What is Load Range C on a tire? Load Range C is a tire load-and-inflation category traditionally associated with a 6-ply rating. It is commonly found on light-truck and other load-carrying tires. However, Load Range C does not mean that…
Tire aspect ratio is the sidewall height of a tire expressed as a percentage of its section width. In a tire size such as 225/65R17, the number 65 is the aspect ratio. It means the nominal sidewall height is 65%…
Wheel offset vs backspacing: both measurements describe the position of a wheel’s mounting surface, but they use different reference points and units. Offset measures the distance between the mounting surface and the wheel’s centerline, usually in millimeters. Backspacing measures the…
Hub centric rings are used in some wheel fitments when the center bore of an aftermarket wheel is larger than the vehicle’s hub pilot. The ring fills the gap between the wheel and hub so the wheel can be centered…
Plus sizing tires is the practice of increasing wheel diameter while choosing a tire with a shorter sidewall so the new tire-and-wheel combination keeps an overall diameter reasonably close to the original setup. You may hear these changes described as…
Tire size vs wheel size describes two related but different sets of measurements. A tire size tells you the tire’s nominal width, aspect ratio, construction, and required wheel diameter, while wheel size describes measurements such as wheel diameter and wheel…
Can you use a different tire size? In some cases, yes—but a replacement tire should not be chosen simply because it fits on the wheel or looks close to the original size. Changing tire width, sidewall height, or overall diameter…
What is a bolt pattern? A wheel bolt pattern describes the number of wheel mounting points and the diameter of the imaginary circle that passes through those mounting points. It is one of the main specifications used to determine whether…
What is wheel offset? Wheel offset describes the position of a wheel’s mounting surface relative to the wheel’s centerline. It is usually measured in millimeters and plays an important role in determining how far a wheel sits inward or outward…
A wheel’s bolt pattern tells you how many mounting holes or studs it uses and the diameter of the circle formed by those mounting points. Knowing how to measure a bolt pattern is useful when identifying a wheel, checking vehicle…