How do you know what rims will fit what tires? In this case, tire widths and diameters are of paramount importance that determined tire and rim compatibility. For the diameter, you will have to be certain your tires and wheels are an exact match.
Can A 16-Inch Tire Fit On A 16.5-Inch Wheel? No, a 16-inch tire cannot perfectly fit a 16.5-inch wheel. Even though a 16-inch diameter tire can pass over the lip or flange of a 16.5-inch size rim diameter.
it cannot be inflated enough to position itself on the flange of the rim. Therefore, any tire designated for use on a 16-inch wheel has to have the right beads which must be a match to a 16-inch wheel.
Consequently, due to this discrepancy or difference in the tire profile, a 16-inch tire will not sit properly on a 16.5-inch wheel.
Will a 17-inch tire fit on a 16.5-inch rim?
You should never attempt to fit 16 or 17-inch tires on a 16.5-inch wheel. It is just not anything near a correct fit. In reality, 16.5-inch wheels are specifically meant for trucks and so, they have their tires made for those wheels only.
Car performance wheels are just meant for 16 or 17 inches ( or in reality, all other full number sizes, but not those with decimals, e.g., 13 inches, 18 inches, etc.)
Can you put a 16-inch tire on a 17-inch wheel?
A 16-inch tire will certainly not fit on a 17-inch wheel. For you to get any match in this case, you will simply have to get a 17-inch wheel, then you will also have to decide on the width and the aspect ratio of the tires that you can put on a 17-inch wheel too.
In addition, their bolt patterns may be the same, but you need to consider certain measurements aside from the bolt patterns.
For instance, the overall diameter of the rim and tire of the 17-inch set has to be the same as the 16 inches set you are replacing, or at least it should be within a tolerable percentage variation, commonly accepted to be around 2 percent or below that.
What size tire will fit a 16-inch rim?
Several tires will comfortably fit a 16-inch rim. Some of these compatible tires are:
(1). 185/60-16.
(2).195/45-16.
(3). 195/50 -16.
(4). 195/55-16
(5). 215/65-16.
(6). 215/70-16.
(7). 215/75-16.
(8). 215/85-16.
(9). 315/75-16.
(10). and finally, 7.5-16 tires.
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Can you put any size tire on a 17-inch rim?
Yes, you can. Whenever it happens that you are changing the original rims and tires for your vehicle, the general rule of the thumb is to ensure that you can either go up or down by at most one inch.
To be more specific, if your car is presently riding on 17-inch wheels, you are free to use any tire of size 16 inches. So, basically, yes, you can mount any size tire on a 17-inch rim.
Can wider tires fit on 16.5 rims?
You do not need to stretch the tire to get it mounted onto the rim, but the moment it is successfully installed, you will never be able to inflate and use it. (Read Also: Will A Bad Tires Affect Alignment?)
The 16.5 inch is, to say the least, just too big for the 16-inch rim and beads, which are designed to be completely different from the 16-inch rim or wheel. Hence, it will never be able to retain any air in the first place. For that reason, don’t even attempt to try it at all.(Read Also: How Fast Can You Drive With Tire Chain?Find Out Here!)
Can I replace my 15-inch rims with 16 inches?
Of course, you can very comfortably replace your 15-inch rim with the 16-inch type. In the same vein, you can also use the 16-inch wheel with 16-inch tires as well.
However, you must be certain that the 25-inch and the 16-inch wheels have the same bolt patterns. In addition, the rolling distance changes if the overall diameter of the tire and wheel combination is changed too, and that causes your vehicle’s speedometer to go awry as well.
Are 16.5 rims safe?
Of course, the 16.5-inch rims are very safe. However, you should be aware that you cannot air down these tires too much or you may incidentally risk them slipping off the rim.
These rims are mostly regarded as very dangerous by the industry so much so that they are no longer manufactured. This implies that wherever and whenever you see them, it is from old stock.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Do they still make 16.5-inch tires?
