Tire width question
04-03-2013, 11:40 AM
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Tire width question HELLO-QUESTION: Is a 315/40/18 tire (Nitto NT05R) the same width as a 315/30/18 (MT ET Street DR)? What I mean is does the aspect ratio 40 vs. 30 make the 315/40 appear narrower because it's a taller tire??
Thanks in advance
Thanks in advance
04-03-2013, 11:55 AM
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The aspect ratio would have no actual effect on width, but I guess your personal perception might change - althouhgh someone else might not see it the same.
IMO, "visable" width can also be different between two different brands of the exact same size (i.e. if both were 315/30/18 but were different brands, then one might "look" wider than the other). The 315mm is just the section width and does not always give a 100% accurate comparasion of how the tread width will be seen by the average eye as compared to other tires of that size. For example, I used to have Goodyear GS-D3s in a 285/40 size, and they seemed to looked as wide (at the tread) as some of the cheaper 315mm tires that I had seen - even though they technically had a narrower section width. I guess tread pattern also plays a role in the perception factor.
IMO, "visable" width can also be different between two different brands of the exact same size (i.e. if both were 315/30/18 but were different brands, then one might "look" wider than the other). The 315mm is just the section width and does not always give a 100% accurate comparasion of how the tread width will be seen by the average eye as compared to other tires of that size. For example, I used to have Goodyear GS-D3s in a 285/40 size, and they seemed to looked as wide (at the tread) as some of the cheaper 315mm tires that I had seen - even though they technically had a narrower section width. I guess tread pattern also plays a role in the perception factor.
