Why do we have to have low profile tyres to look "sporty"?

Why do we have to have low profile tyres to look "sporty"?

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Dog Star

Original Poster:

16,079 posts

167 months

Wednesday 21st March 2018
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I'm getting increasingly naffed off with the ride quality and fragility of the silly wheels and tyres that are fitted to stuff these days, from the stupid, kerb vulnerable 30 profile tyres on my car to even run of the mill stuff like the OHs V70 (225/45). They're a pain in the arse (literally) and these days I'm cringing at the state of the roads.

I guess it's market forces, but wouldn;t it be lovely if this was the sort of wheel and tyre combo that became more fashionable....



Imagine the ride quality. Imagine your pristine rims. Just how cool would most cars look on a set of those? I think a lot of German kit riding around on 30 profiles would look better on these.

Is it just me?

syl

693 posts

74 months

Wednesday 21st March 2018
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What is the profile of those rears? They do look to extend out though which should protect the rims.

Monty Python

4,812 posts

196 months

Wednesday 21st March 2018
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The McLaren F1 manages on 45 profile tyres, so it's clearly possible.

I guess a lot of people put looks over practicality/cost.

Dog Star

Original Poster:

16,079 posts

167 months

Wednesday 21st March 2018
quotequote all
syl said:
What is the profile of those rears? They do look to extend out though which should protect the rims.
I dunno, but they look pretty big and bouncy to me. But you get the idea - big fat high sidewall tyres can look cool as.

Just having a look - for a standard Challenger

Sizes like 235/55R18 - bloody marvelous.
245/45ZR20

45 profile as low as it goes and on a decently fat tyre and with the tyre fat enough to protect the rim.


Edited by Dog Star on Wednesday 21st March 12:21

Bennet

2,119 posts

130 months

Wednesday 21st March 2018
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Who cares what the fashion trend is? You can buy any size of wheel and tyre you want, aftermarket. So go for it.

Monty Python

4,812 posts

196 months

Wednesday 21st March 2018
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Dog Star said:
I dunno, but they look pretty big and bouncy to me. But you get the idea - big fat high sidewall tyres can look cool as.
40-profile IIRC.

unpc

2,831 posts

212 months

Wednesday 21st March 2018
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Dog Star said:
Is it just me?
No it's not just you. I love a bit of sidewall and they ride so much better. Low profile tyres look a bit rubbish IMO.

SonicShadow

2,452 posts

153 months

Wednesday 21st March 2018
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Oh look, it's the weekly PH tyre sidewall thread.

IJWS15

1,830 posts

84 months

Wednesday 21st March 2018
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IIRC Pirelli want low profile tyres for F1.

The FIA/FOCA don't want them because it will slow the cars down.


MC Bodge

21,552 posts

174 months

Wednesday 21st March 2018
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Agreed.

Steels with 215/55/16 are great for me on my unfashionable car.

underphil

1,245 posts

209 months

Wednesday 21st March 2018
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Dog Star said:
I dunno, but they look pretty big and bouncy to me. But you get the idea - big fat high sidewall tyres can look cool as.

Just having a look - for a standard Challenger

Sizes like 235/55R18 - bloody marvelous.
245/45ZR20

45 profile as low as it goes and on a decently fat tyre and with the tyre fat enough to protect the rim.


Edited by Dog Star on Wednesday 21st March 12:21
isn't it a bit pointless saying a "xx" profile is tyre is good/bad? - as the sidewall height is based on the profile as a % of the width

i.e. a 225/45 has less sidewall than a 265/40

neil1jnr

1,460 posts

154 months

Wednesday 21st March 2018
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I think it depends on the car. A like a fatter, chunkier looking tyre, I can't remember the profile of them but here is my last Evo, 17" alloys and it's tyres next to my Fiesta's 17" alloys and tyres for comparison. For reference, think Ferrari F40 for the ideal tyre to wheel ratio IMO.

Enkei RPF-1 17x9.5 ET 35
Bridgestone Potenza RE-11a 235/45/R17

[pic] [/pic]

Another photo with side profile. I think fatter tyres look more purposeful.

[pic] [/pic]

Edited by neil1jnr on Wednesday 21st March 13:12

jamei303

2,996 posts

155 months

Wednesday 21st March 2018
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205/85/R16 cool

loose cannon

6,029 posts

240 months

Wednesday 21st March 2018
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Bennet said:
Who cares what the fashion trend is? You can buy any size of wheel and tyre you want, aftermarket. So go for it.
All well and good if you want to change your brake disc size to fit them over

Flibble

6,470 posts

180 months

Wednesday 21st March 2018
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loose cannon said:
All well and good if you want to change your brake disc size to fit them over
How many cars have such large brakes that they couldn't fit a rim with a 45 profile tyre over? I'll give you a hint, it isn't many. Far more common is the rather daft look of a ~250 mm disc lost inside a 19" wheel.

Alex_225

6,234 posts

200 months

Wednesday 21st March 2018
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It's just a cosmetic thing really, people like the look of larger wheels and in turn tyre profiles just get lower and lower. It's not always a good thing though that's for sure, my mum has an Audi A1 which she bought at 2 or 3 years old, the first owner had ticked the, 'bloody stupid wheel option' so it has 18" wheels on it. Sure they do look nice but not only are they stupidly vulnerable the ride is awful! It doesn't justify the lack of sportiness the car has (120bhp).

For the right car, like the one shown in the first post, it can look great with chunky, wide tyres but it's partly down to the stance and style of the car. A proper 4x4 with big tyres and wide stance can look awesome but I do think that a sporty car can often look better with more alloy and a bit less tyre, within reason for road use that is. smile

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 21st March 2018
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I'm sure many PH-ers will remember when /70 was considered 'low-profile' smile

Dog Star

Original Poster:

16,079 posts

167 months

Wednesday 21st March 2018
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Alex_225 said:
For the right car, like the one shown in the first post, it can look great with chunky, wide tyres but it's partly down to the stance and style of the car. A proper 4x4 with big tyres and wide stance can look awesome but I do think that a sporty car can often look better with more alloy and a bit less tyre, within reason for road use that is. smile
That's the point I'm trying to make though - I don't necessarily think that the "sporty" cars do look better on the rubber band tyres; I bet a 5 series BMW would look ace with wheel like in the first pic.

The first pic was just an example I picked simply because when I watched Sundays Top Gear they caught my eye and reminded me.

280E said:
I'm sure many PH-ers will remember when /70 was considered 'low-profile' smile
I remember putting XR2 alloys with 185/60/13s on back in 1988. Hardcore! biggrin

sasquartch

102 posts

101 months

Wednesday 21st March 2018
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Yes, in my yoof when Cortina Mk 3 were the car of choice 165x13 were standard fit, the low profile option was the 185/70 (still 13 inch)

cptsideways

13,535 posts

251 months

Wednesday 21st March 2018
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I'm just rummaging for some new tyres for Tonka1 315/75/16 should just about fit nicely. Quite how but they are no more expensive than a tyre with half the rubber.