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Help! In a tyre size dilemma

Discussion in 'Toyota Hybrids and EVs' started by Dxta, Mar 3, 2018.

  1. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

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    Hi guys. I had a 2008 Camry hybrid, a client brought to my shop for general inspections, and repairs.

    On inspections, we discovered that we had to replace the following items:
    1. Front shock absorbers
    2. Front linkages and stabilizer bar link bushings.
    3. Front brake pads
    4. Rear brake linings
    5. Serviced the fuel injectors
    6. Oil and filter replacement
    7. To replaced all tyres?

    Well, I did take a look at the tyres(originally came with P215/60/R16 from Toyota), they were all posing a safety hazard. Decided to get the approval of the client, to upgrade the existing P225/45R18, to something more thicker this.

    My question is,
    1. What size of tyre would give us something that is more thicker than this present tyre the car has got?

    When we got to an open market for tyres, we were offered size P225/55/R18.
    2. Would buying this 55/R18 cause problems with the shock absorbers at the front? Would the top of the tyres touch the shock absorber seating (where the coil springs rest on the shocks).


    PS: Owner modified the tyres from R16 to R18.
    After this mod, we discovered that at every potholes he speed through, the front tyres would always have some kind of vertical terrible fracture on the sidewalls. The tyres seems to be light in my view.

    What other thicker tyres do we have that would maintain the durability of a 225/55R18?
     
    #1 Dxta, Mar 3, 2018
  2. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    Living in areas where roads and hard winters with pot holes in the roads of North America the idea of going to a larger diameter rim with a lower profile tire produces a lot of bent rims. You can do it but you can pay the price. You are always better with a wheel with a smaller diameter and a taller sidewall.
     
    #2 padroo, Mar 3, 2018
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  3. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

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    In this situation, what sized taller sidewall would you recommend, considering the 225/55R18? Does the 55 here depict the height of sidewall?
     
    #3 Dxta, Mar 3, 2018
  4. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    The first number is the width of the tire in millimeters and the second number is the aspect ratio. The 55 means that the height is 55 % as high as the tire is wide.


    Example: 225/55R18

    225 milimeters is 8.85827 inches

    55% of 225 is 123.75 milimeters or 4.87 inches

    Look for tires with a higher middle number and they will take bumps and ride better and not as likely to bend a rim, with all else being equal.
     
    #4 padroo, Mar 3, 2018
  5. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

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    Thanks padroo for the replies. Does it mean, for example, the 55 in this example indicates the middle number? If that's what it means, I think I'd go for this one, or even increase it to something higher more than 55.

    Fuel economy isn't our concern for now.

    Thanks a lot for your time.
     
    #5 Dxta, Mar 4, 2018
  6. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    Yes the middle number is the ratio on the tires height to it's width. To put a tire with a bigger middle number you may have to go with a smaller diameter wheel. The wheel has to fit inside the wheel well of the car and if the diameter increases too much it really throws your speedometer off. I would go to a tire shop and talk to someone there who can help you.

    http://www.goodyearautoservice.com/en-US/tire-basics/tire-size

    Read about aspect ratio.
     
    #6 padroo, Mar 4, 2018
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  7. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

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    Thanks for the info. I did bookmark and read about that on the link provided today.

    I have done my calculations, and have decided would go with 225/60/R18 or 22/55/R18.

    From my calculations,

    Present tire dimensions:
    1. 225/45/18
    Section width 8.858"
    Section height 3.986"
    Outside diameter 25.972"

    The tires I'm proposing to fit onto the rims now:
    1. 225/55/18
    Section width 8.858"
    Section height 4.8719"
    Outside diameter 27.74"

    2. 225/60/18
    Section width 8.858"
    Section height 5.3148"
    Outside diameter 28.63"

    Either of these tires would fit onto the rims without any impact on the shocks, or the fender.

    I'd take measurements tomorrow to see what happens.
     
    #7 Dxta, Mar 4, 2018
  8. Lucifer

    Lucifer Senior Member

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    What did the owner do with the 16" wheels, if he still has them, update the tpms and get them back on the car with the stock size, or buy new 16" wheels and tpms, the overall diameter of the wheel stays the same, you get more sidewall height with 16" wheels.
    Get the correct offset and bolt pattern.
     
    #8 Lucifer, Mar 4, 2018
  9. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    I believe the taller sidewall will change the external diameter of the wheel .Physical clearances and recalibration of the speedometer / odometer may be needed.
     
    #9 Prodigyplace, Mar 4, 2018
  10. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

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    The car was broufgr to the shop by the owner. He bought the car used as is. He didn't replaced those rims to what it is presently.

    The rims aren't available. He's got only the 18rims.
     
    #10 Dxta, Mar 4, 2018
  11. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

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    Yeah, you're right. From my calculations, either of the tires would fit perfectly.

    Y we are doing this is just to stop the fractures vertically that is noticed on the current tires, when one goes through potholes with speed unknowingly.

    Fuel economy isn't a concern for the owner presently.
     
    #11 Dxta, Mar 4, 2018
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