A low profile tyre is one with a short sidewall compared with its width, and the common definition is an aspect ratio of 55 or lower, so a 185/55 R15 or a 195/45 R16 counts while a 165/80 R14 does not. Some tyre makers draw the line at 50 instead.
Owners usually come to us wanting this look with bigger alloys. It can work well. But on a road with deep potholes and sharp speed breakers, a short sidewall leaves less rubber between the rim and the hit, so it pays to understand the trade before you buy.
At a glance
- Usual definitionAspect ratio of 55 or lower; some makers say 50 or lower
- Example195/45 R16: sidewall is 45 percent of 195 mm, about 88 mm
- GainsSharper steering, less body roll feel, room for a bigger wheel
- CostsFirmer ride, more rim and sidewall damage risk on potholes
- Upsize ruleBigger rim, lower profile, overall diameter within about 3 percent
- 13 inch optionsFew sizes; they shrink diameter unless the stock tyre is close
How to tell a low profile tyre from the size
Take 195/45 R16. The 45 in the middle is a ratio: wall height divided by section width, written as a percentage. Here, 45 percent of 195 mm is about 88 mm. A 165/80 R14 has a sidewall of 80 percent of 165 mm, about 132 mm. That is the difference you see from the side. If the full code is new to you, start with the guide on reading a tyre size.
| Aspect ratio | How it is usually described |
|---|---|
| 70 and above | Tall sidewall, common on small cars and older models |
| 60 to 65 | Standard for many hatchbacks, sedans and compact SUVs |
| 55 and below | Low profile |
| 40 and below | Very low profile, mostly on sports and high performance cars |
What changes when you fit a low profile tyre
| Gain | Cost |
|---|---|
| Steering responds faster | Ride feels firmer over broken roads |
| Less sidewall flex in quick corners | Rim edge more likely to bend or crack in a pothole |
| Fills the arch with a bigger wheel | Sidewall more exposed to cuts and kerb scuffs |
| Wider tread on many sizes | Tyres in less common sizes cost more and can be harder to find in small towns |
In heavy monsoon water, a wider tyre also has more width to push water aside, so tread depth matters even more. Read tyre grip for that side of it.
Upsizing right: keep the overall diameter
The safe way to go low profile is plus sizing: a bigger rim, a lower aspect ratio, and an overall diameter no more than roughly 3 percent away from the stock size. To get overall diameter in mm, convert the rim inches to mm (multiply by 25.4) and add the sidewall height twice.
| Size | Working | Overall diameter |
|---|---|---|
| 175/65 R14 | 355.6 + 2 x 113.75 | 583.1 mm |
| 185/55 R15 | 381 + 2 x 101.75 | 584.5 mm (+0.2%) |
| 195/45 R16 | 406.4 + 2 x 87.75 | 581.9 mm (-0.2%) |
All three keep the speedometer and gearing almost unchanged. Before buying, confirm the new rim matches the car on bolt pattern (PCD), hub bore and offset, make sure the new tyre's load index matches or beats the factory one, and turn the steering to each end stop and look for any scraping against the arch liner. Going bigger than any wheel the maker offers on your model may make warranty or insurance conversations harder; ask your dealer and insurer first. The tyre size calculator handles this arithmetic for any two sizes you enter.
13 inch low profile tyre options
People with small hatchbacks often want a 13 inch low profile tyre so they can hold on to their existing rims. The trouble is diameter. Sizes like 175/50 R13 (about 505 mm overall) and 165/55 R13 (about 512 mm) are much smaller than a typical small car size such as 145/80 R13 (about 562 mm) or 155/80 R13 (about 578 mm). That is a drop of around 9 to 13 percent, far outside the 3 percent rule. The speedometer would read high, ground clearance would fall, and the car would feel strained on highways.
So on 13 inch rims, a low profile tyre rarely makes sense unless the car came with a low profile 13 inch size already. If you want the look, the usual route is to move to a 14 or 15 inch rim with a matching lower profile, as the 13 inch alloy wheels page explains in more detail.
Low profile tyre pressure and care
- Set pressure cold, using the door jamb sticker. If the maker fits a low profile size on a top variant, the sticker or manual may list a separate figure for it. Never guess higher to protect the rim.
- Check pressure every two weeks. A short sidewall hides low pressure, because it does not bulge as visibly.
- Cross speed breakers and potholes slowly and straight. A sharp hit squeezes the rubber between road and rim flange and can cut the casing on the inside.
- Look for bulges on the sidewall after a hard pothole hit. A bulge tells you the inner cords have snapped. Drive slowly to a nearby tyre shop for a proper look; a bulged tyre has to be replaced.
For more on sidewall damage, see tyre sidewall damage.
Is a low profile tyre right for your use?
If you drive mostly on smooth city roads and expressways, and you like a sharper feel, a modest step such as going from a 65 to a 55 aspect ratio with a one inch bigger rim is a sensible change. If your daily route has unpaved stretches, deep potholes, ghat roads with broken edges or flooded underpasses, a taller sidewall is kinder to the rims, the ride and your back. Many owners settle on one inch up and stop there. Browse factory sizes by model on the tyre size home page and on car tyre size.
Questions owners ask
What aspect ratio is a low profile tyre?
Most tyre makers call 55 or lower low profile. Some use 50 as the cut-off, and 40 or lower is often called very low profile.
Can I fit a 13 inch low profile tyre on my small car?
Usually not without a big drop in overall diameter. Common 13 inch low profile sizes are about 9 to 13 percent smaller than typical stock 13 inch sizes, which upsets the speedometer and clearance.
Do low profile tyres burst in potholes?
They are more likely to get pinched or bulged, and the rim more likely to bend, because there is less sidewall to absorb the hit. Correct pressure and slow driving over bad patches reduce the risk.
Do low profile tyres affect mileage?
Wider, heavier wheel and tyre sets can slightly reduce fuel economy. A modest upsize with similar width has little effect.
Is a low profile tyre more expensive?
Usually, since bigger rim and lower profile sizes sell in smaller volumes and are built with stiffer casings.
Will a low profile tyre change my speedometer?
Only when the new tyre is taller or shorter overall than the old one. A diameter change under about 3 percent keeps the reading close to true.