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Low Profile vs High Profile tires

T

TechBoyJK

Lifer
Most performance cars seem to have low profile tires. On my bmw I had 19" rims with very low profile tires.

Would there ever be any advantage to going to a smaller wheel size, but getting a bigger tire so that it takes up the same amount of space?

aka

19" wheel + 1" tire = 20"

vs

17" wheel + 3" tire = 20"
 
Yes. Comfort and driveability. Low profile tires tend to give maximum traction and then suddenly break free. More sidewall that flexes more tends to give you a little more feedback before breaking traction. Larger sidewalls also handle potholes and other road hazards better without bending or breaking wheels. Also, a smaller wheel/tire combo, even if the tire has the same circumference, tend to weigh less unless you specifically buy light weight wheels. Less unsprung weight = better handling.

I'm sure others will have more to add or tell me I'm a moron.
 
Makes perfect sense for drag racing. I would 17" rear rims and MT drag radials if I could find something that fits.
 
Possessed Freak said:
Yeah, a major advantage... cost.

Seriously, unless you are Andretti, the smaller rim and taller tire will make the ride smoother at a fraction of the cost for the larger rims and shorter tires.
Click to expand...

here's a good example from my purchases:

Dunlop ZII tires with alloy wheels in 205/50/R15 = ~$900

Michelin X-Ice Xi-II tires with alloy wheels in 245/45/R15 = $1600

something like bridgestone RE11's, PS2's, etc. are going to be even more expensive in 18"+ tire size (those types of tires are generally 1000-1500 per set)
 
The rarity of the size matters, too, though. Common 17" sizes like 225/45, 205/40, ect are probably going to be cheaper than a funkier 15-16" size like you see on a Miata.
 
Most 19's I can think of are optional. Lexus IS's and Infiniti G's immediately come to mind. In the latter's case (not sure about the former), most of them don't have the upgraded four-piston 'sport' brakes, anyway.

You gotta have some big-ass brakes to not clear 18's, really.
 
lower profile tires real advantage is in handling, because there is less sidewall to flex. that said if the tires are higher profile generally the rims are lighter, so you get better acceleration. better ride since there is more give. this also leads to less likely to bend a rim (i have found this out personally).

also less likely to scrap rims. i mean some cars just dont look right with thicker rubber. on my car its available with 17 18 or 19" rims. i have 18s and i think they look exactly right (couldnt get sports package without 18s anyway) but some people really like that rubber band look for wahtever reason
 
phucheneh said:
The rarity of the size matters, too, though. Common 17" sizes like 225/45, 205/40, ect are probably going to be cheaper than a funkier 15-16" size like you see on a Miata.
Click to expand...

Miata tires aren't that expensive, afaik - there's so damn many of them (race and street tires).

Now try finding OE-sized MR2 Turbo tires. 🙁
 
phucheneh said:
Most 19's I can think of are optional. Lexus IS's and Infiniti G's immediately come to mind. In the latter's case (not sure about the former), most of them don't have the upgraded four-piston 'sport' brakes, anyway.

You gotta have some big-ass brakes to not clear 18's, really.
Click to expand...

I can only get certain 19's to clear my stock front brakes, I'm virtually stuck with 20's. I guess I was thinking more of the higher end German sports sedans/coupes with 19's.
 
rommelrommel said:
I can only get certain 19's to clear my stock front brakes, I'm virtually stuck with 20's. I guess I was thinking more of the higher end German sports sedans/coupes with 19's.
Click to expand...

19's clear my brakes and they are pretty large (14.96" plus 6 piston calipers). What size disc brakes do you have?

 
Last edited:
No room in the front:

2013-ford-mustang-shelby-gt500-inline-1-photo-439333-s-original-photo-440007-s-original.jpg
 
TechBoyJK said:
Most performance cars seem to have low profile tires. On my bmw I had 19" rims with very low profile tires.
Click to expand...

They do?

http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/understanding_the_sport/5283.html
http://www.indycar.com/
http://www.nascar.com/en_us/sprint-...r_brand_1301&gclid=CM-ZtMjT0rcCFZKk4AodkxgAiA

Most actually don't

IMO low profile tires look like crap and there is TONS of cons to big wheels/low profile tires on the street.

High Cost
Not comfortable
Easy to damage/high price to fix/replace
Needs big brakes which = LOTS of money (sorry but small rotors look like crap with big wheels)
Weight (they usually weigh a lot unless you dish out)
Tire weight

Last 2 are the most important if you are "performance" oriented.

I used to be big "Wheel" type of guy, took 5-10 years before I found that smaller wheels look as good/better and have TONS of advantages.

One of the reasons I hate new cars is due to HUGE wheel arches. Unless you have 17"-18" wheels......looks weird.
 
Vdubchaos said:
They do?

http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/understanding_the_sport/5283.html
http://www.indycar.com/
http://www.nascar.com/en_us/sprint-...r_brand_1301&gclid=CM-ZtMjT0rcCFZKk4AodkxgAiA

Most actually don't

IMO low profile tires look like crap and there is TONS of cons to big wheels/low profile tires on the street.

High Cost
Not comfortable
Easy to damage/high price to fix/replace
Needs big brakes which = LOTS of money (sorry but small rotors look like crap with big wheels)
Weight (they usually weigh a lot unless you dish out)
Tire weight

Last 2 are the most important if you are "performance" oriented.

I used to be big "Wheel" type of guy, took 5-10 years before I found that smaller wheels look as good/better and have TONS of advantages.

One of the reasons I hate new cars is due to HUGE wheel arches. Unless you have 17"-18" wheels......looks weird.
Click to expand...


You've totally missed the point. It isn't big wheels need big brakes. It's big brakes require big wheels. Anything else is just for looks, but you can't have giant brakes with small wheels.
 
Ferzerp said:
You've totally missed the point. It isn't big wheels need big brakes. It's big brakes require big wheels. Anything else is just for looks, but you can't have giant brakes with small wheels.
Click to expand...

You wouldn't need giant brakes if your car didn't weight 3500lbs and had huge heavy wheels either......😎

For street you really don't need big brakes AT ALL unless you want to break law.....

And if you say you go to motorcross or racing then I would simply tell you to have a dedicated/proper car.
 
Vdubchaos said:
They do?

http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/understanding_the_sport/5283.html
http://www.indycar.com/
http://www.nascar.com/en_us/sprint-...r_brand_1301&gclid=CM-ZtMjT0rcCFZKk4AodkxgAiA

Most actually don't

IMO low profile tires look like crap and there is TONS of cons to big wheels/low profile tires on the street.

High Cost
Not comfortable
Easy to damage/high price to fix/replace
Needs big brakes which = LOTS of money (sorry but small rotors look like crap with big wheels)
Weight (they usually weigh a lot unless you dish out)
Tire weight

Last 2 are the most important if you are "performance" oriented.

I used to be big "Wheel" type of guy, took 5-10 years before I found that smaller wheels look as good/better and have TONS of advantages.

One of the reasons I hate new cars is due to HUGE wheel arches. Unless you have 17"-18" wheels......looks weird.
Click to expand...

He said cars, not open wheel race cars or heavily modified "stock" cars. All of those benefit heavily from cooling which is much more difficult on a production vehicle. The open wheel cars also weigh a fraction of anything made today.

NASCAR struggles with any track which requires heavy breaking. They boil the brakes, catch rotors on fire, drop parts on tracks that are not big ovals. This is with a lot of cooling fans and ducts.

The tires are also racing slicks and very stiff. Don't confuse those with high profile street tires.
 
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