Why do they call some tires like > 285-70-17, but others like > 33-1250-17

Yes, I know what the numbers mean, but why are some rated the first way here, and others, the latter ? It seems to me that the second method tells you the exact size, without you having to go look it up somewhere else...... except that I'm more used to the first method of sizing.

Anybody ?

Fish

 

It's metric vs English. Same as 2 liter Coke vs 2 quart. Just a fact of life.

 

Yes, 285 is the width in millemeters, and 12.50 is the width in inches.

However, 70 is not the height in millemeters, but rather, this is to say, they are 70% as tall as they are wide. Whereas the 33 is in fact how tall they are in inches.

In any case, my question is, why would one tire company, use both methods of sizing ? Least wise, here in the US ?

Just curious,
Fish

 

Very good question. WHo knows. You are right, you would think that a company, BFG for instance, would use the same sizing system for all of there tires. Especially when we are talking about the same model line.