I’m trying to figure out which tires will fit on my rims.

I have a 97 Dodge Dakota SLT 4x4 V8 Automatic

Currently there are 31x10.5R15LT tires on my rims, the sticker on the door frame sticker says P215/75R15.

The rims are dodge branded, but they measure about 16inches (diameter), probably 10.5 wide, right? Not sure how much of the inside I need to measure but it’s around 10.
I guess I thought they were stock rims?

Tried calling a tire place, unsure of their answer, I think they had to ask someone.

I’m trying to figure this out but I don’t know what to google exactly either. Or if there is a cross reference site I can use?

Thank you for any help

 

Those are 15 inch rims. If they were 16", your tires won't seat.

 

Lol, right? I’m just going off the tape measurement. Sorry I didn’t clarify they should be the 15 inch rims.

 

Thing is, you measure from where the bead mounts to the wheel, to the same surface on the other side. No, they don't make it easy.

The door sticker only tells you what the base truck comes with stock, it doesn't account for options... You will pretty much always see the smallest tire offered on any given vehicle on that sticker....

Did you want to go larger? Smaller? Same size? Different rims?

 

Same size(if possible) the back ones are great, same rims, just trying to find some decent tires, having some front end issues I want to fix before buying new tires.

 

Good plan. No point trashing new tires.

 

The other two options for the Dakota 97’, 235 and 215 /75R15, don’t fit on my rims do they?

 

Sure. Why wouldn't they? So long as they are 15 inch tires, and not overly wide... they'll fit.

 

I called another tire place and asked if any other tire would work and was told no again, I have to keep using 31X10.5 ones… I guess I’m not sure of how the measurements relate to the rims?

The guy made it sound like it had something to do with the 4X4 too.

 

Need to find a different tire place then.

P-Metric dimensions, say, 235/75/R15 means, 235mm section width. (width of the tire at it's widest point, as mounted on the rim.) 75 is the aspect ratio, the sidewall is 75% of the section width, R means Radial, and 15 is the Rim size. Pretty much ANY 15 inch tire will fit on ANY 15" rim. Unless..... the tire is too wide, or narrow.... for the rim. You generally want your tire an inch or two wider than the rim. Helps prevent scrubbing the rim itself, which is generally more expensive than the tire mounted on it. (though, I have seen some SERIOUSLY expensive tires, mounted on cheap rims.....)

The "old" version, 31/105/R15... is 31 inches tall, 10,5 inches wide. (at the widest point, not the tread.) Radial, that needs a 15 inch rim. There are online calculators out there that will convert one to the other, so you can take the P-Metric specs, and convert it to something that makes a bit more sense. (at least, it does to me....)

General rule of thumb is, you can go +1 inch in diameter, without causing too many problems. (the speedo will be inaccurate though.) +2, you have to pay attention, and make sure the tire won't hit anywhere, regardless of where in the travel the suspension is. (and steering as well.)

So, you could supposedly go to 245/75/R15's without trouble. Or even 245/70/R15's.... (not as tall sidewall as 75's, so, a slightly shorter tire.)