QuestionI have a 2006 Dodge Durango SUV (non pickup truck) and the required tires are 225/45/R17 however I just had the tire shop put on 225/40/R17 is it a safety issue that the tire is a bit narrower? from a 45 to a 40?
AnswerHeather,
On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker - commonly called the placard - that will list 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.
According to my book, a 2006 Dodge Durango originally came with one of the following:
1) P245/70R17's inflated to 33 psi front and rear
2) P265/65R17's inflated to 33 psi front and rear
3) P265/60R18's inflated to 33 psi front and rear
Please check your vehicle for the placard, because what follows depends on the above information being correct.
A 225/45R17 is too small for this vehicle by 7 sizes!!!!
A 225/40R17 is too small for this vehicle by 8 sizes!!!!
I am hoping that some of this information is incorrect.
If not, this is an extreme safety issue. The tire is likely to encounter situations where it will be overloaded - and when overloaded tires fail, they sometimes have tragic results.
Once you've verified the placard information to be the same as above, go back to where you purchased the tires - point out to them the placard information and insist they get correctly sized tires for this vehicle.