Most tire models currently in use from different companies do not even have the 16.5-inch tires anymore. Furthermore, those companies which still stock them, have a very limited selection of the product. (Read Also: Can I Drive Long Distances With A Patched Tire?)
Are 16.5-inch tires obsolete?
No, the 16.5-inch tires may be an older size, but they cannot in reality be referred to as obsolete. Should you reckon with the actual tire sizes in which aggressive off-road tires come equipped, you will unfailingly notice that they pretty well make them in 16.5 inches mainly. As a result, for the 4 wheelings, are not anywhere near being referred to as obsolete.
Are 17-inch tires any good?
Subjectively speaking, both the 17 and 18-inch tires and wheels were in the sweet spot of grip, braking performance, riding in comfort, and an improved steering wheel feel. If you were to change from 17 inches to 18, it is liable to tremendously reduce your ride comfort or quality, although the extra grip it accords may be an advantage.
17-inch wheels have improved traction with the road since there is more rubber on the road, particularly for those vehicles conveying more than average weights. In addition, they are also lighter with resultant improved fuel economy, increase acceleration, and better braking efficiency associated with less stress on the suspension system as well.
Other standout qualities are lower costs, higher tire sidewall, and availability of more and cheaper tire choices. The last 2 items are of tremendous importance for off-road driving purposes.
Are 19-inch tires better than 17 inches?
Without any doubt, the 19-inch tires are pretty very cool tires. Despite this, it is also known that both the 17 and 18-inch tires equally offer an improved compromise of grip with the road, acceleration, price, and ride harshness, therefore, there’s not any surprise why VW uses 17 and 18-inch sizes on its hot Golf, the GTI.
On the other hand, if you are an acceleration freak, you are advised to stick with the smaller, lighter wheels and tires. And on the performance arena, the 19-inch tires inarguably offer sharper turn-in and more mid-corner balance, whereas the 17-inch tire feels vaguer.
This cross-examination of the tires on various credible indices is indeed the perfect way to test any tire against other close competitors on the market.
Do wheel and tire sizes have to match?
It depends on several factors with regards to whether they should fit or not. Wheels and tires are not interchangeable words. You ought to know that vehicle tires are all parts of the wheel set up.
For example, your vehicle may have a particular size of rims, but on the contrary, you may choose to buy different sizes of tires to mount on the rims, and as long as the middle of the tires is the correct size, there will be no complaints. So, wheel and tire sizes do not necessarily have to match.
What size tire will fit my rim?
The most important thing to put into consideration here is the wheel size or rim diameter. The wheel diameter tells us the size of the wheel or rim for which the tire is originally designed, and is measured from one end of the wheel to another. In addition, if the tire size is something like 255/60 R16, for instance, the 16 in this number simply means that the wheel is 16 inches in diameter.
Which tire sizes are interchangeable?
Should your car have an alphanumeric size, therefore, to find its interchangeable sizes in current systems, you simply have to identify your tire’s aspect ratio. If you get a 78- series alphanumeric tire, for instance, it should be replaced with any of today’s 80 or 75-series tires.
What is the difference between 16 and 17-inch wheels?
First and foremost, the 16-inch wheel is equipped with tires that have bigger sidewalls that act as a sort of cushions against sharp edges on the roads, such as ruts, bumps, potholes, and many other road obstacles as well.
While the 17-inch tires look much better, their shorter sidewalls are not as good at filtering out any road shocks you may eventually encounter on the road.
Can A 16-Inch Tire Fit On A 16.5-Inch Wheel – Conclusion
It is not always that tire and wheel specifications have to perfectly match or be the same before you can interchange them. Sometimes, these specifications may vary in their magnitudes, but the tires and/or rims may still be very interchangeable. All in all, it is in your best interest to know what factors make this interchangeability possible or not, just in case, you know.
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I am passionate about all things automotive and have a deep understanding of the topic. As a mechanic, I use my free time to share knowledge of everyday challenges that any car owner can experience – helping you make informed decisions about tires.