# What's the difference between these two tires? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 27, 2002, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-these-two-tires/145254 "2002-12-27T23:15:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-these-two-tires/145254/1 "2002-12-27T23:15:54Z")
During my time out of town for the holidays, I had a flat tire Because my tire takes an unusual size tire that normally have to be special ordered by a Bridgestone/Firestone dealer, I ended up with one that is slightly different than the other three on my car. The normal tires for my car are a P175/60R-14, while the one I had to put on for the time being is a P175/65R-14. \*Yes, I will be getting the regular size tire shortly. Apparently an error was made when the tires were put on less than a year ago and the “bead” (whatever that is) was torn up pretty bad, enough so that the nice fellas at the tire shop I went to this time were pretty amazed that it’d lasted a year. ---
**Author:** ![ski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@ski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ski)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-these-two-tires/145254/2 "2002-12-27T23:26:01Z")
Not much difference, really. The new tire has 5% taller sidewalls, which is about 8.75mm in this case. So the distance from the ground to the axle of that wheel will be 8.75 mm greater. You won’t even notice. I also doubt that your car will even notice in any meaningful way (like cornering, suspension action, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-these-two-tires/145254/3 "2002-12-27T23:37:04Z")
Somebody still buys Bridgestone/Firestone? I haven’t considered them since the “500” fiasco (followed by the 7-2-1 disaster). ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-these-two-tires/145254/4 "2002-12-27T23:49:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by happyheathen \* > \*\*Somebody still buys Bridgestone/Firestone? > > I haven’t considered them since the “500” fiasco (followed by the 7-2-1 disaster). \*\* Yes, I still buy Bridgestone/Firestone. Why? Because they make the least expensive tires for my car (and most manufacturers don’t make them at all). I could buy racing tires, but those would run me between $300 and $500 a tire, so I go with the B/F. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-these-two-tires/145254/5 "2002-12-27T23:51:06Z")
oh, and thanks, **ski** ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-these-two-tires/145254/6 "2002-12-28T00:10:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lsura \* > \*\*The normal tires for my car are a P175/60R-14, while the one I had to put on for the time being is a P175/65R-14 \*\* Just to expand a little bit: P = Passenger Car Tire 175 = Section Width in millimeters 60 = Aspect ratio (between width and height) R = Radial 14 = Wheel diameter in inches ---
**Author:** ![stockton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@stockton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stockton)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-these-two-tires/145254/7 "2002-12-28T01:42:44Z")
Hi, **Lsura!** - long time, no see - we (Mrs Stockton and I) sat at the same table at which we met you LAST NIGHT to greet a pal back in town for the holidays… End of hijack… **ski** and **Joey G** are completely on top of this. Don’t worry at all - one is a LITTLE taller. You’ll never notice. How’s K-ville treating you?