# Re. Wide Vs Narrow Tires - I rest my case **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [March 18, 2025, 6:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522 "2025-03-18T06:45:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 12:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/381 "2025-04-16T00:51:26Z")
> [@davesmopar](#): > > Read my post again, I said it was the closest to the overall size.. So my calculations were correct. Not necessary to divide the sidewall difference by half. 0.647 = roughly the 65-series you mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 1:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/382 "2025-04-16T01:00:28Z")
For a 16" wheel yes, for a 18" wheel no… lol ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 1:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/383 "2025-04-16T01:01:00Z")
> [@Old-Days-Rick](#): > > I bet she would love the car more if it had 185/75 r14s on it. Better ride. 35 years ago, some new cars came with that size tire, the front tires would squeal while making a right turn @ 10 mph. Each time I road tested a customer’s car I feared being stopped by the police for reckless driving. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 1:38am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/384 "2025-04-16T01:38:26Z")
> [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](#): > > So who’s correct? Nevada is correct. Capri would agree since you did not understand his explanation. Overall diameter minus wheel diameter and there are two sidewalls so one half the difference. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 2:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/385 "2025-04-16T02:21:26Z")
So that metric tire equates a 50-55 aspect series tire. Which has no place on a vehicle in the Odyssey’s or Sienna’s class. 60-65 series would be more appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 2:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/386 "2025-04-16T02:26:07Z")
So just because YOU don’t want to buy a Sienna with 50 or 55 seies tires means those others that do are wrong and foolish . . . ? Maybe you should stand outside the Honda dealerships telling people what NOT to buy 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 3:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/387 "2025-04-16T03:04:24Z")
> [@Old-Days-Rick](#): > > And your not going to tell me that low profile tires do not use less rubber to make. These tire companies LOVE low profile tires, half the rubber, same cost. The weight of a tire tends to increase as a wheel diameter increases; sidewalls are much thicker, and bead diameter is larger. 14" and 15" high profile passenger car tires often have very thin sidewalls. It is very easy to mount 60 and 70 series tires onto the wheel, not so easy with 35 and 40 series tires because of the thick sidewalls. Thin, soft, flexible sidewalls provide poor handling during emergency avoidance maneuvers. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 3:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/388 "2025-04-16T03:35:30Z")
> [@db4690](#): > > So just because YOU don’t want to buy > a Sienna with 50 or 55 seies tires means > those others that do are wrong and foolish . . . ? What I said was is, from an engineering perspective, there is no reason for such wide low profile tires on a family utility vehicle or van like that. Nothing about who should/ should not buy what. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 3:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/389 "2025-04-16T03:56:24Z")
I believe you were once again implying YOU knew what’s best and that the great masses don’t ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 4:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/390 "2025-04-16T04:09:46Z")
> [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](#): > > there is no reason for such wide low profile tires on a family utility vehicle or van like that. P235 isn’t a particularly wide tire, 30 years ago many full-size cars came with P225 tires. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/4/a/4a6b568d4a3eeb8fc259c19ead882148d5022007.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 4:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/391 "2025-04-16T04:24:16Z")
And Rick’s Caprice is even older than that one in the picture ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 5:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/392 "2025-04-16T05:35:59Z")
> [@Nevada\_545](#): > > P235 isn’t a particularly wide tire, For a 737 maybe. > [@Nevada\_545](#): > > 30 years ago many full-size cars came with P225 tires. Sounds like an appropriate width for the car size. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 7:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/393 "2025-04-16T07:43:50Z")
> [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](#): > > Sounds like an appropriate width for the car size. What would be the appropriate tire size for a 7 passenger van with a 3500 # towing capacity? ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 10:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/394 "2025-04-16T10:36:03Z")
> [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](#): > > from an engineering perspective, there is no reason for such wide low profile tires on a family utility vehicle or van like that And your engineering degree is from where?? You certainly seem to speak FOR the engineers when discussing these issues while ignoring ACTUAL engineers denying your claims. Speaking AS an engineer with two degrees and as one that worked on dampers and suspension systems in the automotive industry for 25 years… Again I will post this… > [@Mustangman](#): > > The cars are tested at those limits by the manufacturer to allow the driver of said vehicle to avoid their own death when things happen very fast and very seriously. Raising those limits makes the car safer for everyone - driver and other cars. Being able to use those limits when very bad things are about to happen is a life saver. > > Big tires, big brakes, stiff springs, huge stabilizer bars and fancy shocks make for a car or truck with much higher limits. These are referred to as “active safety” features in contrast to passive safety features like crush zones and airbags. They all contribute to the steady decrease in deaths per miles driven. > > Even if YOU think you will never need those capabilities, they are there and safe to use when you DO need them. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 12:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/395 "2025-04-16T12:30:33Z")
> [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](#): > > So that metric tire equates a 50-55 aspect series tire. > > Which has no place on a vehicle in the Odyssey’s or Sienna’s class. > > 60-65 series would be more appropriate. Honda offered a choice when we bought our 2019 Odyssey EX-L. We could have 18” wheels with 0.60 aspect ratio (235/60-18) or 19” wheels with 0.55 aspect ratio (235/55-19). That’s less than a 10% difference in sidewall height and seems small to me. IMO the choice was more cosmetic. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 12:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/396 "2025-04-16T12:50:05Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > IMO the choice was more cosmetic. And that is the biggest reason I disapprove of this 20 year trend toward 50-40-series profile tires: the biggest motivator behind it is looks. As I’ve stated before, the only thing I do regarding looks when it comes to my wheels and tires is to clean them. ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 1:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/397 "2025-04-16T13:34:02Z")
> [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](#): > > So my calculations were correct. Not necessary to divide the sidewall difference by half. 0.647 = roughly the 65-series you mentioned. No, they were not. This is pretty basic calculation that was already explained quite well. > [@My Current Vehicle Purchasing Edicts](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-current-vehicle-purchasing-edicts/199821/106): > > I got Cs in high school and introductory college math, but A pluses in English and Bs in history. I’m thinking they may have been generous… > [@Old-Days-Rick](#): > > And your not going to tell me that low profile tires do not use less rubber to make. These tire companies LOVE low profile tires, half the rubber, same cost. The need for additional rubber in the sidewalls has already been pointed out. But what you are completely missing is that in many businesses, the cost of materials is not the primary driver for price of the goods being made. In this case, it takes the same CapEx for molds and equipment, the same amount of labor and the same overhead costs to fabricate a low profile tire as it does a “taller” one. Hence there is no significant cost savings at a finished goods level. Put the conspiracy theories to rest… ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 1:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/398 "2025-04-16T13:39:34Z")
> [@TwinTurbo](#): > > Put the conspiracy theories to rest… ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/e/e/eef7fc8509e48231473e90923fec54e95c675474.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 1:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/399 "2025-04-16T13:47:08Z")
Heyyyy, guess what??!!! ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 1:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/re-wide-vs-narrow-tires-i-rest-my-case/199522/400 "2025-04-16T13:47:58Z")
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