P175/65R14 Vs. P175/70R14 Tires

Low profile tires reduce weight.

Tire markings are a road map to design and construction. The string of letters and numbers stamped on every tire represent key information such as sidewall height, width and appropriate rim size. P175/65R14 and P175/70R14 all-season tires are the same except for the tire series.

Tire Markings

Tire markings are stamped onto every legal tire sold in America. For example, P175/65R14 breaks down into five tire facts. The "P" stands for passenger cars. "175" represents tire width from inner sidewall to outer sidewall in millimeters. "65" is the height of the sidewall as a percentage of the width. "R" stands for radial design and the "14" means this tire fits on a 14-inch rim.

Sidewall Profile

The only difference between a P175/65R14 tire and P175/70R14 tire is the sidewall profile. The first has a sidewall height 65 percent of the tire's width. The second has a sidewall height 70 percent of the tire width. The lower a sidewall profile, the better it performs under spirited driving.

Function

A P175/65R14 tire offers increased stability, responsive handling and traction under acceleration compared with a P175/70R14 tire. A P175/70R14 offers a smoother ride and better traction in adverse weather conditions.

References

• Cars: What Your Tire's Markings Tell You
• Castrol USA: The Lowdown on Low Profile Tires
• Tire Rack: Contact Patch

Resources

• Tire Rack: Sidewall Markings