Large alloys - what is the point?

[SD1992]

Something I have wondered for quite a while, what exactly is the fascination with massive alloy wheels appearing on new cars?

As far as I can work out, they mean that tyres cost much more, get damaged more easily as they would hit the herb rather than the tyre, and are poor in the snow / wet.

What exactly are the advantages? All I can think of is handling, but do they actually make much of a difference?

ETA: I do understand fitting big wheels to go over big brakes

Edited by SD1992 on Wednesday 12th October 20:10

[v8will]

With the exception of being needed to fit over huge brakes on some cars it's all style over substance.

Ever seen an E90 on 16" wheels?

[Mermaid]

SD1992 said:

Something I have wondered for quite a while, what exactly is the fascination with massive alloy wheels appearing on new cars?

As far as I can work out, they mean that tyres cost much more, get damaged more easily as they would hit the herb rather than the tyre, and are poor in the snow / wet.

What exactly are the advantages? All I can think of is handling, but do they actually make much of a difference?

Like the megapixel war with cameras, everyone wants more. But it is changing. Form over function etc.

[Matt UK]

IMO inspired by BTCC racers of the '90s. Bigger wheels allowed for bigger brakes and a largest contact patch for the tyres.

I think the only real reason is a marketing-led decision designed to 'look good' and hence extract more revenue / profit per car.

[balls-out]

Matt UK said:

IMO inspired by BTCC racers of the '90s. Bigger wheels allowed for bigger brakes and a largest contact patch for the tyres.

I think the only real reason is a marketing-led decision designed to 'look good' and hence extract more revenue / profit per car.

Often massive wheel have no bigger contact patch than smaller ones, they the aspect ratio of the tyres is dropped to keep the rolling radius similar

[sherbert90]

It's all about da bling innit?

[Classic Grad 98]

There's an aesthetic consideration too- the relentless progression towards safety means high swage lines and big bumpers. They'd look plain ridiculous on small wheels, and people wouldn't buy them. An E60 3-series dwarfs the standard 16" wheels!

[wackojacko]

Bling innit ?

[Urban Sports]

v8will said:

With the exception of being needed to fit over huge brakes on some cars it's all style over substance.

Ever seen an E90 on 16" wheels?

They look shyte, the ones with the bigger wheels look much better.

[Frankthered]

I don't get it either - the aesthetics don't seem to bother those on the Continent so much.

You forgot to mention that bigger wheels will tend to make the ride worse too.

It's just fashion.

[Patrick Bateman]

At what age do you start to become overly concerned with a harsh ride?

No pun intended.

[Urban Sports]

Frankthered said:

I don't get it either - the aesthetics don't seem to bother those on the Continent so much.

You forgot to mention that bigger wheels will tend to make the ride worse too.

It's just fashion.

Or that cars have become much bigger.

[BarnatosGhost]

Frankthered said:

I don't get it either - the aesthetics don't seem to bother those on the Continent so much.

You forgot to mention that bigger wheels will tend to make the ride worse too.

It's just fashion.

The prestige manufacturers call the uk 'treasure island' for our habit of spending big on useless aesthetic options.

[Urban Sports]

BarnatosGhost said:

Frankthered said:

I don't get it either - the aesthetics don't seem to bother those on the Continent so much.

You forgot to mention that bigger wheels will tend to make the ride worse too.

It's just fashion.

The prestige manufacturers call the uk 'treasure island' for our habit of spending big on useless aesthetic options.

Are big wheels useless?

[Drive Blind]

generally speaking cars are much bigger now, with higher window lines and huge big bumpers. To make everything appear in proportion this requires huge wheels.

another consequence of this is when the car gets to it's 3rd-4th owner they baulk at the price of quality 17" tyres for a corsa so they buy the cheapest 'ditch-finders' they can find.

[CommanderJameson]

Urban Sports said:

Are big wheels useless?

Yes. My car handles and rides better on its 16 inch wheels than it would on, say 18s.

And the tyres are cheaper.

But then, I do like to see a bit of sidewall, me.

[LukeSi]

It isn't just big wheels which are easily curbed, the Panda only has little 15 inch alloys but the finish is that crap if you even so much as park within a 10 feet of a curb it marks them.

[Mermaid]

It's also a profile issue for kerbing & comfort. Back in the 60's it 83%, 70's brought 70%, then 67, 60, 55, 50, 45 and now as low as 25% - not enough sidewall.

[anonymous-user]

Urban Sports said:

v8will said:

With the exception of being needed to fit over huge brakes on some cars it's all style over substance.

Ever seen an E90 on 16" wheels?

They look shyte, the ones with the bigger wheels look much better.

Perhaps this was the point he was trying to make...........

[Highrisedrifter]

I'm not an aftermarket wheels sort of person, preferring to stick to the wheels that come with the car. I might choose a slightly bigger wheel as an option when I spec the car if I think the pattern looks better.

My XF has 20" wheels. Yes they are huge but if you take the valid brake argument out of the equation (they are huge on my XF), I think they suit the car. I honestly think it would look silly sitting on 16" rims.

As for ride quality, yes there will be some degradation but to be honest, even while recuperating from my motorcycle accident I would still prefer to be in the XF especially as it has sublime ride quality on those huge 20" rims.