Can I Change to Wider Tires Without Changing the Wheel Hub?
1 Answers
Yes, you can. But the change should not be too significant. For example, taking a 195 tire as an example, you can change from 195 to 205 without altering the wheel hub, as there are no national regulations prohibiting the use of tires one size larger. However, you must not change the size of the wheel hub; it must match the original factory hub size. If you modify the wheel hub size and are caught by traffic police, you may face penalties requiring you to restore it to the original condition. Generally, a 195 tire is paired with a 15-inch wheel hub, while a 205 tire is paired with a 16-inch wheel hub. A 15-inch wheel hub can accommodate a maximum of a 205 tire, but it is still recommended to use a 16-inch wheel hub. The numbers 195 and 205 represent the tire's cross-sectional width: 195 means the tire width is 195mm, and 205 means the tire width is 205mm. The parameters on the tire have the following meanings: the first number represents the tire width, the second number represents the aspect ratio, and the third number represents the suitable wheel hub diameter. Taking 225/55R18 as an example, these numbers mean: 225 indicates the tire section width in millimeters, generally ranging from 145 to 285mm in increments of 10mm; 55 is the aspect ratio, which is the ratio of the tire sidewall height to the tire section width, representing 55%. Typically, the aspect ratio ranges from 30% to 80%. Normally, ordinary sedans should not use tires with an aspect ratio greater than 75%, while luxury cars and high-performance sports cars are recommended to use tires with an aspect ratio <60%; R stands for Radial, indicating the tire has a radial structure, and 15 is the outer diameter of the wheel hub in inches.
