Low profile car tyres - pro's and con's??

[Neil]

Contrary to popular belief, grip isn't directly related to width of tyres.

Crikey, so if I was to buy a high performance car, for example Aston Martin, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bentley, R8, GTR, etc. etc. I could spec it with 15" steel wheels (provided they cover the brakes ) fitted with 195/50's instead of 275's+ and a 18/19 or even 20" rim, and with the correct weight distribution and tyre pressure expect exactly the same contact patch and thus - grip??? :?: :?:

In all seriousness, I've actually learned something today, thankyou.

Sarcasm noted ;-)

You're very welcome...

All I'm saying is that most people normally spout and equate tyre width equals grip - and all I'm saying is it's a fallacy.

Other factors may - or most likely are more relevant - looks, tyre compound, sidewall stiffness.

As to your snarky comments about the supercars, well their power output wouldn't be suited to tyres with deep sidewalls. All other things being equal, though, and grip from the tyres isn't something that's directly affected by the width of the tyre.

But some cheapo alloys are no better, weight wise, than steel wheels.

Hence my earlier statement regarding magnesium alloy wheels (such as Dymag's) which most definitely ARE lighter.

How many cars on the road look like they're that selective when choosing alloys - it's practically all about looks.

Your average chav sortin' his Saxo with some alloys, innit, from Halfords, probably have no clue whatsoever about the weight.

All I'm saying is that for the vast majority of cars, the choice of alloy wheels over steel wheels, is about how they look, rather than how they perform.

 

[GT-Steve]

It may be hard to read what I wrote without it sounding sarcastic, I was actually being genuine, and you spoke with authority, I was just double checking for my own peace of mind...

I agree wholeheartedly with your comments about chavvy wheels

 

[REKIBorter]

Your average chav sortin' his Saxo with some alloys, innit, from Halfords, probably have no clue whatsoever about the weight.

Then they fit the cheapest crap tyres they can find. The tyres are the most important component on a vehicle; it's the only part in contact with the road. Makes me mad :x

 

[legrandefromage]

I bought some blingin' 17's for me Merc...


and they were way heavier than the OEM jobbies I was about to take off...

 

[hamster]

With the current state of the roads I'd avoid lower profile tyres. They are much less capable of soaking up potholes and you are more likely to trash the rim as well as rip the sidewall.

With the state of the roads after this winter, plus budget cuts all over it's only going to get worse.... :shock:

 

[bojangle]

I can understand wanting to put on lower profile, but the best way is to increase wheel size, 16" or 17".

Tyre size works on ROLLING RADIUS if you stick that in google you will get all the info you need. As a rule you go up in width and down in profile because the profile 55,60 etc is a % of the width of a tyre.

A quick equiv reference -

195/60/15 is similar (roughly speaking) to....
205/55/15 or
215/50/15.

205/55/15 would be the cheapest option here because they are quite a common size, you should be able to pick up some Pirelli's for 45-50 notes each.

 

[REKIBorter]

I can understand wanting to put on lower profile, but the best way is to increase wheel size, 16" or 17".

Tyre size works on ROLLING RADIUS if you stick that in google you will get all the info you need. As a rule you go up in width and down in profile because the profile 55,60 etc is a % of the width of a tyre.

A quick equiv reference -

195/60/15 is similar (roughly speaking) to....
205/55/15 or
215/50/15.

205/55/15 would be the cheapest option here because they are quite a common size, you should be able to pick up some Pirelli's for 45-50 notes each.

205/55R15 is a very uncommon size. Stick to the original size

 

[bojangle]

205/55/15 are fitted on hell of a lot of sporty hot hatches, no so much on new stuff. It was even a standard size on some Saabs. Also a surprising amount of older saloon cars and a few jap cars, check out fittment guides in a tyre fitters or on the net.

Anyway enough of the argueing about tyre sizes get some new wheels!!!

 

[REKIBorter]

That is the problem, old obsolete sizes. Tyre manufacturers very quickly stop supporting sizes as soon as the vehicle they are fitted to is replaced. I don't need to consult fitment guides, it is my job. As with many things a little bit of knowledge can be dangerous.

 

[john]

Have you considered getting a set of 20" rims and rolling the arches.