Section vs tread width?

[LOW4LYF]

I need a new 295/30 Michelin tire.

Can someone explain how the tread width can be different if section width is the same? Would any of both tires look more stretched?

Thanks






https://cdn1.imggmi.com/uploads/2019...231a1-full.png

[guess2098]

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiret...jsp?techid=201


https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiret...jsp?techid=200

[LOW4LYF]

Originally Posted by guess2098

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiret...jsp?techid=201


https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiret...jsp?techid=200

Well, I kinda get it but still really confusing. My question is more if one would be more stretched as the other?

[guess2098]

I don't think the section width change too much from same width tire but thread width can be very different. From my own experience, 325/25/20 pss and ps4s the thread width are different ( I recall it's 13.1 vs 12.2) I had pss then I switch to ps4s. It does clear just a little bit more. You can say it is more stretch if thread is more narrow.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by LOW4LYF

I need a new 295/30 Michelin tire.

Can someone explain how the tread width can be different if section width is the same? Would any of both tires look more stretched?

Thanks






https://cdn1.imggmi.com/uploads/2019...231a1-full.png

The flexible tire sidewalls bulge outward. See the tire cross section below. This is what allows the sidewalls to deform and absorb road imperfections. The more rounded the sidewalls, the more flexible they are. It is all a question of compromise. Installing a tire on a narrower wheel will increase ultimate grip at the expense of handling response while installing a tire on a wider wheel will favor handling response over ultimate grip.

Now what is really confusing is that section width varies significantly depending on the wheel width the tire is installed on. The nominal section width of the tire's nomenclature is only valid if the tire is installed on the nominal wheel width it was designed for. On the other hand, the tread width remains essentially invariable to wheel width. This is what causes a tire to either look stretched or balooned depending on what wheel width it is installed on.

[LOW4LYF]

I'm running currently 305/30 and would like to try a 295/30 but the BMW 295/30 tread witdh is wider as on my current 305/30 which is a no go, 11.6 vs. 11.4.