Who doesn't like big wheels?
Discussion
The real reason why wheels have grown massively in recent years, azmazingly, is pedestrian impact legislation.
Impact legislation forces the bonnet line to be higher. The wheel arches then grow to avoid an awkward-looking expanse of bodywork above the front wheel, and the wheels then have to grow to fill the enormous arches.
Impact legislation forces the bonnet line to be higher. The wheel arches then grow to avoid an awkward-looking expanse of bodywork above the front wheel, and the wheels then have to grow to fill the enormous arches.
take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey said:
Love big wheels. 29" is a game changer compared to 26".
it very much depends on your intended usage. 29" certainly has advantages over 26" in terms of rolling resistance and comfort on slightly rougher surfaces, however it comes at the expense of strength, weight and handling, which are all more important to me for my favoured uses, but I do concede that 29" has it's place.I still maintain that 27.5 is an unnecessary marketing gimmick that has the disadvantages of both and the advantages of neither.
I hope we are both talking about the same types of wheels, and that PH will forgive the thread diversion
deadtom said:
take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey said:
Love big wheels. 29" is a game changer compared to 26".
it very much depends on your intended usage. 29" certainly has advantages over 26" in terms of rolling resistance and comfort on slightly rougher surfaces, however it comes at the expense of strength, weight and handling, which are all more important to me for my favoured uses, but I do concede that 29" has it's place.I still maintain that 27.5 is an unnecessary marketing gimmick that has the disadvantages of both and the advantages of neither.
I hope we are both talking about the same types of wheels, and that PH will forgive the thread diversion
My car is still rocking 15" and 16" wheels currently. The trend to up-size with low profile tyres is lost on me.
deadtom said:
take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey said:
Love big wheels. 29" is a game changer compared to 26".
it very much depends on your intended usage. 29" certainly has advantages over 26" in terms of rolling resistance and comfort on slightly rougher surfaces, however it comes at the expense of strength, weight and handling, which are all more important to me for my favoured uses, but I do concede that 29" has it's place.I still maintain that 27.5 is an unnecessary marketing gimmick that has the disadvantages of both and the advantages of neither.
I hope we are both talking about the same types of wheels, and that PH will forgive the thread diversion
legless said:
The real reason why wheels have grown massively in recent years, azmazingly, is pedestrian impact legislation.
Impact legislation forces the bonnet line to be higher. The wheel arches then grow to avoid an awkward-looking expanse of bodywork above the front wheel, and the wheels then have to grow to fill the enormous arches.
Makes sense .... Impact legislation forces the bonnet line to be higher. The wheel arches then grow to avoid an awkward-looking expanse of bodywork above the front wheel, and the wheels then have to grow to fill the enormous arches.
also allows for larger brake rotors to help stop cars that are now heavier (due to safety features added)
I’m not a fan.
My next daily will need to be an estate with 4WD, also with a bit of height. Most definitely NOT an SUV as there will be a lot of long distance work.
The A6 Allroad is an option and the trim with all the goodies, comes with alloys like this:
21” alloys on a 4WD estate designed for “Allroads”? Ridiculous.
Even the base model has 19’s.
As someone else has said, as cars have got bigger, so have the alloys needed to in order not to look silly. It’s an arms race.
My next daily will need to be an estate with 4WD, also with a bit of height. Most definitely NOT an SUV as there will be a lot of long distance work.
The A6 Allroad is an option and the trim with all the goodies, comes with alloys like this:
21” alloys on a 4WD estate designed for “Allroads”? Ridiculous.
Even the base model has 19’s.
As someone else has said, as cars have got bigger, so have the alloys needed to in order not to look silly. It’s an arms race.
I do like a bigger wheel, but they're a ball ache on a daily driver.
We've 18s on our M140i which is a good balance.
18s on our 330i also. I ran 17s on it for quite a while but the 18s look better IMHO.
19s on my Z4C. Overwheeled perhaps, but i think it carries the look off, and its a weekend car.
We've 18s on our M140i which is a good balance.
18s on our 330i also. I ran 17s on it for quite a while but the 18s look better IMHO.
19s on my Z4C. Overwheeled perhaps, but i think it carries the look off, and its a weekend car.
Edited by Deep Thought on Tuesday 6th April 15:50
I changed from 17 to 16" diameter wheels on my XJ almost the moment I bought it.
Instant improvement in ride and refinement and the 17" wheels and tyres were sold for enough cash by somebody who'd obviously never driven a XJ on that size to cover the cost of new rubber on the 16" ones.
It's a win-win.
