The wheels labeled ‘stock’ in the table I will be providing shortly mean they are rather aggressive than your regular wheel and if they are offered by BMW, then they must definitely fit. Easy The wheels labeled ‘easy’ means you have to make an upgrade using a lower offset that sits right with the bodywork. There are also chances that you would find wheels below this given offset that will work. Mild The wheels labeled ‘mild’ will generally fit without you making any real modification on your part. Bold The wheels labeled ‘bold’ are sizes that are approaching or have exceeded the physical fit of your BMW. Track A Wheels labeled Track A are usually the preferred size based on the expert’s recommendation. Track B/C/D These wheel sets offer a different dimension to the Track A wheels. Kindly note the following; The track and bold wheel recommendations will not fit directly on your bolt, but they will work with the help of fitments and you might also need to trim your plastic fender liners, extra negative camber, or use wheel spacers where necessary. Ideally, the real offsets are the best options available, however, using wheel spacers will help solve the problem of placing difficult fitments. ET will be used in place of offset in the table unless otherwise stated. BMW fitments for E82 and 128i For the E82, it squeezes the E9X into a smaller and tighter exterior, which directly means narrow wheels and high offsets. Also, note that any wheel over 8.5 inches will be very difficult to fit in an E82. Forward/rear Stock Roll diameter Easy Mild Bold Track A Track B F 18 X 7.5   ET 49 24.77 Inches 18X8   ET 45 18 X 8.5   ET 45 18 X 8.5   ET 40 18 X 8.5   ET 45 18 X 90   ET 45 R 18 X 8.5   ET 52 24. 27   Inches 18 X 9   ET 50 18 X 9.5   ET 58 18 X 9   ET 45 18 X 8,5   ET 45 18 X 9   ET 45 BMW fitments for E82 1M Note that the 1M model of E82 uses the same brakes and suspension from M3 albeit with more space and wide fenders. Finally, wheels from E9X M3 will adequately fit on 1M. Forward/rear Stock Roll diameter Easy Mild Bold Track A Track B F 19X 9   ET 31 25.75 Inches 19X9   ET 19 19 X 9.5   ET 35 19 X 9.5   ET 22 18 X 9.5   ET 22 18 X 10   ET 25 R 19 X 10   ET 25 26. 30   Inches 19 X 10   ET 15 19 X 10.5   ET 27 19 X 10.5   ET 24 18 X 9.5   ET 22 18 X 10   ET 25 BMW fitments for F22 228i-M240i Owners of the F22 may be disappointed with the relatively small tires this series is designed with, and if you look carefully, the E82 and F22 wheels are quite similar (compare the charts), with the offsets being low upfront. Forward/rear Stock Roll diameter Easy Mild Bold Track A Track B F 19X 7.5   ET 45 25.20 Inches 19X8   ET 38 19 X 8.5   ET 45 19 X 8.5   ET 40 18 X 8.5   ET 45 18 X 9   ET 50 R 19 X 8.0   ET 52 24.79   Inches 19 X 8.5   ET 45 19 X 9.5   ET 58 19 X 9.5   ET 43 18 X 8.5   ET 45 18 X 9   ET 50 BMW fitment for F87 M2 This series of BMW uses the same offsets and wheel size as the M4/M3, but note that it doesn’t have enough room for wide wheels. The 10-inch wheels might fit, but because of the little fender space available, your tires might rub against it. Forward/rear Stock Roll diameter Easy Mild Bold Track A Track B F 19X 9   ET 29 25.75 Inches 19X9   ET 24 nil 19 X 8.5   ET 28 18 X 9.5   ET 35 18 X 10   ET 33 R 19 X 10   ET 40 26. 30   Inches 19 X 10   ET 35 nil 19 X 10.5   ET 40 18 … Read more

When we talk about alignment, even those who lack the proper technical term to define what this is can explain how it feels like when the alignment is no longer in order. The most obvious of these signs is the battle that ensues between the driver and the steering wheel over who is in control of the car. In order not to fall into such a situation, it is best to learn what affects the allotment and ways to maintain the car alignment.  So, Does tire size affect alignment? Yes, tire size is one of the factors which greatly affect alignment. A questionnaire was to be passed around amongst individuals shopping for a new size tire for their vehicle. The majority of the population in such research would indicate their need for a bigger tire as a desire to have their car look better than its pairs. Only a handful will remember to consider the after-effects of such size such as the impact on alignment, fuel consumption, the gear ratio, and others. There is nothing much to changing car tires. The skill sets required include learning how to use the jack to raise the tire off the ground, knowing how to unbolt all the nuts using the appropriate tool, and learning how to unmount the tire and replace it with a new one that is secured. The Jack is released and you should be good to go.  