How to Change Low Profile Tires to Regular Tires

by Justan Brandt
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If your vehicle has low profile tires--which offer a small amount of sidewall height--and you wish to replace them with ones that features higher side walls, you will need to decrease the size of your wheel diameter. Most professionals suggest that your new tire and wheel combination be within a 3 percent, positive or negative, variance of the original equipment.

Reading Tire Size

Step 1

Find the size markings on your tire. An example: 245/50R19

Step 2

Consider the first number. "245" represents the width across the tire, in millimeters, at the widest point.

Step 3

Look at the second number. "50" represents the height of the tire’s sidewall, from rim to tread, as a percentage of the tire width. In this case, the tire’s height would be 122.5 millimeters, which is 50 percent of 245 millimeters. This is also known as the tire’s series.

Step 4

Consider the final number "19" represents the wheel diameter, in inches, that the tire is intended to be mounted on.

Do the math

Step 1

Calculate the overall tire height, in inches, using the following formula: ((Width/25.4)sidewall percentage as a decimal)2

A 245/50R19 tire would have an overall tire height of 9.64 inches: ((245/25.4)0.5)2).

Step 2

Combine the overall tire height with the wheel diameter to reach the final diameter of the wheel and tire combination.

Using the previous example, add 9.64 to 19 for a final diameter of 28.64 inches.

Step 3

Maintain the 3 percent variance rule. You can install a new wheel and tire combination that is anywhere from 27.78 inches to 29.50 inches in total diameter.

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