205 vs 225 Tire Width: Difference Between 205 and 225 Tires
You may not realize it but all the numbers on a tire mean something. They also tell you the difference between each set of tires. Knowing those differences helps you select the right tire for your RV or trailer.
The difference between these two tires is not just the width, the 205 fits 5 to 6 1/2 inch rims and the 225 fits a 6 to 7-inch wide rim. It is also found in its height. The 205 stands 27.1 inches tall while the 225 stands 28.4 inches high.
To learn more about these two tire models, just continue to read our article. It has the information you want to know about so you can pick the best tires for your vehicles or trailer. Take a few minutes to see how this important information helps you.
205 vs 225 Tires 101
Difference Between 205 And 225 Tires
There is some difference between these two tires. But those differences may not be as large as some people may think. For example, the outside diameter is only 1.3 inches apart from the 205 the smaller tire.
The same goes for their widths. There is very little size difference between the two but it is enough that you have to be careful of the width of the rims you put them on. They are not interchangeable tires.
Another difference will be in their ratings. There should be some difference in load bearing, speed, and tire pressure, although that last one may be minuscule. Plus, the sidewall is larger on the 225 than the 205.
The load rating for the 205 is just over 2100 pounds while the 225 can handle between 2500 and 2800 pounds. The 205 does come in an 8 ply rubber but the 225 comes in both 8 and 10-ply.
The maximum speed for the 205 is rated at 75 mph, while the 225 is rated for 75 to 87 mph. The difference is the letter rating as the 205 only has a D rating while the 225 can have either a D or an E rating.
205 vs 225 Tire Width
We gave you a basic difference in the width above but on one chart, the 205 is measured at a flat 8 inches wide. The 225 is measured 8.8 inches wide on the same chart. This does not matter if it is a D or an E-rated tire, the width is the same.
This width difference is slight when it comes to rims sizes. The 205 can fit rims measuring between 5 and 7 inches wide. The 225 needs rims measuring 6 to 7 inches wide to fit properly
The main difference, and where you will have the most trouble will be in the height of both tires. The 205 should not rub against the top of your inner fender while the 225 may do just that. One owner experienced that problem when he made the change from 205s to 225s.
One place the two tires are the same is tread depth. Both have 8/32 deep treads. So you are not losing any traction when you switch tires. The 205 weighs roughly 23 pounds while the 225 weighs 28 and 30 pounds depending on their letter rating.
How Much Bigger is a 225 Tire Than a 205?
As you just read, the 225 and the 205 have the same tread depth. That is an important piece of information as traction is needed no matter which tire you have on your trailer.
But that is just one spot where these two tires are the same, the D rating is another. When you compare just the D-rated tires, you will find that the 225 is only about 1 inch taller than the 205. Its weight is only 5 pounds more and its speed rating is the same at 75.
The PSI is the same as well at 65 for both tires. The load ratings are 2150 for the 205 and 2540 for the 225. That means that the 225 can handle about 300 more pounds than the 205.
The one place where the 205 beats the 225 is in revolutions per mile and the former gets 766 revolutions while the latter only gets 733. What all this means is that the 225 is not that much bigger than the 205.
The fact that it is bigger is the most important factor in this comparison. The bigger the tire means the better your driving and towing will be.
Are 205 And 225 Tires Interchangeable?
If you go by rim width, then technically, the 205 could be interchangeable with the 225. However, that is about as far as it would go in this comparison. You can put 205s on trailers and not have a problem unless that trailer is too heavy for the tire.
The speed rating for the two tires, just D rated only, are the same but the same cannot be said for the load capacity. That is probably the most important category when it comes to tires, almost. How much weight each tire can carry is essential as trailers are not the same.
Also, the height of the tire makes it hard for these two tires to be interchangeable. Fender height is going to play an important role if you can replace the 205s with a set of 225s.
If you want to use the taller tires, you have to make sure you have the clearance. If you don’t, your 225s will wear out fairly quickly from the rubbing against the metal fender.
It is possible to go from a 225 to a 205 but your trailer must not weigh a lot to make this switch. There would be no clearance issues on this action.
Can You Put 225 Tires On 205 Rims?
Technically, yes you could. If the rims for the 205 measured 6 to 7 inches wide, then yes, you should be able to put the 225s on those rims. But if the 205 rims measured under 6 inches wide, then chances are you could not make that switch.
