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.




