Tire Measurements

[daniel4191]

ok guys this has probably been asked before but here goes... whats all the difference in like a 285 tire and a 33" tire and a 315 and a 35" tire and is there like a coversion or something? and why do they do this?

[AThomas7782]

Metric tire sizes are designated in the format 285/70/17, whereas flotation tire sizes are in the format 33x12.5x17. The U.S. sizes are height x width x rim diameter, where metric sizes are width (in mm) x sidewall height ratio (70% of 285) x rim diameter (in inches). You can find converters all over the web. An example is here: Tire Size Calculator

[daniel4191]

wow thats pretty stupid. ha why would they even use the metric cause they still use inches for rim diameter

[AThomas7782]

Yeah, you also have numeric sizes and wide base sizes. My best guess is that metric sizes kind of help to standardize most passenger and LT tires.

[daniel4191]

Thanks Aaron. And btw....... ROLL TIDE!!!!!!!