What does 17-inch tire mean?
2 Answers
Tire 17-inch refers to the size of the tire being 17. Tire structure: Tires are usually composed of three parts: the outer tire, inner tube, and bead filler, installed on metal rims. Tubeless tires do not require an inner tube; the inner layer of the tire has a rubber layer with good airtightness, but it requires special rims. The structure of tires worldwide is evolving towards tubeless, radial construction, low aspect ratio (flatter tires with a smaller ratio of height to width), and lightweight. Function of tire tread patterns: The main function of tire tread patterns is to increase the friction between the tread and the road surface to prevent wheel slippage, similar to the role of shoe sole patterns. Tire tread patterns enhance the elasticity of the tread contact with the ground. Under the influence of tangential forces between the tread and the road surface, such as driving force, braking force, and lateral force, the tread blocks can produce significant tangential elastic deformation. As tangential force increases, tangential deformation also increases, thereby enhancing the frictional effect of the contact surface, which in turn suppresses the tendency of the tread to slip or skid on the road surface.
I also wondered what 17-inch meant when buying a car, and later learned it refers to the diameter of the wheel rim. Simply put, it's the distance from the outer edge of the rim to the center, about 17 inches or just over 43 cm. This number directly determines the compatible tire range—for example, a car originally equipped with 17-inch rims can only use tires marked R17 on the sidewall. Once, my neighbor bought cheaper 16-inch tires, only to find they wouldn't fit over the calipers, wasting a lot of effort. Choosing rim size also depends on practical use: 17-inch rims are common on urban SUVs, balancing handling and comfort, whereas hardcore off-road vehicles often opt for smaller rims with thicker tires to improve off-road capability.
