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Many drivers actually want to minus-size the tire & wheel combos on their late-model cars, citing harsh ride and jittery handling associated with factory 19" & up wagon wheels!
I’m one of those people that can’t stand Low Pro tires. Big wheels look cool and all, and is what the aftermarket industry gave us for many years until automakers decided to copy that trend to the fullest nowadays, but YES, the ride quality sucks no doubt with very little rubber between the road and the suspension that just gives for a jittery harsh uncomfortable ride.
I remember how 15 inch wheels were standard for YEARS! But of course these days looks and styling matter more to people than comfort, or at least that’s what the automakers assume.
Smaller wheel options should be offered in metros with really bad infrastructure. Pothole riddled streets that look like grenades were tossed from the sky onto the streets in many places where I live is not only damaging to people’s cars out here, but it’s downright dangerous in certain areas where entire streets are full of deep earthquake looking cracks, falling apart asphalt and seriously lumpy, bumpy and uneven streets that is real safety concern to residents here because someone could easily lose control of their vehicle or get into an accident while avoiding huge crater like potholes as well.
Not only do low pro tires suck at absorbing road shock, but they are more expensive than tires that actually have more rubber on them! WTF is that all about.
I'm old school. Give me a 15 inch wheel and a tall tire any day, it fills up the wheel well better and rides better than those rubber band tires on big rims.
Bigger wheels are on cars due to the increase brake size they have now.
As for looks, low profile only looks good on certain cars and that is it, my opinion of course. I am tlaking the sport cars, cars set up for track racing. Tossing low profiles on a F-150 or Camry looks ridiculous. The new Escalades for example look ridiculous.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by boxus
Bigger wheels are on cars due to the increase brake size they have now.
As for looks, low profile only looks good on certain cars and that is it, my opinion of course. I am tlaking the sport cars, cars set up for track racing. Tossing low profiles on a F-150 or Camry looks ridiculous. The new Escalades for example look ridiculous.
Ok, bigger diameter rims, but must they be wider? Like I said, I've driven on wider wheels, and I can't relax behind the wheel driving something like that. The reaction is disproportionate to the effort I exert the steering wheel - like I turn it one-two inches and the car wants to cross the road or mount the curb!
Narrower wheels, regardless of diameter or tire profile, tend to roll straighter and resist every little crack or hole in the roads compared to wider wheel/tire combos, which tend to 'tram-line', or follow ruts or other surface imperfections.
Automakers take note: Provide an option for taller rims but the same width as their smaller diameter counterparts. IE: My base Elantra tire/wheels are P195/65R15, T rated - so offer a wheel/tire option such as 195/55R17, or such, on a higher trim Elantra. Base width is preserved, less tire and more rim is showing, handling is a little crisper, but without the wandering tendencies of wider wheels.
Big balloon tires, in general, have a nicer ride and wear longer. If you want a soft ride and good tire life, don’t buy a low profile performance tire.
Those max-performance tires sacrifice ride and tire life for maximum stick and handling performance. The low profile design helps prevent tire rollover and sidewall scrubbing, dangerous behavior in a car being pushed near its handling limits. Two of my cars (2008 Audi S4 Avant and 1999 Panoz AIV roadster) have max-performance tires and I like them because I like their performance when I’m having fun. There’s a reason for the kinds of tires seen on track cars.
As far as the tendency to put extreme low profiles tires on huge rims for cruising around town, I agree it looks dumb (IMO) but, people do all kinds of stuff I think is dumb. Take this fad for example....
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LesLucid
Big balloon tires, in general, have a nicer ride and wear longer. If you want a soft ride and good tire life, don’t buy a low profile performance tire.
Those max-performance tires sacrifice ride and tire life for maximum stick and handling performance. The low profile design helps prevent tire rollover and sidewall scrubbing, dangerous behavior in a car being pushed near its handling limits. Two of my cars (2008 Audi S4 Avant and 1999 Panoz AIV roadster) have max-performance tires and I like them because I like their performance when I’m having fun. There’s a reason for the kinds of tires seen on track cars.
As far as the tendency to put extreme low profiles tires on huge rims for cruising around town, I agree it looks dumb (IMO) but, people do all kinds of stuff I think is dumb. Take this fad for example....
Actually, 19" & up superwide wagon wheels are now OEM on mid to higher trim levels of cars from the manufacturers, so nowadays it is not always vehicle owners plus-sizing their rolling stock.
IE: I like having a moonroof in my car. If I were buying soon I'd have to buy that moonroof as part of a higher trim-level or package, which often includes those ridiculous wide and tall rims and low-pro tires, along with leather heated seats, blue tooth compatibility, and other doo-dads I have neither the care nor the patience for!
Vehicle mfgs. and dealers should just go back to the old checkbox list system of optioning up cars, but I guess a la carte builds are not the economical practice nowadays.
Actually, 19" & up superwide wagon wheels are now OEM on mid to higher trim levels of cars from the manufacturers, so nowadays it is not always vehicle owners plus-sizing their rolling stock.
IE: I like having a moonroof in my car. If I were buying soon I'd have to buy that moonroof as part of a higher trim-level or package, which often includes those ridiculous wide and tall rims and low-pro tires, along with leather heated seats, blue tooth compatibility, and other doo-dads I have neither the care nor the patience for!
Vehicle mfgs. and dealers should just go back to the old checkbox list system of optioning up cars, but I guess a la carte builds are not the economical practice nowadays.
Don’t have to worry since most sedans are going away and the ones that remain are the muscle car ones or the luxury ones so no low profile tires.
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