Who doesn't like big wheels?
Discussion
E65Ross said:
Totally depends on the car. People also seem to forget that it isn't just the wheel size that contributes to ride quality and cornering ability.
My 2003 745i BMW is running 19 inch wheels which many PHers would deem massive and too big. Well, it has a ride quality which matches a 1990 Mercedes W124 300e I went in which was on 15 inch wheels. The only difference being that despite the extra mass and size of the 745i over the W124, my car (whilst it's not a sports car!!) didn't go round corners like it was a complete boat.
My dad has a new BMW M6 (the TT V8 model) which is running 20 inch wheels. The ride quality is absolutely fantastic for something which goes round corners the way it does, and it rides better than the E92 M3 it replaced which rode on 19 inch wheels.
Go figure
Indeed.My 2003 745i BMW is running 19 inch wheels which many PHers would deem massive and too big. Well, it has a ride quality which matches a 1990 Mercedes W124 300e I went in which was on 15 inch wheels. The only difference being that despite the extra mass and size of the 745i over the W124, my car (whilst it's not a sports car!!) didn't go round corners like it was a complete boat.
My dad has a new BMW M6 (the TT V8 model) which is running 20 inch wheels. The ride quality is absolutely fantastic for something which goes round corners the way it does, and it rides better than the E92 M3 it replaced which rode on 19 inch wheels.
Go figure
I'm not particularly old, but I remember when 16" & 17" wheels were deemed big wheels.
Now, many on this thread, are citing these as small wheels and the optimum for ride comfort.
The fact is, from a chassis engineering point of view, it's all about the system as a whole, rather than just saying "big wheels are bad, m'kay".
It's also a very subjective matter. I bought a Porsche 911 turbo with 19" wheels. I switched them to the standard 18" wheels, but I actually preferred the ride and handling on the 19"s.
I'm hoping that low profile tyres on big wheels will be like flares and collars in the 70s - they got bigger and bigger until we somehow collectively realised that they looked ridiculous, and almost overnight punk was born. Ten years from now skinny tyres will look comically dated, hopefully.
I've driven one of my cars with 4 different sizes of wheels on it, from 14" to 17".
14" was the stock alloy size, with 185/65/14 tyres. Good ride but handling vague and wooly.
15" on 205/50/15 tyres was probably the sweet spot of ride + handling. Sharper than the 14's but still comfortable.
currently run 205/45/16 tyres which look the best IMO
and the ride is still ok due to them being pretty lightweight forged alloys.
Had 17s on it for a little while, ride was shocking and it tramlined everywhere. Sold them ASAP.
Next time it needs new tyres I'm probably going to get hold of a set of corrado VR6 speedlines and goback to 15" wheels.
14" was the stock alloy size, with 185/65/14 tyres. Good ride but handling vague and wooly.
15" on 205/50/15 tyres was probably the sweet spot of ride + handling. Sharper than the 14's but still comfortable.
currently run 205/45/16 tyres which look the best IMO
and the ride is still ok due to them being pretty lightweight forged alloys.Had 17s on it for a little while, ride was shocking and it tramlined everywhere. Sold them ASAP.
Next time it needs new tyres I'm probably going to get hold of a set of corrado VR6 speedlines and goback to 15" wheels.
thinkofaname said:
I'm hoping that low profile tyres on big wheels will be like flares and collars in the 70s - they got bigger and bigger until we somehow collectively realised that they looked ridiculous, and almost overnight punk was born. Ten years from now skinny tyres will look comically dated, hopefully.
Why do you care?Do you blindly follow fashion or are you able to think for yourself?
E65Ross said:
g3org3y said:
I'm looking forward to winter so I can stick the 16s with winter tyres back on.
Notably more comfortable than the current 17s.
Why do you not run the 16 inch wheels all year round?Notably more comfortable than the current 17s.
g3org3y said:
E65Ross said:
g3org3y said:
I'm looking forward to winter so I can stick the 16s with winter tyres back on.
Notably more comfortable than the current 17s.
Why do you not run the 16 inch wheels all year round?Notably more comfortable than the current 17s.
Sorry but I find yo7r comment a bit strange. You can't wait to put the 16s on, and then you say you are a tart and don't want rid of the 17s
monthefish said:
thinkofaname said:
I'm hoping that low profile tyres on big wheels will be like flares and collars in the 70s - they got bigger and bigger until we somehow collectively realised that they looked ridiculous, and almost overnight punk was born. Ten years from now skinny tyres will look comically dated, hopefully.
Why do you care?Do you blindly follow fashion or are you able to think for yourself?
tommy1973s said:
Because he knows that big wheels are dumb. Yet all new cars come with oversized wheels. Until the fashion changes, those of us who want to buy a new car, but who prefer optimal sized wheels, unfortunately are stuck with the idiot wheels.
You’re not stuck, you’re free to purchase and install smaller wheels. You might even make some money selling the more desirable to the masses “idiot wheels” to someone else. Win win.I don't like them. To me, the 55 to 60 aspect ratio is about right, which is a sign of my age- that's what hot hatches rolled on in the late eighties/early nineties I think.
It's now normal for average mid size cars and that suits me.
Larger cars need larger wheels to fill their arches obviously but if the ratio is around there it's the sweet spot for me
It's now normal for average mid size cars and that suits me.
Larger cars need larger wheels to fill their arches obviously but if the ratio is around there it's the sweet spot for me
tommy1973s said:
monthefish said:
thinkofaname said:
I'm hoping that low profile tyres on big wheels will be like flares and collars in the 70s - they got bigger and bigger until we somehow collectively realised that they looked ridiculous, and almost overnight punk was born. Ten years from now skinny tyres will look comically dated, hopefully.
Why do you care?Do you blindly follow fashion or are you able to think for yourself?
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