Another Tire size Question?

[Silent Runner]

I have been running around tire shops comparing actual sizes to those stamped on the side of the tires. (with a tape measure) My current, thrashed and dead set of Goodyear Assurance 205-65HR-15's, have a much wider footprint than most of the 215-60HR-15's, I would like to replace them with. Whats up with this, a 205, should have a 205mm section width. A 215, should have a 215 mm section width (and a wider tread), yet this is rarely the case. I want a big beafy set of 215 tires that will put that patch on the road in a 60 series profile, on my American Racing 15x7 rims, yet very few 215's actually measure up. Now I don't trust govn't regulated tire size standards anymore. Whats the widest 215-60-15 replacement tire available?

[Yuko]

The problem with measurement is it's done by the manufacturer and can varies within their own tire lines. Some measure just the width of the thread area, some measure out to the shoulder, and other measure from sidewall to sidewall. A section width 205 firestone FR380 is narrower than a 185 Firestone Affinity.

Some say you can run a 225 wide tire but it depends on your wheel offset, wheel width, etc.

[Silent Runner]

So true man! Almost every 215, tire I measured had a tread width less than my 205 Goodyears!!