Can 16 inch tires / rims be used on a car that came stock with 17 inch tires / rims?
I recently won these 16 inch tires / rims in a local charity raffle and would like to know if I can use them on my car?
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi there – the answer is "possibly". There are 4 technical questions which must be affirmatively answered first to go forward with this swap. First – do the wheels you acquired have the same bolt pattern as your stock wheels (i.e. same # of bolts, and same bolt hole circle diameter – 100mm, 5" or whatever)? Second – do the newly acquired 16" wheels fit over your brake calipers and discs with at least 1/4" clearance everywhere? Most likely they do, but some cars have very large diameter discs these days, which require large diameter wheels. Third – do the new wheels (with a representative tire size you intend to use) bolt squarely to the hubs without rubbing against any suspension bits (i.e. strut tower, tie rod end, sway bar links, etc.)? Fourth – do the new wheels have the same size (or larger) center hole, which matches the diameter of the hub, so that the wheel center carries the load of the vehicle, and not the wheel lugs? If the wheel hole is larger than the hub, you can likely purchase concentric rings which fit between the hub and wheel, centers the wheel, and enables direct weight load transfer to the wheel. If all of these questions have the correct answer, YES, you can safely use your newly acquired wheels, even though they are 1" smaller in diameter. Happy motoring!
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Sure, but you will have a hard time stretching them over the 17″ rims! You will have to make sure the smaller rims have enough clearance to fit over the brake drums or rotors etc. Sometimes the larger rim is used to accommodate a larger brake system.
With that said if your vehicle comes with 17” or larger take a look at your brake calipers and see how close your existing brakes are to the barrel of the wheel. If there is more than two inches in space you can certainly go to 16 inch.
The smaller 16-inch wheels come with tyres that have larger sidewalls that act as cushions against sharp edges on the roads, like ruts and potholes. While 17-inch tyres look much better, the shorter sidewalls aren`t as good in filtering out road shocks.
As a general rule of thumb, it`s safe to fit a tire up to 20 millimeters wider than stock on the original rim. The actual width of the tire will vary depending on the width of the rim: The tire will expand 5 millimeters for every half-inch (12.5 millimeters) increase in rim width.
No it will not fit. Tires must be same size as rim. There are 16.5” tires though.
The difference is of tyre size, where 16-inch wheels come with tyres that have larger sidewalls that act as cushions against sharp edges on the roads, like ruts and potholes. While 17-inch tyres look much better, provides a better grip on the road and no doubt increases the car ground clearance too.
While you may be able to get away with using various brands and models, using different sized tires and wheels can lead to accidents and expensive maintenance issues. Mismatched tires and wheels put constant stress on your vehicle`s suspension and transmission, along with your brakes and ABS system.
When it comes to car speed, wheel size has two major impacts. Larger wheels increase the weight or the load of the vehicle and reduce acceleration. It is important to note that bigger wheels mean you can reach a higher top speed, but the time you take to get that higher speed could be significantly longer.
Changing from 16″ to 17″ alloys (or vice versa) will have an impact on the tires you can run. In most cases, people try and keep the overall wheel size as close to the stock size as possible so that it fits comfortably in the wheel arch, and does not affect the speedometer.
If you are looking for highly durable and puncture-resistant tyres for your vehicle, then 235 65 17 tyres will be the best option for you. Apollo 235 65 r17 tyres offer marvellous durability in every topography. In addition, the 235 65 r17 tyres are specially designed for providing a quick steering response.
Most manufacturers don`t recommend going over 1-2 ” more than the original wheel size (for cars). Check your owners manual for your specific vehicle to be sure. This is due to the space available under the arches.
As a general rule, you want replacement tires that are within 3 percent of the diameter (height) measurement of your existing tires` diameter — assuming your current tires are what your owner`s manual recommends.
If you put high performance lightweight 17″ wheels on, replacing heavy 15″ steel wheels, then yes, it would improve your fuel economy slightly. If you removed factory alloys and replaced them with heavy intricate 17″ chrome rims, you would be adding a lot of unsprung weight, and your fuel economy would go down, not up.
Best Answer
it`s unusual, but you can do it. you need to use taller tires to keep the overall diameter the same. and you need to make sure the new tires have the same speed rating or higher than the factory ones.