The 225s need 6 to 7-inch wide rims while the 205s need the 5 to 7-inch models. So you need to check your rim width before trying to make the switch. Talk to your tire people to make sure as rims and tires can get tricky due to the variety of sizes they both come in these days.
Or talk to a rim specialist and there are many outlets out there that sell rims only. You should be able to get a custom-sized rim that will fit both tires. The best thing to do is check with the sellers to make sure.
When it comes to tires, you do not want to take any chances. Make sure you get the right rims for each tire set so you can tow worry-free. There is no sense in having a blow out in the middle of nowhere.
205 75R15 vs 225 75R15 Trailer Tires
All the above specs have come from these two tire sizes. If you really want to see a difference between the 205/75/R15 and the 225/75/R15 tires, we need to provide the specs for the 225/75/R15 E-rated tires.
Those specs are as follows: diameter is 28.3 inches, the width is 8.8 inches, the measured rim is 6 inches and the tread depth is 8/32nds. So far up to this point, everything is the same as the D-rated 225s.
The big difference comes in the letter rating. The E-rated 225 has 10 ply on its tires, can handle a load up to 2830 pounds, needs 80 PSI, and can travel up to 87 mph. Plus, it weighs 30 pounds.
When you compare that to the D-rated 205s you can see a bigger difference between the two tires. There is approx. With a 700-pound load capacity between the two, the E-rated tire goes 12 mph faster than the 205s and can have 15 psi more than the 205s.
The height is still just an inch larger than the 205s but it is the 10-ply and the E rating that makes all the difference.
205 vs 225 Winter Tires
There are similar differences between these two types of tires and the ones just compared. The 205s stand 27.1 inches tall, while the 225s reach 28.3 inches.
The width and rim size are the same as well. The difference is in the tread as both sets of winter tires measure 12/32 of an inch deep giving you 4/32 of an inch more tread to work with.
The load rating is 1609 for the 205s while the 225s enjoy an 1874 load rating. Then the two types of tires both have the same PSI level at 44 and the same speed rating at 112 mph.
The 225s weigh more than the 205s by about 4 pounds, 26 to 26 pounds respectively. Finally, the 205s get 768 revolutions per mile while the 225s get 736.
As you can see, the difference between these two tires is similar to the differences between the summer tires. The big issue will be in clearance again. The taller 225s may have a harder time of it when the wheel well is designed for the 205 tires.
Both tires seem to be up to the job when it comes to winter driving. You just get to haul more weight with the 225s than you can with the 205s.
205/50 vs 225/45 Tires
In this comparison, the 205/50model is about .1 inch taller than the 225/45, 23.1 to 23 inches in diameter. The width of the 205 is smaller than the 225, 8.3 inches to 9 inches respectively.
Also, the measured rim size is different as the 205s need a 6.5-inch wide rim to the 225s 7.5-inch rim. However, the 205 has a deeper tread depth than the 225 but not by much, 9.4/32 to 8/32 respectively.
Both are standard load rated tires with the 205 being able to handle 11 68 pounds while the 225 can handle 2101 pounds. The two tires have the same PSI at 51 but the 225s can go faster than the 205s, 168 to 130 respectively.
Also, the 205s are lighter than the 225s weighing in at 18 pounds to the 225s at 22.3 pounds. Even the revolutions per mile are very close 911 for the 225s and 900 for the 205s.
This time you may not have to worry about clearance since the two sets of tires are so close in height.
We do have one disclaimer, though. All of these specs were taken from one brand of tire. The winter tires compared were made by Firestone and the others were just randomly selected.
We were going by the 205/75/15 category and not the brand. You may find some differences between brands but not that much.
Where To Find These Tires
Since these tire sizes are made by about 15 to 20 different tire making companies, they will not be hard to find. You may find some at Walmart, Les Schwab, Costco, Big O Tires, and many other tire outlets.
Their prices will range depending on which brand and the area you live in. Be careful of the China-made tires as many of the unknown brands are made in that country and their quality differs immensely.
Some Final Words
When it comes to tires, the biggest worries you would have will be the size and tread depth. You want a deep tread depth for traction on slippery roads. Plus, you want to make sure there is enough clearance in the wheel well for longevity.
Brand names do matter and you may pay more for the top brands but it is worth the extra expense in the long run. Both tires will do well for you as long as you pick up the right brand. Off brands only have you taking your chances.
