Hey, have any of you with stock 275/55/50 upgraded to a wider tire? Do you know the size for a wider tire I don't know if 55 is wider then 50, any of you know? I want to buy performance tires but my stock 275/55/20 are not to wide. Thanks.

 

The 50 vs 55 does not define the width, its the aspect ratio (percent of the width) that is used to determine the sidewall height of the tire. Your width measurement comes from the first figure, 275. That is the tires width in mm. To convert that to inches divide it by 25.4.

Essentially a 275/55/20 and 275/50/20 are the same width the 55 is a little taller tire.

 

ok thanks, so 285 is wider right?

 

That is the height, not the width. The 55 and 50 do represnt the width. I have 305/50/20s and like the width. Go to www.discounttire.com to use their tire calulator to compare sizes. A 50 will be wider than a 55 on a 275 tire. A 45 would be even wider.

 

Thanks, you just help me alot! I always buy my tires from them. They even lower the price in person.

 

Are you sure? The 55 and 50 are the aspect ratio not the width... Just to follow your advice I went to discount tire and no matter what second value you put in 55,50,45, etc the sectional width of the tire does NOT change.

 

I'm not sure of anything! But, if I go to a taller tire, I have always had to go to a lower number to keep the same width. For instance, a 265/65 will be norrower than a 265/50. if I have a 265/65 and I want to go to a taller tire, say a 285, I have to go to 285/55, to have about the same width as the 265/65.

 

The first number in the metric tire sizing system is the width of the tire in millimeters. The second number is the aspect ratio (relation of the height to the tire's width). In other words, a 305/50-20 and 305/55-20 will both be 305mm wide but the hieght is different. If you want the exact measurements of height and width of a particular tire just look at the manufacturer's website.

 

Then, I am wrong, and I apologize. Now, I can't figure out why my 50 series tires have always been wider than my 70 series! LOL

 

Thanks for all your help! I think I'll go with 305/50/20 BF Goodrich G-force.

 

What was the first number on your tires xxx/50/xx vs xxx/70/xx? If all values are the same except for the 50 and the 70 the only thing I can I think that could contribute to it would be rim width. You have me curious now

 

Nice!!

 

I'm curious now! Regardless, I love the appearance of my 305/50/20s