If the new tire is of the same size as the old one which just got replaced then the above procedure ends there without any complication. However, if you decide to buy a tire, not of the same size as the original follow come tires, which came with the vehicle from the car company, then know that such tire may not be a perfect match for the car and as such may require some adjustments. The latter scenario, that is, when the new tire is of a different size from the old one is what is considered in this article. Here, we shall take a close look at what relationship exists between the size of the tire and alignment, if any, how does tire size affect alignment?. Other similar questions such as the effect of a large size tire on alignment, why there is a need to have an alignment done whenever you install new tires, and more are covered here. Trending Searches Can Tire Rotation Throw Off Alignment?Find Out Will A Bad Tires Affect Alignment? What happens to the alignment when you change your tire size? As long as you only make use of factory-size tires, you may never have to bother about alignment following a tire change except for other causes of misalignment such as curbs, speed bumps, and potholes ( this will be explained later). Sometimes, even with the same size tire as factory tires, you may have to get an expert to inspect the alignment after a tire change to make sure the process did not mean up with it. However, most cases of worrisome misalignment are seen when the newly installed tires are not of the same size as what is recommended by the factory. How does size relate to alignment? When we talk about tire size, it commonly refers to how tall the sidewall of the tire is or how wide. Big size tires are commonly wider than the average tire and also have an increased sidewall height.  Imagine what happens when you try fitting your foot into your teenage sneakers, at this stage in growth and development, your feet have outgrown such size and if forced into the shoe will cause stretching and possibly tearing of the show material. When a tire that in comparison with the original factory tire is much larger and taller is installed without the proper necessary adjustments, what happens is that this will cause the different parts of the suspension to become stretched. This then translates to different forms of misalignments including the caster, camber, and toe angle.  Do you need an alignment after installing new tires? Once a new tire is installed, it brings in a lot of changes as the parts of the suspension adjust to accommodate the new size of the tire. This is a negative adjustment that brings about a misalignment. It is for the experts to therefore examine the new tire, and its dimensions and come up with the needed adjustments and modifications that will allow a good fitting of the new tire. This is a process that demands a good level of knowledge and expertise and can not be carried out by the car owner alone. The services of a well-versed and professional expert must therefore be sorted in this case. Some defects are manageable and pose no significant threat. Some drivers have formed the habit of ignoring certain dysfunction as long as the car can come on and drive them to their various destinations. It should however be noted that such practice will only encourage further deterioration of the involved parts. In the case of an incorrect alignment following the installation of a new size tire, the improper alignment has the most effects on the tire lifespan. irrespective of what is stated as the normal lifespan of the tire, the durability of the construction material, and as long as the alignment is not in order, be sure to have the tire lifespan cut short. While tires wear without the presence of any form of abnormality such as incorrect alignment, the wear in this car is usually a uniform pattern, slow and regular. This is quite different from what is noticed with tire wear secondary to incorrect alignment. As usual, I believe an analogy paints a better picture. So, imagine an individual with an abnormal walking gait which causes the shoe to wear from one side of the sole. Soon, this part becomes sunken making it difficult to continue using the shoe. Ironically, upon inspection, the general outlook of the show may show a … Read more