Tire width and Winter handling

[RShea]

So not sure if this has been discussed. I've had vehicles in the past with 15 inch wheels, then a few 16 inch wheels and the latest vehicle with the 17 inch wheels and tires. Now looking used vehicle with 19 inch tires and wheels. Let's assume all have new and similar model tires and it is not a case of mileage decreasing the tread thickness at all.

Other than the obvious possibly better performance if their is water and rainy days that the wider tires probably should help, anyone have opinion on the winter snow handling? Wider tires possibly better mainly for icy conditions? But what about snow and times where you are going through the slush or snow covered roads- wider any better at all- or just the opposite harder to push through the snow?

[Cisco Kid]

Skinnier tires for deep snow. Normal width for hardpack and pavement. Wider to look sexy.

[J. Barron DeJong]

Testing shows tire width makes very little difference on packed snow or ice. Makes a big difference in slush and deep snow.

[Meadow Skipper]

Wait…are we talking about tire width, or rim diameter and maybe section height? Because the thread title says width but the OP mentions rim/wheel diameter, which are different things.
https://www.tirerack.com/upgrade-gar...re-dimensions?

[J. Barron DeJong]

Wait…are we talking about tire width, or rim diameter and maybe section height? Because the thread title says width but the OP mentions rim/wheel diameter, which are different things. https://www.tirerack.com/upgrade-gar...re-dimensions?

His actual questions were about tire width, so I'm assuming that's the subject.

Should also clarify that it's skinnier tires that perform better in slush. Need to push less out of the way to get contact with the ground, which means you can maintain contact with the ground at higher speeds with the skinnier tire.

[RShea]

Wait…are we talking about tire width, or rim diameter and maybe section height? Because the thread title says width but the OP mentions rim/wheel diameter, which are different things. https://www.tirerack.com/upgrade-gar...re-dimensions?

With the diameter increase I have found most all also go to a wider tire first number. If I remember 15 or more years ago, the 15 inch were like 215 and 65 for the second number... Then the 16 inch tires were 225 and 60 and the 17 inch were 225 and 55 (so the only one that did not go up in the first dimension. The 19 inch are 245 and 40 for the size numbers...

[RShea]

His actual questions were about tire width, so I'm assuming that's the subject. Should also clarify that it's skinnier tires that perform better in slush. Need to push less out of the way to get contact with the ground, which means you can maintain contact with the ground at higher speeds with the skinnier tire.

Yes, J Barron- you got it, mainly talking about the width of the tires. There is of course could also be some height difference. I provided the actual numbers over the various models...

[J. Barron DeJong]

FWIW, the tire width (215, 235, 275, etc.) is a measurement of the -section width- of the tire, not the tread width; basically the widest point of the sidewall. I believe, but am not 100% certain, that if you have two of the same model tire, with the same section width, but with different aspect ratios (say 45 series vs 65 series), the actual tread width will be narrower on the higher aspect ratio tire vs the lower aspect ratio tire.

Edit: Confirmed this. For example a 235/65 ContiVikingContact has the same tread width as a 225/50.

[XXX-er]

it should be noted the dentists need a tire that handles like a boss you know how much these guys charge out per minute ? they and won't be slowing down for no adverse conditions