Instant improvement in ride and refinement and the 17" wheels and tyres were sold for enough cash by somebody who'd obviously never driven a XJ on that size to cover the cost of new rubber on the 16" ones.
It's a win-win.
I've always liked bigger wheels for the way they look(fill the arches etc) and I have 19" on the M4/19" on the 370Z/20" on the GLC. However as I'm getting older(and a bit boring maybe) the ride on those wheels is starting to annoy me far more than it seemed to when I was a bit younger.
I feel like I want a nice barge now on small wheels and with air suspension!
I feel like I want a nice barge now on small wheels and with air suspension!
Big wheels certainly look good, but I like to drive my cars, and smaller wheels handle and ride better. My last 4 cars;
330d - came on 18s, swapped to 17 rode better, handled better
530d - came on 19s, swapped to 18 rode better, handled better
535i - came on 20s, swapped to 18 rode way better, handled a bit better
GTi Performance - just acquired on 19s and waiting for shipping from Germany on a lighter set of 18s
All of the above improved (or will) the dynamics of the car and were broadly cost neutral once I'd eBay'ed the flashy big wheels.
It's looks vs performance. Simples.
330d - came on 18s, swapped to 17 rode better, handled better
530d - came on 19s, swapped to 18 rode better, handled better
535i - came on 20s, swapped to 18 rode way better, handled a bit better
GTi Performance - just acquired on 19s and waiting for shipping from Germany on a lighter set of 18s
All of the above improved (or will) the dynamics of the car and were broadly cost neutral once I'd eBay'ed the flashy big wheels.
It's looks vs performance. Simples.
BikeSausage said:
I’m not a fan.
My next daily will need to be an estate with 4WD, also with a bit of height. Most definitely NOT an SUV as there will be a lot of long distance work.
The A6 Allroad is an option and the trim with all the goodies, comes with alloys like this:
21” alloys on a 4WD estate designed for “Allroads”? Ridiculous.
Even the base model has 19’s.
As someone else has said, as cars have got bigger, so have the alloys needed to in order not to look silly. It’s an arms race.
That's part of the reason why after considering the VAG options I ended up with a Volvo V60 Cross Country, available with 18" wheels.My next daily will need to be an estate with 4WD, also with a bit of height. Most definitely NOT an SUV as there will be a lot of long distance work.
The A6 Allroad is an option and the trim with all the goodies, comes with alloys like this:
21” alloys on a 4WD estate designed for “Allroads”? Ridiculous.
Even the base model has 19’s.
As someone else has said, as cars have got bigger, so have the alloys needed to in order not to look silly. It’s an arms race.
Some cars with small sidewalls ride waaay better than other cars in their class with much taller sidewalls.
Sidewall height is only one indicator of ride quality.
The quality/calibration of engine/powertrain mounting has a much bigger influence on ride than switching from a typical 50 to 45 or 40 profile.
Tall sidewalls, often have horrible, undamped bouncing ride.... yuck...
Sidewall height is only one indicator of ride quality.
The quality/calibration of engine/powertrain mounting has a much bigger influence on ride than switching from a typical 50 to 45 or 40 profile.
Tall sidewalls, often have horrible, undamped bouncing ride.... yuck...
My FK8 Type R comes with 20 inch wheels, and 30 profile tyres, I'm really not a fan of them. There's so little side wall, and the wheels are gloss black, the car looks under wheeled. I've purchased some 19 inch wheels, with a 35 profile. It should improve the looks, and the ride quality. I did consider 18s, but they really would look too small in the arches I think. I may loose some of the turn in, but the 20 inch wheels, and rubber bands may be good for the Nurbergring, but not for the luner surface like roads in Malvern!
It's gone completely mental and the 'bling' demand is partly to blame
I know cars are larger now and there is demand for bigger brakes but back in the day (early 90s), 15'' alloys were decent for a hot hatch. Now it's 19''
A high performance saloon/coupe like an M3 would be 16''/17'', now it's 19''/20''. i think even the BMW 850i (which is a huge car) only had 17''s.
Porsche 911 was 16'' now 21''
Keeps the wheel refurb guys in business! That's another thing hardly any deep dish wheels fitted as standard now.
I know cars are larger now and there is demand for bigger brakes but back in the day (early 90s), 15'' alloys were decent for a hot hatch. Now it's 19''
A high performance saloon/coupe like an M3 would be 16''/17'', now it's 19''/20''. i think even the BMW 850i (which is a huge car) only had 17''s.
Porsche 911 was 16'' now 21''
Keeps the wheel refurb guys in business! That's another thing hardly any deep dish wheels fitted as standard now.
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