advantages of low profile tyres?
Discussion
One of my colleagues asked me what the advantage is of having low profile tyres - and why Formula 1 cars don't have them. Beyond looking rather nice, do they do anything positive?
(another colleague dived in and said with great relish that they were more expensive, wore out more quickly, gave a lousy ride and were generally just for posing, but since he has a saab and i have a cayman I let him have his scratchy moment)
(another colleague dived in and said with great relish that they were more expensive, wore out more quickly, gave a lousy ride and were generally just for posing, but since he has a saab and i have a cayman I let him have his scratchy moment)
mrmr96 said:
They give less sidewall flex.
F1 don't use them because the regulations don't allow them.
Look at touring cars and you'll see low sidewalls being used in motorsport. HTH
It's true that F1 cars are limited to 13" wheels, so they probably wouldn't be so extreme if the regs allowed bigger rims, but they certainly wouldn't be running 19s or 20s. F1 don't use them because the regulations don't allow them.
Look at touring cars and you'll see low sidewalls being used in motorsport. HTH
Touring cars on the other hand use big rims purely for marketing purposes. I was involved in BTCC for many years as a chief race engineer and chassis designer. In the early 90s they ran 18" rims, but the manufacturers really wanted to promote 19" rims and eventually they insisted on switching to 19". We carried out a very comprehensive tyre test involving Dunlop, Michelin and Yokohama when the 19" tyres were under development. In all cases the 18" tyres were significantly quicker. The bigger rims allowed a bit more freedom in the suspension geometry and obviously more clearance for brake calipers, but 18" was a much better compromise overall.
As for road use, ultra-low profile tyres are entirely for show. They certainly compromise the ride and don't give the best grip levels. I'd say 17" is probably the best compromise between handling, ride and weight.
uktrailmonster said:
It's true that F1 cars are limited to 13" wheels, so they probably wouldn't be so extreme if the regs allowed bigger rims, but they certainly wouldn't be running 19s or 20s.
Touring cars on the other hand use big rims purely for marketing purposes. I was involved in BTCC for many years as a chief race engineer and chassis designer. In the early 90s they ran 18" rims, but the manufacturers really wanted to promote 19" rims and eventually they insisted on switching to 19". We carried out a very comprehensive tyre test involving Dunlop, Michelin and Yokohama when the 19" tyres were under development. In all cases the 18" tyres were significantly quicker. The bigger rims allowed a bit more freedom in the suspension geometry and obviously more clearance for brake calipers, but 18" was a much better compromise overall.
As for road use, ultra-low profile tyres are entirely for show. They certainly compromise the ride and don't give the best grip levels. I'd say 17" is probably the best compromise between handling, ride and weight.
Good answer. Incidently my Evo came with 17's from the factory, and I have several sets of these for trackdays. I upgraded the brakes to the biggest ones that will fit under 17's and with appropriate cooling I've not had a problem with them (touch wood). So I'd agree that on a car where looks are not as important as speed, the 17in option is possibly the best compromise. (And given how Evo's look, it's fair to say that cosmetics are not high on the designers list of priorities!)Touring cars on the other hand use big rims purely for marketing purposes. I was involved in BTCC for many years as a chief race engineer and chassis designer. In the early 90s they ran 18" rims, but the manufacturers really wanted to promote 19" rims and eventually they insisted on switching to 19". We carried out a very comprehensive tyre test involving Dunlop, Michelin and Yokohama when the 19" tyres were under development. In all cases the 18" tyres were significantly quicker. The bigger rims allowed a bit more freedom in the suspension geometry and obviously more clearance for brake calipers, but 18" was a much better compromise overall.
As for road use, ultra-low profile tyres are entirely for show. They certainly compromise the ride and don't give the best grip levels. I'd say 17" is probably the best compromise between handling, ride and weight.
chris7676 said:
Your Saab friend had good points I'm afraid 
They flex less and grip more but at the same time adjust less to the road, which in many cars - including Cayman - it's not ideal.
If they flex less they are less compliants on bumps so I guess they'll actually grip less, not to mention traction.They flex less and grip more but at the same time adjust less to the road, which in many cars - including Cayman - it's not ideal.
uktrailmonster said:
It's true that F1 cars are limited to 13" wheels, so they probably wouldn't be so extreme if the regs allowed bigger rims, but they certainly wouldn't be running 19s or 20s.
Touring cars on the other hand use big rims purely for marketing purposes. I was involved in BTCC for many years as a chief race engineer and chassis designer. In the early 90s they ran 18" rims, but the manufacturers really wanted to promote 19" rims and eventually they insisted on switching to 19". We carried out a very comprehensive tyre test involving Dunlop, Michelin and Yokohama when the 19" tyres were under development. In all cases the 18" tyres were significantly quicker. The bigger rims allowed a bit more freedom in the suspension geometry and obviously more clearance for brake calipers, but 18" was a much better compromise overall.
As for road use, ultra-low profile tyres are entirely for show. They certainly compromise the ride and don't give the best grip levels. I'd say 17" is probably the best compromise between handling, ride and weight.
Agreed. The Cup cars that I raced ran 18's and reasonably high profile slicks. Touring cars on the other hand use big rims purely for marketing purposes. I was involved in BTCC for many years as a chief race engineer and chassis designer. In the early 90s they ran 18" rims, but the manufacturers really wanted to promote 19" rims and eventually they insisted on switching to 19". We carried out a very comprehensive tyre test involving Dunlop, Michelin and Yokohama when the 19" tyres were under development. In all cases the 18" tyres were significantly quicker. The bigger rims allowed a bit more freedom in the suspension geometry and obviously more clearance for brake calipers, but 18" was a much better compromise overall.
As for road use, ultra-low profile tyres are entirely for show. They certainly compromise the ride and don't give the best grip levels. I'd say 17" is probably the best compromise between handling, ride and weight.
A low profile tyre looks good and gives good outright grip but it sacrifices the levels of feel and predicability of the higher profile tyre also.
Like ceramics, I think that they suffer from 'Kings new Clothes' syndrome
Steve Rance said:
Agreed. The Cup cars that I raced ran 18's and reasonably high profile slicks.
A low profile tyre looks good and gives good outright grip but it sacrifices the levels of feel and predicability of the higher profile tyre also.
Like ceramics, I think that they suffer from 'Kings new Clothes' syndrome
^ Emperor's.A low profile tyre looks good and gives good outright grip but it sacrifices the levels of feel and predicability of the higher profile tyre also.
Like ceramics, I think that they suffer from 'Kings new Clothes' syndrome
Carry on.
Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff