Tall tires?

[imnotacop420]

So my GF just ordered some tires from tirerack, Sumitumo HTR+'s. Tirerack calls her and says are you sure you want these tires they are "tall tires." She says yes, they are the same size i have on now (205/55/16, 2003 Saturn Ion). So they send them, well just looking at them you can tell they are taller than the same size tires on the car now.

So, whats a tall tire? And why if they are the same size are they obviously "taller" than the current tires on the car that are the same size?
Should we even bother getting them put on, or should we find a different set of tires?

Im thinking about having her get them mounted at an authorized tirerack installer, just incase they dont fit or something.

[bxd20]

There are minor variations from manufacturer to manufacturer. If you look at either the tech specs page for the tires on TireRack or the manufacturer web page, and compare numbers for the "same size" across different tires, you'll find these subtle differences.

If you're comparing new tires to used tires, much of that height difference is the tire wear. Tires start around 10/32", and you have that much tread at the top and bottom. That's roughly a total of 2/3" that is lost if you wear the tires down totally. Quite a bit.

I'd just install them, perhaps at a TR installer if the price is reasonable. Look up your old tire and new tire height spec at TR as I mentioned.

Brian
99 SVT

[Auto-X Fil]

Are you comparing them to the tires ON the car? You lose a couple inches when the weight of the car squishes the tire down. There's no such thing as a "tall tire", the Sumitomos you mentioned are 24.9", right in spec. I'm not sure what TR was thinking...

[imnotacop420]

There are minor variations from manufacturer to manufacturer. If you look at either the tech specs page for the tires on TireRack or the manufacturer web page, and compare numbers for the "same size" across different tires, you'll find these subtle differences.

If you're comparing new tires to used tires, much of that height difference is the tire wear. Tires start around 10/32", and you have that much tread at the top and bottom. That's roughly a total of 2/3" that is lost if you wear the tires down totally. Quite a bit.

I'd just install them, perhaps at a TR installer if the price is reasonable. Look up your old tire and new tire height spec at TR as I mentioned.

Brian
99 SVT

I cant look up the current tires at tire rack as they are crap! I want to say they are made by Lemans?
They tires on the car are worn pretty good, and my GF said the tire we compared size with on the car was a little low on pressure....it was dark out and cold, I didnt feel like messing around with it
I want to convince her to go to a TR install as well, but I got mine put on a mom n pop shop for $10 a tire......so now she is set on getting them mounted and balanced for $10, I cant get her to understand that the extra $ mounting them at a TR installer might save A LOT in the long run should by some strange chance they dont fit

[QUOTE/]Are you comparing them to the tires ON the car? You lose a couple inches when the weight of the car squishes the tire down. There's no such thing as a "tall tire", the Sumitomos you mentioned are 24.9", right in spec. I'm not sure what TR was thinking... [/QUOTE]

I dont know what they were thinking either, i put in the make/model/year of the car and these popped up, she liked them, so we got them. paid for 1 day shipping and got them 3 days later (TR warehouse is 3.5 hours from my house).
I have purchased a few sets of tires from them and had no problems.

I think they will be fine, but if they are not I WILL NEVER HEAR THE END OF IT!!!!!!!!

the tire was ON the car, now that you guys mention it the worn tread (past the wear line) and the weight of the car we might be in good shape....

They get put on tomorrow, Ill post how things worked out

[Heywood]

I think they are the same tires I had on before I put on my Dunlop Direzzas. I definately had sumitomos. Don't sweat it.