I can never get my numbers straight...
what is the taller/wider tire, 265/70/r17e, or 235/80/r17e?
confused with on line build your own...

 

In a perfect world, here's the equation to use. Now, every tire manufacturer's tire is a little different, and there are all kinds of things that effect how tall and wide a tire is. This will get you close:
265/70R17- 265 is section width in millimeters, 70 is the % of section height compared to secion width, 17 is rim size.
take 265 and divide that by 25.4. That will put the width into inches (10.4) take 10.4 and mult. it by the middle #, as a precent (.70) (10.4 x .70)=7.3 multiply that by 2 (14.6) and add wheel diameter (14.6 + 17)= 31.6 that's the tire height.
So, the 265/70R17 is 10.4x31.6R17 in inches. the 235/80R17 is 9.25x31.8R17 in inches. This is all theoretical! That's what size the tire SHOULD be. Talk to a dealer or manufacturer to get the actual dimensions of a perticular tire. This should get you close though.

 

so... going by your calculations both tires are the same diameter, one is just wider... (the 265)

 

235/75/r16 = 9.25x29.87 (basically a 30 inch tire)
Thanks for the help

 

Yeah, seems to be little more than an inch wider. But depending on manufacturer, These #'s will vary. Since your building your own, i guess both tires are from the same manufacturer, so the actual #'s may be a little different, but the 265 sould be around an inch wider than the 235.

 

erics76,

Very well written, very informative and IMHO very fascinating.

This http://www.dakota-truck.net/TIRECALC/tirecalc.html was posted in another thread awhile back. Makes it easier. I do like your post though.

Stan