285/70R17 is a popular size for all-terrain and mud-terrain tires. The “285” refers to the width of the tire in millimeters. The “70” is the height of the sidewall as a percentage of the width. The “R” means it’s a radial tire. The “17” is the wheel diameter in inches.
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Tire Sizes
A 285/70R17 tire is a little over 33 inches in diameter and just over 11 inches wide. This size is a common choice for lifted trucks and SUVs. The “R” in the size stands for radial, which is the most common type of tire. The “17” in the size means that the tire is 17 inches in diameter.
Standard Sizes
There are a few different systems that are used to designate tire sizes, but the most common is the Standard system. This system uses a combination of numbers and letters to describe the features of the tire.
The first number in the size is the width of the tire in millimeters. The second number is the height of the tire, and the third number is the diameter of the wheel that it will fit on. For example, a 285/70R17 tire would be 285 mm wide, 70 mm tall, and 17 inches in diameter.
Metric Sizes
One of the first things you need to know when shopping for tires is what size you need. Tires are sized according to their width, height, and rim diameter. The width is the distance from one sidewall to the other, and it’s expressed in millimeters. The height is the distance from the edge of the tire’s bead seat (the point where it contacts the rim) to the top of the tread. The height is a percentage of the width, so a 70-series tire is 70 percent as tall as it is wide. The last number in a metric tire size is the diameter of the wheel that it’s designed to fit.
Tire Types
A 285/70R17 tire is a type of radial tire. Radial tires are the most common types of tires on the market. They are characterized by a steel belt or cord that runs radially around the tire. The 285/70R17 tire size is a metric designation. The first number, 285, is the width of the tire in millimeters. The second number, 70, is the aspect ratio. The aspect ratio is the ratio of the width of the tire to its height. The R in the size designation means that the tire is a radial tire. The 17 is the rim diameter in inches.
Passenger Car Tires
Passenger car tires are designed for use on sedans, coupes, minivans and small crossover vehicles. They’re generally narrower than other tire types to minimize road noise and improve fuel economy. Passenger car tires also tend to have shorter tread life than other tire types because they’re not built to withstand the same amount of wear and tear.
-All-season tires: All-season tires are designed for use in moderate climates and conditions. They provide good traction in wet and dry conditions and can be used year-round.
-Performance tires: Performance tires are designed for use on high-performance vehicles. They provide better traction and handling than all-season tires but generally have shorter tread life.
-Winter tires: Winter tires are designed for use in cold climates and conditions. They provide better traction in snow and ice than all-season or performance tires but should only be used during the winter months.
Light Truck Tires
There are different types of light truck tires available, based on the size and weight of the truck. The most common type of light truck tire is the all-terrain tire, which is designed for use on both pavement and off-road surfaces. Other common types of light truck tires include mud-terrain tires, which are designed for use in muddy or slippery conditions, and winter tires, which are designed for use in snowy or icy conditions.
Tire Construction
We’ll begin with a review of tire construction, which hasn’t changed much in the last several years. A tire is made up of several different parts including the tread, sidewall, and carcass. The tread is the part of the tire that comes into contact with the road.
Bias-ply Tires
Bias-ply tires are the older technology and are made with body plies that run diagonally from bead to bead. The plies themselves are made of nylon, polyester, or fiberglass cord embedded in rubber. They offer a number of advantages and disadvantages compared to steel-belted radial tires.
Advantages:
-Cheaper to manufacture
-Softer ride
-Better traction in off-road conditions
Disadvantages:
-Shorter tread life
-Increased rolling resistance
-Less stable at higher speeds
Radial Tires
Radial tires have steel belts or nylon cap plies that go around the circumference of the tire. The carcass, or body, of the tire is separated from the tread by a layer of rubber. This structure helps the tire maintain its shape while allowing it to flex as the tire goes around corners. The steel belts also help to reinforce the tread and protect it from punctures.
Tire Ratings
There are a few different ways to measure tires. The most common way to measure tires is by their width and height. The 285/70R17 is a tire that is 285mm wide and has a sidewall that is 70% of the width of the tire. The R in the size means that it is a radial tire. The 17 means that the tire is 17 inches in diameter.
Speed Rating
The speed rating of a tire indicates the maximum speed at which the tire can carry a load under specified service conditions. The speed rating system used today was developed by the European tire and automotive industry.
A speed rating is determined by running the tire at progressively higher speeds in a controlled test environment while monitoring tire temperature to ensure it does not exceed specified limits for that particular speed rating.
You’ll find the speed rating listed on the sidewall of most passenger car tires with a “Q” as in “P225/60R16 95H.” The speed rating chart below provides common speed ratings along with their correspoding numeric value and maximum passenger car operating speed under ideal conditions.
Speed Rating | Maximum Speed
————-|—————
N | 87 mph (140 km/h)
P | 93 mph (150 km/h)
Q | 99 mph (160 km/h)
R | 106 mph (170 km/h)
S | 112 mph (180 km/h)
T | 118 mph (190 km/h)
Load Index
The load index is a numerical code listed on a tire’s sidewall that indicates the maximum amount of weight the tire is designed to support when properly inflated. Automobile tires are assigned load indexes that range from 70 (the lowest rated) to 110 (the highest rated).
As an example, let’s say you see the following information on a tire’s sidewall: P265/70R17 101S. The “101” in this example is the load index. This translates to a load capacity of 2,537 pounds.