Quote:
Originally Posted by smbstyle
How much of a difference in grip is there between a 215 and 225?
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Both on 7" wheels? Probably not as much difference as most people would think. Width does generally increase lateral grip, but not necessarily for the reasons most people assume. Contact patch area will be about the same for both, but the 225's will be a little wider and shorter. But this effect will be reduced a bit with both on the same 7" wheel.
Figure the improvement will almost certainly be less than the ratio of widths suggests, so less than 5%. Nothing you'd feel, and any improvement in laptimes from increase lateral grip will be offset to some degree by increased weight and slightly worse gearing from taller tires. Conceivable that 225/45-17 could be *slower*.