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Archive for November 30th, 2005
22.5 vs 24.5 Tires
Posted by Tim on November 30, 2005
What are some of the reasons, one would use 22.5 tires over 24.5 tires. Do 24.5 give better ground clearence?
I will assume you are asking for a comparison of typical sizes of line haul tires. These are 11R22.5, 11R24.5 and also 285/75R22.5 and 295/75R24.5
All things being equal, an 11R22.5 tire and a 295/75R24.5 tire are nearly the same diameter and would have nearly identical ground clearance. The 285/75R22.5 has the smallest diameter of the group and the 11R24.5 has the largest diameter.
The trend in line haul has been towards 22.5 tires and the 285/75R22.5 size in particular. Why? The 22.5 tires weigh less than the 24.5 tires (they are smaller and lighter). The weight factor is a positive in terms of the fuel economy. The smaller diameter can also contribute to better vehicle handling (lower center of gravity).
The downside to low profile tires is a somewhat greater chance of sidewall damage. This is why many pick-up and delivery fleets prefer the 11R22.5 size to reduce tire removals due to curb damage.
Not many fleets use the 295/75R24.5 sized tires. The 11R24.5 tires are popular for owner operators because they look macho.