You're looking to buy new tyres for your ATV in NZ. That seems simple enough, right? Well, once you start, you might become confused, particularly if you don't have much experience purchasing new ATV tyres for yourself.
You'll immediately be faced with many different numbers when searching for new ATV tyres. This bombardment of information can be very intimidating, especially when you know you have to choose the right size tyre for your specific ATV! Tyres that are too big or too small can cause issues, and you certainly don't want to have to purchase replacements right after you buy your new tyres.
Don't worry; all the numbers may seem confusing at first, but reading tyre sizes is quite simple once you know what to do. Read on to learn the basic styles of ATV tyre measurements and what you should do when shopping for new ATV tyres in NZ.
Reading Tyre Sizes In Imperial Units
The ATV tyre's measurements can typically be found on the side of the tyre and are usually in either inches or millimetres. Inches are much more common worldwide, but you may occasionally find ATV tyres listed with metric measurements.
A typical tyre measurement will look something like '25 x 10 x 12.'
These numbers simply refer to the tyre's height, width and diameter of the wheel that the tyre can be attached to. So when you see something like 25 x 10 x 12, what it means is that this tyre:
- Has a height of 25 inches.
- Has a width of 10 inches.
- Has a wheel diameter of 12 inches.
For example, let's examine one of the exceptional ATV tyres we have on our NZ site at QuadBitz. These impressive Forerunner Mars ATV tyres are listed at 25 x 8 x 12, with a PR of 6. This means that these incredible tyres have a height of 25 inches, a width of 8 inches and the diameter of the wheels that they can be attached to is 12 inches.
Note that these Forerunner Mars tyres also have '6PR' on their title; what does this mean? 'PR' stands for 'Ply Rating' and refers to the overall strength of the tyres themselves. 6PR means that they're very tough tyres that should last for quite a long time with minimal issues or punctures.
Reading Tyre Sizes In Metric Units
Although using inches is far more common, you may still encounter tyres using metric measurements. An NZ ATV tyre with a metric measurement will look something like '205/80R12.'
Just like when we use inches, you just need to break this measurement down to discover the size of the tyre you're looking at.
These numbers and letter refer to the width, the sidewall height in a per cent referring to the width, the construction type of the tyre and the diameter of the wheel, which will be in inches.
So, 205/80R12 means that this tyre has:
- A width of 205 millimetres.
- A sidewall height of 80% of the width. In this case, 80% of 205mm is 164mm.
- 'R' construction of the tire, which means it has 'radial' construction.
- A wheel diameter of 12 inches.
Understanding Each Part Of Tyre Measurements
Let's go a little more in-depth to further understand these qualities:
Height. Height refers to the full height from top to bottom of the wheel while it's inflated. You'll typically find NZ ATV tyres in 20 to 30 inches, and your ATV's tyre size may correlate to the type of ATV it is.
For example, sports quads usually have tyres in the 20-25 inch range; utility quads usually have tyres in the 24-28 inch range; and factory, mud, and rock-equipped quads usually have tyres in the 27-30 inch range.
Width. The tyre's width refers to how wide the tyres are when the tyres' treads are facing you. You'll want tyres that can fit your ATV's wheels because tyres that are too wide or too thin may not work correctly on certain wheels.
However, tyre width is mostly up to personal preference. Wider tyres are more stable and offer better grip, but thinner tyres offer more control. Choose NZ tyres that are right for your ATV and your riding style.
Diameter Of The Wheel. The other two qualities listed here have a little wiggle room, but the wheel diameter of your tyres must match your ATV's wheel size. Always check the size of your ATV's wheels before you purchase new tyres; never try to guess!
Ready To Shop? Visit Our Online Store For Quality ATV Accessories, Tyres And More
Now that you understand ATV tyre sizes, you're ready to find the perfect new tyres for your favourite ATV! Where can you find great ones? Come and check out our online store at QuadBitz. Here, you can find plenty of incredible ATV accessories, including awesome new tyres.
We invite you to come and fully explore the rest of our store to find other products that'll make your future adventures better than ever.
Would you like some assistance? Call us at 021477544; we're here to help.
Get perfectly sized, high-quality ATV tyres and more at QuadBitz.