When car features are unfamiliar to you, you likely have some questions that need answers. For instance, if you don’t understand the difference between tire rims and tire sizes, you might not know whether one rim can accommodate different tire sizes.
You can put a different tire size on the same rim, which is the outside edge of the car’s wheel. The wheel is the inside part where the tire sits while the rim holds the rubber tire in place. To put a different tire size on a rim, the middle of the tire must be the right size for the rim.
Many people use the words wheels and rims interchangeably, but they are two different terms. This article will explain the difference between a rim and a wheel, why a particular tire goes with a specific rim, and the possible reasons you might want to change the tires but keep the rims.
Contents
What Is a Rim?
The metal or alloy rim of a wheel holds the tire in place. The rim supports the tire around the edges since a rubber tire has a “U” shape. You can see the rim as it is the curved metal at the edge of the wheel. The size of the rim determines the size of the tire.
Rim Damage
Rim damage can occur when you scrape the wheel on a curb, hit a deep pothole in the road, or some other unfortunate driving accident. When your wheel sustains rim damage, this will affect driving safety and handling. A cracked or bent rim can leak air.
A damaged rim that is more than a cosmetic scuff won’t hold the air in the tire, which can lead to vibration when sterling or a blowout while you are driving. Depending on the severity of the rim damage, the wheel could break apart.
Rim Repair
Newer cars usually have alloy rims which are easier to repair than steel wheels. If the rim can be salvaged, the cost will be less than replacement. If the rim has a minor bend or some other slight damage, a repair is usually possible.
The rim repair specialist will clean the dirt, remove any corrosion and leftover paint. The damaged area will be sanded down and patched.
Then they sand the patched spot with fine grit sandpaper and buff it out. Once the rim is primed, they paint it and apply a new clearcoat. Some rim services can complete minor repairs right in your driveway.
Another compelling reason for rim repair is that it only takes one day while ordering a new rim could take several days. A professional tire service can tell you if repair is an option.
What Is a Wheel?
The wheel is the part of your car that supports the car’s weight. It fits over the axle hub and is secured with lug nuts to hold it securely to the vehicle. Ordinary wheels are composed of steel, while specialized wheels are alloy.
Steel wheel sizes generally go up to 17 inches, while alloy wheels can go up to 30 inches. Alloy wheels are more expensive since they let you customize the appearance of your wheels and tires.
Many car owners like the appearance of larger wheels. However, wheel size affects your car’s gas mileage, handling, and acceleration. A larger wheel size will increase the noise level inside the vehicle and decrease gas mileage, too.
Larger wheels bring increased vibration while driving, which can reduce the comfort of riding. Smaller wheels allow for a tighter turn. Some wheels can connect to an app on your phone to convey information about tread status and tire temperature.
Before changing the wheels so you can mount different tires, you should decide your purpose. Larger wheels and tires improve performance while smaller wheels and tires improve gas mileage, riding comfort, and noise reduction.
Knowing Your Tires
The heavy-duty rubber tire on a car fits on the wheel. The air inside the tire is what holds the tire to the wheel.
They have treads that look like zig-zag lines to provide traction on the road. Treads also keep the tire surface on the road to avoid hydroplaning in the rain.
The type and size of the tire on your car impact the driving performance. When you understand the specifications, you can understand how tires and rims work together to ensure you have a smooth driving experience.
- Tire Type: When a “P” is at the beginning of the numeric tire size, the tire fits passenger vehicles. The letters “LT” indicate that the tire fits light trucks.
- Tire Width: The three digits after the letter show the tire width. In the above example, the width of the tire is 215 mm.
- Aspect Ratio: To find the aspect ratio, you divide the tire’s height by its width, and the answer is a percentage. The above example has a 65 aspect ratio,meaning the tire’s height is 65% more than the width measurement.
- Tire Construction: There are two types of tire construction. One is radial with an “R” designation, and the other is “B” for bias ply. Radial tires are more common and have support bands running across the tire width. The tire above is a radial tire, as indicated by the R.
- Wheel Diameter: The wheel diameter is next. This is the distance across the wheel in inches. The wheel above measures fifteen inches across.
- Load Index: The load index shows how much weight the inflated tire can support.
- Speed Rating: The final letter on the tire side indicates the speed the tire is rated to travel. The tire above can travel at a maximum speed of 139 mph. This rating doesn’t mean you should travel at that speed as you need to follow your area’s travel speeds, it indicates how fast the tire could go.
How a Tire Size and Rim Work Together
The rims of your wheels measure a specific width. The tire you choose must match the rim width, so not just any tire will work on any rim.
Here are the steps to change your tires and keep the existing rim:
- Measure the rim width from flange to flange, the space where the tire beads touch. Check your owner’s manual for the measurement if you don’t want to measure the wheel yourself.
- Check the tire code to ensure it works for your vehicle. This is the letter that indicates passenger or light truck.
- Check for the inter-hole measurement of the tire which must match the rim width. You can’t put an 18-inch tire on a 17-inch rim.
- Find the height of the tires currently on your vehicle. This is on the tire in the series of letters and numbers above.
- Find the height of the tire you want to put on your vehicle. These two heights should match.
This Youtube video will help you understand the process to see if a tire will fit your rims.
Why You Would Want to Change Tire Sizes
Since the design of a car or truck is specific to a tire and wheel size, changing the wheels or tires will impact how the vehicle drives and performs, potentially causing mechanical problems.
Here are some reasons you might change the tire size of your vehicle.
- Your current tire size isn’t available. This can happen in older cars that use a small wheel and tire size. Sometimes, a tire size is discontinued and you have to find another one that works on your vehicle.
- You want to dress up your vehicle. Some drivers want to change the vehicle’s appearance by replacing the current wheels with larger wheels. This requires a larger tire.
- You want a less expensive tire than the factory-issued tires. When it is time to replace the tires, you want to find a less expensive alternative that fits the current rims.
If you don’t match the rims and tires, the vehicle sends incorrect information to its computer. Tire rotation affects your car’s speed, how the odometer records miles, and traction control. Moreover, mismatched tires and rims can cause glitches in the anti-lock brakes.
According to tire professionals, staying within three percent of the factory-issued tire size is acceptable. In other words, go no larger or smaller than three percent of the height and width of the current tires.
Conclusion
You can put a different tire on the same rim as long as you follow the parameters closely. You can keep the rims on your vehicle and replace the tires with a model that is no more or less than three percent different from the original.
Sometimes, you have no choice in changing tires because your original tires are no longer available. Other times, you might want to change the appearance of your vehicle with bigger tires. Ultimately, when you want a significant change in tire size, you probably need to buy a different vehicle.