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Tire Upgrade - How to Buy New Tires

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Tire upgrading, or plus-sizing, is a practice where performance-minded drivers upgrade their original equipment wheels with wider, bigger wheels. Why? It can make the vehicle look sportier. Plus, it offers better handling when done properly. There are two ways to plus-size:

PLUS 1, 2, ETC.

The most popular form of plus-sizing is increasing your vehicle’s wheel diameter and your tire’s rim diameter. An example is changing from a 14” wheel to a 15” wheel. This is called “plus 1.” (Going from 14” to 16” is plus 2, etc.) To make plus-sizing work, the tire’s aspect ratio decreases while the wheel diameter increases. (Note: The overall diameter of the tire never changes, just the wheel diameter.)

PLUS ZERO

If you want to leave your wheel diameter the same, you can still change to a wider tire. (Note: You may need a wider wheel as well.) An example is going from a P195/75R14 tire to P215/65R14 tire. What this means is that your tire width will be wider (195 millimeters to 215), your aspect ratio will be smaller (75 to 65) but the wheel diameter stays the same (14 and 14). Why do this? A larger contact patch on the road can mean better grip and handling.

WHAT IS STAGGERING

A staggered fitment is when you put larger wheels on the back of your vehicle than the front. This specification comes from the vehicle’s manufacturer, and is designed to improve performance on vehicles with rear-wheel-drive. A dramatic example of staggering is a drag race car.

VERY IMPORTANT PLUS-SIZING LEGAL:

BFGoodrich Tires does not recommend up-sizing due to safety reasons. If wheel diameter is increased too much, (from 14” to 17”, for example), or if a staggered fitment is used, then your anti-lock brakes, speedometer and stability system may not work properly. Some manufacturers have already tested and approved multiple wheel diameters, so be sure to ask your authorized BFGoodrich Tires dealer on any sizing needs. (To find one close to you, use the Dealer Locator on this web page.)

Changing Tire Size on a Car

Thinking about changing tire sizes on a car? Use BFGoodrich's guide to make sure that you are fully informed before changing tire sizes. Learn more here.

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Common Questions to Ask Your Tire Dealer

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Mixing Car Tire Sizes

Can I mix car tire sizes? Learn how to mix tire sizes safely and when to contact a professional with help from bfgoodrichtires.com.

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Performance Tire Guide

Shopping for performance tires? The BFGoodrich performance tire guide can help you find the right tires to maximize your vehicles performance.

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What are All-Season Tires?

What are all-season tires? How do I know if my vehicle should have all-season vs all-terrain tires? bfgoodrichtires.com has the answers.

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About BFGoodrich Tires

Why buy BFGoodrich tires? They are made for enthusiasts, by enthusiasts. We bring in experts to help us make a high-quality, dependable product - every time. Learn more.

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Tire Wear and Tire Sidewall Damage

Dealing with tire wear or tire sidewall damage? Learn about tire wear and sidewall damage from bfgoodrichtires.com.

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