Can I put 18-inch tires on 17-inch rims? No. 18in and 17in are the measurements of the diameter of the rim. 18in tires will not seal on 17in rims.
It depends what tyre you are fitting. The 18″ rim is 2 “ bigger than a 16” rim. If you have the 16″ high profile tyres and change rims to 18″ youll fit a 18″ low profile to match the outer diameter running size,. If you fit 18″ rims with 18″ high profile tyres you will gain the 2″ height.
16″ wheels have a standard ISO size of 305, but different sizes are available that range from 305 to 349mm. A wide range of 16″ ISO sizes means buying the right tires for your 16-inch wheels can be challenging.
Installing larger wheels and tires, also known as “plus-sizing,” can affect the accuracy of its speedometer and odometer, handling, steering response and more. If done incorrectly, changing the tire size can be detrimental to the safety of your vehicle.
No, your wheel size is only relative to the size tire you put on it. on your tire size as long as you pick or convert properly the circumference of tire should not change but a 20″ will be much lower profile than one for a 18″ wheel.
Width and diameter are the two factors that determine tire and rim compatibility. For diameter you`ll need to be sure that your tires and wheels are an exact match, e.g. a 215/65R17 tire will only fit on a 17″ diameter wheel. There`s a bit more flexibility when it comes to wheel widths.
Yes. It will have a slightly lower sidewall height, but should work fine.
Width and diameter are the two factors that determine tire and rim compatibility. For diameter you`ll need to be sure that your tires and wheels are an exact match, e.g. a 215/65R17 tire will only fit on a 17″ diameter wheel. There`s a bit more flexibility when it comes to wheel widths.
It depends. Wheels and tires are not interchangeable words. Tires are a part of the wheel setup. For instance, your vehicle has a set size of rims, but you can buy different sizes of tires to fit those rims, as long as the middle of the tires is the correct size.
When you move to a larger wheel diameter (such as from 17 to 18 inches), you need new tires to match. Those tires need a lower profile (or sidewall height) to maintain adequate clearance when they go over bumps and potholes, which makes the suspension fully compress and rebound.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Can 16 inch tires / rims be used on a car that came stock with 17 inch tires / rims?
ANSWER : Hi there – the answer is "possibly". There are 4 technical questions which must be affirmatively answered first to go forward with this swap. First – do the wheels you acquired have the same bolt pattern as your stock wheels (i.e. same # of bolts, and same bolt hole circle diameter – 100mm, 5" or whatever)? Second – do the newly acquired 16" wheels fit over your brake calipers and discs with at least 1/4" clearance everywhere? Most likely they do, but some cars have very large diameter discs these days, which require large diameter wheels. Third – do the new wheels (with a representative tire size you intend to use) bolt squarely to the hubs without rubbing against any suspension bits (i.e. strut tower, tie rod end, sway bar links, etc.)? Fourth – do the new wheels have the same size (or larger) center hole, which matches the diameter of the hub, so that the wheel center carries the load of the vehicle, and not the wheel lugs? If the wheel hole is larger than the hub, you can likely purchase concentric rings which fit between the hub and wheel, centers the wheel, and enables direct weight load transfer to the wheel. If all of these questions have the correct answer, YES, you can safely use your newly acquired wheels, even though they are 1" smaller in diameter. Happy motoring!
Hello I recently hit a pothole and damgaged a rim I had. I had to replace with all new tires and rims. I first got stock rims then
ANSWER : A road force balancer is meant to check tires for pull in one direction or another and balance a tire up to about 60 mph. Some tire balancers will check tires for higher speeds. You may have an imbalance that most machines cannot measure if it comes in after 65 mph. You can see if there is a shop near you that can do high speed balancing? You may have a front axle that is causing the vibration also. I suggest installing the original rims and tires on the front only to see if problem is still there and if so have the front axles checked for damage and replaced if any damage or looseness is noted.
I have changed the car battery on my Renault Grand Scenic and used the car that day on the sunday. However 3 days later the car wo
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. If the new battery has also failed to hold a charge, the alternator is likely not working correctly. You can test the alternator at home with a voltmeter, or you can remove it and have it tested at most automotive parts stores. It will need to be replaced if it has failed. You will also want to make sure all of the electrical connections are clean, dry, and tight. For more help testing or replacing the alternator, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.
