snow tires better shorter or wider

[ride410]

Somone was telling me that snow tires actually work better when they are thinner i.e. 8" vs 10" Is this true??? He told me to go with 215/60

 

[Sicarius428]

Yes they do. Wider surface area allows for more floation but you really want the tires to go strait to the ground so a thinner tire is better. A lot depends on the treds ability to displace the snow but as a rule of thumb... thinner tires is better for snow.
Kevin

 

[ride410]

Cool, thanks

 

[Sicarius428]

It's all within reason though... pizza cutters probably won't be very good either...
Kevin

 

[ride410]

The guy recommened 215/60 on 16" rims

 

[cleanLX]

215/60-16 sounds like a decent size if the rim is 7" or narrower.
When running a snow tire you want a narrow tire to avoid flotation and increase contact pressure.
Nothing sticks to snow as good as... snow... keep that in mind when looking at tread patterns.
Bridgestone was the first to use snow in the tread with the Blizzacks, and now Michelin, Goodyear BFGoodrich etc., all make a similar tire... and they plain work.

 

[WDP327]

yes skinnier tires act like a pizza cutter to help cut through the snow

 

[cevtv]

The guy recommened 215/60 on 16" rims

I have 215/60/16 Blizzaks, and they are great. Just make sure to get all 4 - not just the rears.



.

 

[Mustang5L5]

Thin narrow tires have more weight on them because of the smaller contact patch touching the ground. Less area means more PSI between the tire and the road. It's why wide tires are easier to hydroplane. Less weight plus more area for the tire to "surf" on

Also, the narrow tire cuts through the snow/water better.

 

[ride410]

I have 225/45/16 on front and 255/55/16 on back right now on centerline rims. Will the 215/60/16 fit them?

 

[Mustang5L5]

SHould be good. I think you can go as narrow as a 205 width tire on a 7" rim

 

[Shakerhood]

The skinny tire changes the contact patch from front to back as a wider tires contact patch would be left to right.

 

[tjm73]

I run 205/65R15 on facory 15x7 V6 wheels. That's the OEM tire size and it's the same height as the 245/45R17's I run in the summer. They work great.