Small Wheels Become "Cool" Again

[0a]

Working in Scotland it's notable how many more mercs/jags/audis/BMWs have small wheel options (I take it due to the higher incidence of ice and snow up here).

Do you think it's possible that the better (in many cases) real world ride and handling of smaller wheels will ever reverse the "rush to the twenties" we had seen in wheel size over the last few years? Will we see wheels get smaller and smaller?

I remember when 16s were big, now some Focus size cars offer a 20 inch option!

[Slow]

I presume that suspension seats etc have all improved since the days of 16".

There for the 19" rides the same pretty much?

[Urban Sports]

People are poor in scotch land

[ambuletz]

I guess people aren't bothered about speccing large wheels on their car. Instead of buying a well specced ford mondeo they'll go for a poverty spec ex-hire car C-class.

[V8Wagon]

The roads are bl**dy terrible in Scotland imo.

Seriously....I often visit Glasgow and the standard of the cities streets is diabolical. Much much worse than roads down here in the South East.

Probably use the smaller wheels/bigger tyres combo to filter out the ruts and potholes!

[Slow]

V8Wagon said:

The roads are bl**dy terrible in Scotland imo.

Seriously....I often visit Glasgow and the standard of the cities streets is diabolical. Much much worse than roads down here in the South East.

And we have too many roads that are single track NSL roads.

When you meet people your breaking hard and on the bank/potholes.

Destroyed 3 front tyres in 8 months on my trip to college each day.

And thats with 16" alloys

[0a]

Urban Sports said:

People are poor in scotch land

Good point - and tight. The small wheeled Scottish XF rode better than the big wheeled versions I've been in down south (in fact I didn't know they made the wheels that small).

[Fire99]

Unfortunately it's all relative. I don't think you can go too small due to cars being bigger, heavier and having larger brakes (that in turn need bigger wheels to cover 'em)

That said, I'd imagine 18's look small on a lot of cars these days.

[BlueMR2]

Small wheels have always been cool, its just taking some people a while to realise.

[xreyuk]

Surely in this day and age it's down to fuel economy?

All the Eco versions of cars have 16" or smaller.

[snapdragon69]

I have the smallest possible wheels on my big LWB car.
I think big fancy sculpted wheels are gay. People with big AMG wheels and suchlike say things like "I wish I had smaller wheels like yours my Merc is too bumpy. Next time I buy a car, I will get smaller wheels."
When I first bought the car, I was going to 'upgrade' them, but the adaptive air suspension and small wheels give a sublime marshmallow ride that doesn't roll, dive or wallow. I can't lose that.

Edited by snapdragon69 on Saturday 5th January 23:09

[SSBB]

Urban Sports said:

People are poor in scotch land

Yup, it's small wheeled XFs all-round up here. Oh the merciless poverty! If only we could afford the big wheels! Then, then we would be, um, proppa English style, innit blud

[Urban Sports]

SSBB said:

Yup, it's small wheeled XFs all-round up here. Oh the merciless poverty! If only we could afford the big wheels! Then, then we would be, um, proppa English style, innit blud

Sorry, I don't understand you.

[spaceship]

Urban Sports said:

SSBB said:

Yup, it's small wheeled XFs all-round up here. Oh the merciless poverty! If only we could afford the big wheels! Then, then we would be, um, proppa English style, innit blud

Sorry, I don't understand you.

That's because you're from Engerland.

[sjabrown]

Small diameter wheels and higher profile tyres are the way forward for coping with Scottish roads (live in Argyll known for beautiful scenery when you're changing yet another puncture caused by potholes)

[Chrisw666]

The big wheel thing has to be rooted in design not engineering.

I've been looking at Mitos with 17s that look like small wheels, yet when I started driving 16 years ago 16s and 17s were deemed huge.

[Wadeski]

maybe those in scotland are using a second set of wheels with winter tyres?

[sbridgey]

I have 15's, my friends with 18's are jealous that i can get a full set of tyres for much less than it costs for 2 of theirs!

[Huff]

Slow said:

I presume that suspension seats etc have all improved since the days of 16".

There for the 19" rides the same pretty much?

No. Nothing like.

[Disco You]

xreyuk said:

Surely in this day and age it's down to fuel economy?

All the Eco versions of cars have 16" or smaller.

16" ? Positively tiny!