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

[sparq]

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

[Someguy]

215-40-17

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

[sparq]

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?

[Someguy]

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.

[90CRXZCSi]

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.

[Kohhal]

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.

[nittanys1]

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"