Hi, my car has 245 / 50 / 16 tires. If I get 245 / 45 / 16 tires will those work just as well? I need new tires and someone is selling rims/tires of that sizeWhat does the difference mean?
the 245 / 45 /16 will have a little skinnier sidewall, which will help a bit with handling.
Let me break down the tire size for you: 245 the nominal width of the tire from sidewall to sidewall in millimeters. It is not exactly 245mm because it is a nominal size that fits within a range of acceptable side wall flex and tire loading. 45 Aspect Ratio. It is the height of the sidewall (from rim to top of the surface tread) expressed as a percentage of the tire width. Therefore, 45% of 245mm 110.25mm For a 245/50 that means the sidewall is 122.5mm 16 wheel diameter. The tire will only fit on a 16 wheel. So, if you replace the 245/50s with 245/45s you will have a significantly shorter tire (by about 1 inch). This would significantly shorten your tire circumference which would cause an error in your speedometer. The load range of the smaller tires will be lessened as well meaning it could be less safe if the actual Gross Weight of your vehicle surpasses this range. You will experience a harsher ride. There will also be the effect of having a lower gear ratio in your car (you'll get worse gas mileage but your acceleration will be a bit better-if you care). Last but not least: It will probably look stupid. If you don't do anything like lower the suspension you will have this ugly fenderwell gap for all to see. My suggestion: Keep the original size. And if you want an upgrade change the whole wheel/tire package to what they call Plus One or Plus Two sizing.
