What Does the Aspect Ratio of a Tire Mean?

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Aspect ratio is a data point in tire specifications, referring to the percentage of the tire's section height to its maximum section width. Simply put, it is the height-to-width ratio of the tire. Representation of aspect ratio: It usually appears on the tire sidewall in a format like 205/60R15, where 60 represents the tire's aspect ratio of 60%, 205 indicates the tire width of 205mm, R stands for radial tire construction, and 15 denotes the rim diameter of 15 inches. Advantages of a higher aspect ratio: A higher aspect ratio offers better comfort, while a lower aspect ratio provides better handling. Tires with a higher aspect ratio have longer sidewalls and stronger cushioning capabilities, resulting in relatively higher comfort. However, tires with a higher aspect ratio have poorer feedback on road conditions and weaker lateral resistance during cornering.