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

[Dog Star]

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?

[Dog Star]

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

[Dog Star]

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.

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'

I remember putting XR2 alloys with 185/60/13s on back in 1988. Hardcore!

[Dog Star]

PSRG said:

The ride’s not actually that bad, but the rear discs are completely lost...

Crikey! Those are the tiniest brakes I've ever seen - they're like mountain bike diameter - so cute

Tim662 said:

0U9A7629 by Matt Moreman, on Flickr

That's about the perfect amount of wheel, tyre and brake for me.

Nice - not a million miles off the pic in the first post.

[Dog Star]

Monty Python said:

Sidewall stiffness has no impact on grip, which is why a high profile F1 slick can generate more grip than road tyre of the same width, irrespective of the profile.

I *really* don't want to get involved in this little spat, but here goes.... you can't really compare and F1 tyre with a road tyre in any meaningful way; there's downforce to consider, an F1 tyre will only last 60 or so miles. Look what happens when an F1 tyre loses heat or has to go slowly (ie. no downforce) in the damp/wet. They fall off the road. Sometimes they can't keep up with the safety car.