I was wondering if the profile # really affects ride quality, or if its really the amount of sidewall?

argh, read below. re-explained things. xP

People keep saying that lower profile tires are a harsher ride, but I'm thinking that w/ a wider tire and slightly lower profile number, it is possible to keep the same sidewall height right?


[Modified by TypeSH, 3:00 AM 4/1/2002]

 

I got no clue what u just said....go get a 205/50r15 and ull be straight....what u typed was just jibber jabber to me

 

hell no go 215/45/ZR16 best tie ever. go toyo or nitto drags

 

doh. xP

I meant to say, if you look at a 195/60/15 tire, and a 225/45/15 tire, the sidewall height is roughly the same... even thou its a much lower profile.

Would the ride quality be comparable since you have the same amount of sidewall? or does the profile #, 45, automatically make the ride harsher?

 

harsher cause its a thinner tire. But u want harsh dont you. 225 wide that is so nice

 

thinner tire? Even if the sidewalls are the same height, is it really a "thinner" tire?

Remember... profile is a percentage of the width... 45% of a 225 tire isnt that much smaller than 60% of a 195 tire.

 

it isnt a percentage its a aspect ratio. 225divided by 45 or 195 divided by 60 wpould give you your sidewall height in mm.

 

You got it right. It'll ride similarly because of the similar actual sidewall height....given that both tires are the same brand or have similar stiffness.

 

I am only guessing but I would think that with the exact same side wall height in mm, a wider tire would ride at least a little bit better, however it might be an indistinguishable amount. I say this because isn't the impact of a bump distributed over a greater surface absorbed more than over a lesser surface area. Uhhh maybe that is right.

 

Ride quality will be proportional to the stiffness of the sidewall, and that does and doesn't relate to the sidewall height.

Typically, performance tires will have stiffer sidewalls than OEM tires. Thus, even though your sidewalls are similar in height, the ride will be harsher.