wider Tires

[WeeYari]

Keep in mind that the /65 in the tire size is the sidewall height as a ratio to the tire width. Increase the width of the tire and you need to downsize the sidewall ratio. A 195/65R15 will therefor be a taller tire than the 175/65R15 and would throw off the accuracy both your speedometer and odometer.

[jcboy]

Originally Posted by WeeYari

Keep in mind that the /65 in the tire size is the sidewall height as a ratio to the tire width. Increase the width of the tire and you need to downsize the sidewall ratio. A 195/65R15 will therefor be a taller tire than the 175/65R15 and would throw off the accuracy both your speedometer and odometer.

not to mention that 175/65 r15 is already more than 3% bigger in diameter than the 175/65 r14 our cars were intended to have (either that or the r14s are 3% smaller )

in any case, they are right, the right upgrade for wider tires would then 195/55 r15. but 195/60 r15 is not bad, but is a larger tire, and ideally good for your highway mileage, but bad for your stop-and-go city mileage due to rotational inertia. (your car will be higher, but the fender gap will also be less.)