Tires: tire size, tire placard, worldwide practice

Question
Hi Barry,
I currently live in CT,but am moving to Florida soon.I will need a new set of tires for my 1997 Rodeo before long.I obviously won't need the big 245/16 I have on there now,for any future snow,so,what is the smallest tire I can safely put on the truck for simple warm weather driving??
Thanks for your help

Answer
Scott,

On every vehicle sold in the US - and I understand this is a worldwide practice as well - there is a sticker – commonly called the vehicle tire placard - that lists the original tire size and the proper pressure for that size.  The placard is usually located on a doorpost or in the glove box – but sometimes it is located in the trunk or on the fuel filler door.

BTW, it doesn't matter who makes the tire or what pressure is listed on the tire's sidewall, if the tire size is the same as the placard, then the pressure listed on placard is also appropriate.

The tire size listed on the vehicle tire placard is the right size for your vehicle - and this is especially important in Florida as that state is one of those where the heat is a factor.  It's not that it gets hot down there, it's that it stays warm year round and that ages the rubber in the tires.