Car pulls to the right after tire rotation
ANSWER : Hello. On your 2002 Mercedes Benz SLK320, all of the tires have to have the same tread design an the same amount of tread. Any variations will cause the computer to not read the sensors correctly which will cause these issues. You need to purchase two more tires that are the same as the new ones, and install the tires to replace the other two tires. If you want to have this looked at before replacing the tires, a local expert from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to diagnose your car’s pulling issue.
I bought two new tires and rims to put on my car and I want to know if I can make them fit.
ANSWER : Hi there. Anytime you purchase new tires and wheels that are not OEM options (which this 225/45zr17 is not), you risk creating multiple issues that will impact the vehicles performance such as ABS operation, speedometer, cruise control, and braking.
The standard rule used to be, for every inch in wheel size, you need to decrease aspect ratio (the 55 number) by one (making it a 50-series tire). Width would also increase by one size (to 215 from 205). By having a wider tire on there than is recommended, you also risk having turning radius issues and braking suspension components.
Due to these facts, I wouldn’t recommend putting those wheel and tires on your vehicle. If you were to install them, you’d need to purchase new lug nuts that are snug for that individual bolt pattern. Since we can’t see them; it’s impossible to tell you for certain if the ones you have will work.
If you’d like to know for sure, consider having one of our mobile technicians come to your home to inspect your car and suggest what to do from there.
I hear a loud clicking noise on the drivers side by my tire rim when turning the steering wheel front tires vibrating as well.
ANSWER : A clicking noise on turning is very characteristic of a failed outboard CV axle joint. Sometimes, in such a circumstance, you can see that the rubber outboard boot is actually torn and leaking grease. If you see that (look behind the wheel toward the axle end), the axle for sure will have to be serviced. If you change the axle, be sure to install a new rubber seal on the transmission output side so that you do not have transmission fluid leaks with the new axle (a common mistake is to overlook that seal; if an old, left-in-place seal leaks after the axle is put in the job has to be done all over again). Vibration without actual shaking of the steering wheel "might" be related to the axle issue. On the other hand, such vibration could also be due to a failed wheel bearing, especially with over 200,000 miles on the vehicle and if those are the original bearings. If you were to need both an axle and a wheel bearing at the same time, and on the same side, that’s actually not that bad because the steering knuckle that holds the wheel bearing has to come off anyway to replace the axle. But, backing up here, the very first thing to do is get the issue properly diagnosed so you spend the minimum possible. If you want to obtain a diagnostic, please request a vehicle CV/wheel bearing noise inspection and the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Advice for winter tires
ANSWER : 205/55R17 may be too tall for your vehicle. A couple of good sources to check size compatibility for your vehicle would be tirerack.com or maybe discounttire.com. Sites like Tire Rack specialize in winter tire packages and is a good source for fitment options. I have personally used Bridgestone and Dunlop snow tires and would recommend either. However, it is highly recommended that winter tires be mounted at all 4 corners. Having different tires with different capabilities not only makes the vehicle unstable, it will effect systems like the anti-lock brakes and traction control. Winter tires perform much better than summer or all-season tires do in ice and snow conditions. Having two tires with good winter traction and two with poor traction will have the anti-lock brake system working overtime. Also, sticking with a smaller tire for winter use is advisable. For ice and snow driving, you want the opposite for summer driving. Wide, low profile tires improve warm, dry weather driving. Tall, narrow, tires provide better control on snow and ice. Consider keeping your stock 16 inch wheels for winter use with winter tires mounted on them and maybe a nice set of 17 inch wheels and tires for summer use. I’ve done that with nearly every vehicle I’ve owned whether front, rear, or all-wheel drive.
Is it possible to put 20" rims on a car that has 15" stock rim?
ANSWER : Yes you can put 20 inch rims on your vehicle but with limitations. This will depend on how wide the rims and tires will be and also if the tires will clear the struts and suspension parts when driving and turning. Bigger rims may come in come in contact with the sub-frame, so I recommend measuring the added difference to see if the 20 inch rims will clear or not on your vehicle. If you need further assistance with swapping rims from 15 inch to 20 inch, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
