What does revs per mile mean In reference to tires... would I want a tire that is 0 revs per mile or one that is 99 revs per mile?

Answer 1

I am not so savvy too when it comes to auto lingo but guess the "revs" stands for revolution. Hence, revs per mile would mean revolution per mile of the wheel/tire. So, the number stands for how many times the wheel turns before it reaches a mile. With this in mind, if you have fewer number of revs per mile that means you have a bigger tires. On the other hand, if you have larger numbers, you have smaller tires. A revs per mile of 100 means it took the tires 100 turns before it reaches a mile.

Another Answer:The question isn't so much whether you'd want a tire with higher or lower revs/mile simply for the sake of having that specific number. It's about far more than that and really means little to the average consumer. It's a reference number that manufacturers and designers (vehicle mostly) need to take into account to make sure that a specific engine/transmission/drivetrain/tire combination is safe and efficient. Or auto customizers need to know for certain changes to the wheel/tire specifications. For instance, if tires are too big for a combination, the engine would have to work harder and will use more fuel and wear out faster, the clutch or tranny might burn up, u-joints and cv joints will fail quickly, axles could break, the list goes on. The same problems could arise from a tire that's too small.

Ultimately, as an average consumer, you'll only need to know and use this number in reference to your specific vehicle, if you are looking to put a different size or profile tire on your vehicle. For example: You have factory recommended 15 inch wheels with 215/70 tires on your car and you want to put 17 inch rims on it. You can compare the revs/mile of your stock 15 inch tire to 17 inch ones, find a match, and use 17 inch wheels and tires that will look cool, but not overtax your powerplant or driveline.

By the way; if your tire dealer doesn't know what this number is, or how to use this number to get you the tires you need, find another dealer.