Hiow big will wheels (alloys) get?

[300bhp/ton]

Since the late 70's early 80's there seems to have been a trend of wheels getting bigger and bigger.

Gone are the days of 13" being a standard size. These days 20 22" seems fairly common place and not only on exotica either.

So how big are they going to get?


And are we going full circle back to the early 1900's in terms of wheel diameter?

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Friday 20th July 15:49

[Garlick]

Mr Ton, you have many questions today

[Captain Muppet]

My 2CV was rocking OEM 15s in the 70's. My 80's cars had 13s or 14s.

It's mostly styling now - very few cars need brakes that won't fit under 17" wheels

[StoatInACoat]

At least that has a decent sidewall not stupid rubber band profile tyres that screw up the ride and cost millions to replace. On a big car, fine. On a hot hatch huge wheels and hard suspension ruin it

[Hasbeen]

I can remember being very happy with the new wheels on my MG TC.

These were my new 16" wheels. The old ones that I threw out were 19" from memory. Yes the wheel has turned full circle

[FoundOnRoadside]

In the 80s, cars didn't weigh 1600kg+, so didn't need 300mm+ disc brakes. Try fitting a 300mm brake disc plus caliper under a 13" wheel. My Mondeo has 300mm discs up front, and they're squeaky tight behind the 16" steelies.

[HustleRussell]

The trend for fitting massive aftermarket Carlos Fandango wheels might be dying... I'm sure I see fewer stupid sized aftermarket alloys recently. Parhaps manufacturers will slowly respond when they see that huge wheels aren't desirable anymore?
About a decade ago, I was seeing MkIV golfs on 19" wolfrace wheels etc, whereas nowadays the trend is towards 'stance' and 'OEM+' sorts of styles.
Big wheels to clear big brakes is one thing, but 19" alloys on everyday cooking-model cars is quite another.

[mrmr96]

Big wheels on a car are often like high heels on a lady; they won't help her walk faster, in fact she may walk slower... but they're there because the owner of the feet thinks they look nice.

[jbi]

i'm fine with 20-22" provided it has a tyre with a decent profile wrapped around it.

[Fatboy]

jbi said:

i'm fine with 20-22" provided it has a tyre with a decent profile wrapped around it.

I reckonthat would look better with smaller wheels and lower to the ground - looks a bit 'Dakar spec' with that ground clearance IMHO

[Superchickenn]

mrmr96 said:

Big wheels on a car are often like high heels on a lady; they won't help her walk faster, in fact she may walk slower... but they're there because the owner of the feet thinks they look nice.

Very well said

[Dave200]

It will all be dictated by construction innovation and car weights.

Heavier cars need beefier brakes, which in turn need larger wheels. It's a fairly straightforward one...

And, as cars themselves get bigger (compare a modern 5er with one from the 80s), they will more easily accommodate larger wheels (you can get repmobiles with 19" options.

[E38Ross]

i didn't know 22" wheels were relatively common?

as long as the ride is OK i couldn't give a toss to be honest. biggest wheeled car i've been in is on 19's and it's absolutely fine.

[Reardy Mister]

Dave200 said:

It will all be dictated by construction innovation and car weights.

Heavier cars need beefier brakes, which in turn need larger wheels. It's a fairly straightforward one...

And, as cars themselves get bigger (compare a modern 5er with one from the 80s), they will more easily accommodate larger wheels (you can get repmobiles with 19" options.

Actually, its more likely to be dictated by tyre technology. You can design any size wheel you want, but if noones figured out yet how to make a tyre that fits on it with a small enough sidewall thats strong enough and deforms predictably under load etc, its pointless.

Tyre technology is probably one of the biggest limiting factors in vehicle design. Its amazing so few people give them a second thought except at MOT time.

I've just got a car with 19" alloys shod with Run-flat tyres. Still very much in two minds about it at the moment.

Edited by Reardy Mister on Friday 20th July 13:40

[Dave200]

E38Ross said:

i didn't know 22" wheels were relatively common?

They aren't common, but by adding the word "relatively" he turns it into a meaningless statement which has relevance only to him, and has potential to start 'discussion'.

This is 300bhp.
His posting should come with a warning, something to the extent of "Caution: May contain hyperbole".

[300bhp/ton]

Dave200 said:

It will all be dictated by construction innovation and car weights.

Heavier cars need beefier brakes, which in turn need larger wheels. It's a fairly straightforward one...

Not really as you could have an off set wheel that easily clears larger brakes. Or you could run in board brakes (reduces unsprung mass too).

[Dave200]

300bhp/ton said:

Dave200 said:

It will all be dictated by construction innovation and car weights.

Heavier cars need beefier brakes, which in turn need larger wheels. It's a fairly straightforward one...

Not really as you could have an off set wheel that easily clears larger brakes. Or you could run in board brakes (reduces unsprung mass too).

Well, that's every modern car manufacturer told...

Let's take chassis design back 30 years to the pain-in-the-backside to work on, overheating, overcomplicated inboard brakes. What a top idea...

[E38Ross]

Dave200 said:

E38Ross said:

i didn't know 22" wheels were relatively common?

They aren't common, but by adding the word "relatively" he turns it into a meaningless statement which has relevance only to him, and has potential to start 'discussion'.

This is 300bhp.
His posting should come with a warning, something to the extent of "Caution: May contain hyperbole".

in fact, i'd like to know 3 "relatively common" cars which come with 22" wheels!?!? i certainly don't know of any. a tractor, maybe?

[Dave200]

E38Ross said:

Dave200 said:

E38Ross said:

i didn't know 22" wheels were relatively common?

They aren't common, but by adding the word "relatively" he turns it into a meaningless statement which has relevance only to him, and has potential to start 'discussion'.

This is 300bhp.
His posting should come with a warning, something to the extent of "Caution: May contain hyperbole".

in fact, i'd like to know 3 "relatively common" cars which come with 22" wheels!?!? i certainly don't know of any. a tractor, maybe?

He will be off furiously fiddling with Audi/BMW/MB car configurators as we type. We should wait until he's finished to continue the discussion.

[E38Ross]

Dave200 said:

E38Ross said:

Dave200 said:

E38Ross said:

i didn't know 22" wheels were relatively common?

They aren't common, but by adding the word "relatively" he turns it into a meaningless statement which has relevance only to him, and has potential to start 'discussion'.

This is 300bhp.
His posting should come with a warning, something to the extent of "Caution: May contain hyperbole".

in fact, i'd like to know 3 "relatively common" cars which come with 22" wheels!?!? i certainly don't know of any. a tractor, maybe?

He will be off furiously fiddling with Audi/BMW/MB car configurators as we type. We should wait until he's finished to continue the discussion.

in fact, aside some bigger 4x4's and the really big stuff ala Rolls Royce Phantom perhaps, i didn't think 21" were even "relatively common"? i know 20" can be specced by the Germans on the uber limos, but didn't think 21" was all too common? maybe i'm getting out of touch