6 replies to this topic

[robbo]

could someone please explain what all the profile etc bits mean on a tyre. and how it is possible to have a 165/60r12 on a 12by6 inch wheel and a 12by5 wheel, this doesnt make sense to me but its advertised in many adverts, the same tyre but two different widths of wheel!

[Bungle]

the 12 is because it a 12 inch wheel

the 60 is how tall the tyre is , a 70 would be taller and a 50 smaller

and the 165 is how wide the tyre is

a 165 tyre will fit a 5 inch rim but will look fat and when fitted to a 6 inch rim look more stretched

thats it in simple talk someone will go in to the bothin stuff

[gsms]

"165/60 R12"

165 - width of tyre in mm

60 - height, or "profile", of the tyre in relation to the width. So, 60% of 165mm

12 - To fit a 12" wheel in diameter.

Then you have the letters, "H" and "V" etc. These are maximum speed ratings to be used on that tyre.

As for how its possible to have one tyre fitting two wheel sizes, Mr Bungle said it best.

Guy.

[robbo]

right, cheers, so my next question is does anyone have any pics of a 5 inch wide with 165 and a 6inch wide wheel with the same profile?

[Sprocket]

The 70, 60, 50 and so on is called the aspect ratio (profile). its basicaly the side wall hight of the tyre. It is actualy a percentage of the tyre width. So if the tyre was 145 and the aspect ratio was 70 then the tyre side wall hight would be 101.5mm, this is 70% of 145. The 12 is the wheel size in inches. The full tyre size would look like this 145/70x12. Other letters, if present in this number denote speed ratings, so the R in 165/60Rx12 is the speed rating. this is the maximum speed the tyre has been designed to be safely used below. I dont know these ratings off the top of my head, but my geuss is that most Minis will never have a problem with speed ratings

[gsms]

so the R in 165/60Rx12 is the speed rating.

I don't think this is completely correct.

The "R" stands for "radial". It is the construction type of the tyre, and can be ignored by 99% of people buying tyres.

Speed ratings will most likely be further along the sidewall, and on a mini would probably be "T"(about 120mph), "H" (about 130mph) or "V" (about 150mph).

Everything else you said sounds perfect though.

Guy.

[Sprocket]

http://www.tyresave....k/tyrspeed.html

But then you are right in that R means radial as well. Speed ratings are normally after the rim size