Tire dimensions and their importance

275/55R20 all-season tires

It is important to pick the right size car tires for your vehicle in other words to follow the manufacturer’s recommended tire dimensions for you make and model car or SUV. This is because when following the manufacturers recommended tire dimensions for you make and model of car, you will actually allow for the best performance and the best fuel efficiency for your car.

You should be aware that if you put larger than the recommended size tires on your car that it can increase the vehicle’s gas mileage by increasing the rolling resistance. It can also alter the performance of the car and can even be bad for the transmission. This is because a larger tire can actually reduce the cars effective gear ratio. With the larger tires causing the tires to rotate slower to cover the same amount of ground which in turn can cause strain on the transmission. Wrong size tires can also affect the braking (ABS), handling and your odometer. Wider tires will also hydroplane easier.

If you are in the market for new tires you need to first consult your manual to see what the recommended tire dimensions are for your make and model of car. Whether you are looking for winter, all-season or all-weather tires the recommended tire dimensions need to be respected. The tire dimensions can be found on the sidewall. If the dimensions are 275/55R20 then you would need to buy either 275/55R20 all-season tires, 275/55R20 winter tires or 275/55R20 all-weather tires.  With 275 signifying the tire width, 55 being the aspect ratio, R the construction type, 20 the wheel diameter.

The wrong size tires effect the rolling resistance which is the resistance your car has to overcome in order to move forward. With larger tires they have a higher rolling resistance which will thereby decrease fuel efficiency. Deeper tread blocks like that found on winter tires and all-weather tires are great for grip and traction but bad for rolling resistance. With a low rolling resistance tire you can save 6 percent on fuel costs.

There are many good low rolling resistance tires on the market, tires like the Nokian eNTYRE 2.0 all-season tires. This is a premium all-season tire that offers excellent grip especially wet grip, a smooth and quiet ride, long tread life, great handling and ultimate safety while remaining an environmentally friendly tire with low rolling resistance. These tires also come recommended for hybrid and electrical cars.

Using the right size tires for your car is important as it assures the best handling, performance and best fuel efficiency, thereby saving on fuel and making the tires more environmentally friendly. Now a days a more environmentally friendly tire is important. Other things that you can do to save on fuel and provide a greener drive are things like keeping tires properly inflated and cutting down on drag by not attaching bike racks and overhead luggage containers when not needed.

For more information regarding right size tires, visit: nokiantires.com

Scroll to Top