Reading tire sizes... which one is profile???

When reading a tire size ~ which number is the width of the tire, and which one is the profile? Like say I was looking at the following... which would offer a lower profile? I always forget which is which :(


215-40-17
205-45-17
215-45-17

215-40-17

215 is the width in mm. 40 is the profile as a ratio of width.

Originally posted by Someguy
215-40-17

215 is the width in mm. 40 is the profile as a ratio of width. Is that a pretty low profile? I dont want to be rolling on rubber band tires, but still want a "low profile" tire ~ that size a good choice you think?

I have 40s (although 275/40s). I would describe a 40 is a "low profile tire but not a rubber band" especially on a 17 inch wheel. I think the rubber bands starts at 35 and "low profile" starts at 45 with 40 being a happy median.

But you may want to try to stay close to the over-all tire height/diameter as stock. The Tire Rack has some good shopping tools for figuring out this sort of thing.

The middle number is the profile. The lower you get...the smaller it is 205/40/17 is smaller than 205/50/17 because of the middle number. That's about all i know.:D

Originally posted by sparq
Is that a pretty low profile? I dont want to be rolling on rubber band tires, but still want a "low profile" tire ~ that size a good choice you think?
215 seems a bit wide for a Civic, you'll rub a lot from what I understand. Go with 205/40R17, best bet all round and the most popular.

I got 215/40/17 for my 99 accord and they are not the ones you want for that size of car, the car weighs too much, but for a civic they would be the way to go for "low pro"