Date:         Wed, 22 Mar 2000 00:41:56 -0500
Reply-To:     Pat Dooley <pdooley@GTE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Pat Dooley <pdooley@GTE.NET>
Subject:      Re: tire sizes "*&%#@"
In-Reply-To:  <NDBBIMMFGLBLCBINBBHOEEEHCHAA.bpchristensen1@home.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

From what I understand the first number is supposed to be width in
millimeters, period.
Second number is percentage of first number which represents sidewall
height.
It seems tire manufactures don't always follow this convention however.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
> Of Brent Christensen
> Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2000 12:21 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: tire sizes "*&%#@"
>
>
> I may be way off, but I always thought that the "50" is a percentage
> relative to the height.  IOW, a 50 would be 1/2 as tall as it is wide,
> whereas a 55 would be 55% as tall as it is wide.  I do know that the lower
> number results in a wider tire, all other things being equal.
>
> Brent Christensen
> '89 GL Syncro Westy "Klaus"
> Santa Barbara, CA
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
> Of Lee Roesner
> Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2000 8:08 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: tire sizes "*&%#@"
>
>
> Well, I went tire shopping today getting ready for my wheels. Wondering
> what I should put on them and I have had the hardest time trying to
> "apply" tire dimensions and physical size. I was looking at two tires
> (225/50/16 and 225/55/16) and noticing that the 50 series was noticeably
> WIDER that the 55 series. I set them side by side. There it was. How can
> that be? Now my understanding (and tirerack.com online explanation is)
> the middle number (height) is the percentage of the first number
> (width). Then why oh why are these tires different widths. The tire guy
> didn't even know. Anybody?
>
> Anyone want to comment on 245"s. It looks like I may be able to clear
> everything in the wheel wells and still keep my turning radius. The new
> wheels are 7.5" wide and offset 10mm more to the outside than the stock
> wheel. Can someone tell me why this may be a bad idea? Hydroplaning
> comes to mind...but....
>
> Thanks,
> Lee
>
> --
> Lee Roesner
> PARADIGM Graphic Design & Web Development
> Northbrook Office 847-509-8704
>    Fax: 847-480-5701
> Home Office: 815-385-2969
>    Fax: 815-385-2994
> PORTFOLIO: http://www.roesner.net/vw
>