What is the attraction of low profile tires?

[rbV5]

Originally posted by: SampSon

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Lower sidewalls provide better grip & handling around curves because they don't compress as much.

I don't see many professional racecars using low profile tires at all.

Oh, please...never? hmmm I guess I can't link?

"http://www.worth1000.com/entries/157500/157830KpRO_w.jpg"

 

[Minjin]

Originally posted by: SampSon

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Lower sidewalls provide better grip & handling around curves because they don't compress as much.

I don't see many professional racecars using low profile tires at all.

Road race tires have MUCH stiffer sidewalls than normal road tires.

Mark

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: SampSon

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Lower sidewalls provide better grip & handling around curves because they don't compress as much.

I don't see many professional racecars using low profile tires at all.

Regulations.

It's the same reason you don't see CF wheels in F1.

 

[SampSon]

Originally posted by: rbV5

Originally posted by: SampSon

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Lower sidewalls provide better grip & handling around curves because they don't compress as much.

I don't see many professional racecars using low profile tires at all.

Oh, please...never? Race Car tires

Dead link, and no where did I say "never" in my post.

I understand there are low-profile race tires. Though the race tire sidwalls are usually stiffer than normal road tires.

There is no need for big 17inch rims and ultra lowprofile tires. It will give you a negligable "advantage" in cornering. Where as the properly selected wheel/tire size will respond much better throughout your drive.

People put low profile tires on their cars for looks, not for performance.

 

[LtPage1]

They look much better, they provide better handling, and the majority of people don't live in a place where road conditions are a problem.

 

[OrganizedChaos]

Originally posted by: CadetLee

Originally posted by: OrganizedChaos

Originally posted by: CadetLee
If you buy (almost) any modern performance car, does it not come with low profile tires from the factory?

Originally posted by: rbV5
What I don't get is low profile tires on 4WD trucks. My Sorento had 20" chrome rims and low profile street tires on the lot..LOL I had had them pull em off and put the stock alloys and all terrain tires back on...saved $2500 too

Some people forget that trucks are meant to have bigger tires..not wheels.

doubt it, my local tire place won't even warrenty the things.

Ever check the rubber on a Porsche? Viper? Corvette? Most BMWs? Low profile, my friend.

how low profile are we talking? i got my reciept from VIP auto right here and it says "TIRES WITH A 45 OR LESS ASPECT RATIO DO NOT QUALIFY FOR ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY"

does my tire place suck? why do they do this?

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: SampSon

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Lower sidewalls provide better grip & handling around curves because they don't compress as much.

I don't see many professional racecars using low profile tires at all.

They have much better tires.

There is a balance.

Low profile = less roll. but it can be taken to extremes that hurt performance.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: OrganizedChaos

Originally posted by: CadetLee

Originally posted by: OrganizedChaos

Originally posted by: CadetLee
If you buy (almost) any modern performance car, does it not come with low profile tires from the factory?

Originally posted by: rbV5
What I don't get is low profile tires on 4WD trucks. My Sorento had 20" chrome rims and low profile street tires on the lot..LOL I had had them pull em off and put the stock alloys and all terrain tires back on...saved $2500 too

Some people forget that trucks are meant to have bigger tires..not wheels.

doubt it, my local tire place won't even warrenty the things.

Ever check the rubber on a Porsche? Viper? Corvette? Most BMWs? Low profile, my friend.

how low profile are we talking? i got my reciept from VIP auto right here and it says "TIRES WITH A 45 OR LESS ASPECT RATIO DO NOT QUALIFY FOR ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY"

does my tire place suck? why do they do this?

The Hennessey Viper runs 335/30ZR20 tires in the back..as does the Lingenfelter Corvette. The 2006 Corvette ZO6 runs 275/35YR18s up front and 325/30YR19s in the back.

 

[MazerRackham]

I've got 215/45R17s, factory stock on my RSX-S. They semi-low profile I guess, not nearly as thin as some people have around here (SoCal).

 

[Shawn]

because if I didn't the tires would rub against the sidewalls. duh.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: Shawn
because if I didn't the tires would rub against the sidewalls. duh.

^infinity

 

[biff 24 2000]

Originally posted by: JDrake
they're cooler

I agree.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Larger wheels allow larger brakes, which is the draw to larger tires. Lower profile tires have much less sidewall flex which means that they keep their shape better and therefore grip better in corners (obviously there's a point at which they become too short, but most tires don't approach that, even really extreme ones).

If you're not running on a track though, it's pretty much just looks because there's no real value on the street.

ZV

 

[rbV5]

Originally posted by: SampSon

Originally posted by: rbV5

Originally posted by: SampSon

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Lower sidewalls provide better grip & handling around curves because they don't compress as much.

I don't see many professional racecars using low profile tires at all.

Oh, please...never? Race Car tires

Dead link, and no where did I say "never" in my post.

I understand there are low-profile race tires. Though the race tire sidwalls are usually stiffer than normal road tires.

There is no need for big 17inch rims and ultra lowprofile tires. It will give you a negligable "advantage" in cornering. Where as the properly selected wheel/tire size will respond much better throughout your drive.

People put low profile tires on their cars for looks, not for performance.

LOL, my link is to a pic of NASCAR cars with monster truck tires ie; its a joke son

http://www.worth1000.com/entries/157500/157830KpRO_w.jpg I don't know why the link does't work, but it works in a browser.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: TitanDiddly
What kind of driving are the owners of low profile tires doing on a regular basis that this would be worth the risk?

In my case, autocross and time trials. My 951 is 100% street legal, but I track it as well. Easier to just run grippy street tires than it is to run dedicated track tires. Same with the Mustang, it'll see autocross just for sh*ts and grins at some point.

Also, most quality low profile tires have a lip that protects the wheel from scuffing. Potholes, which the lip wouldn't help with, are easy to avoid.

ZV

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
It has the same attraction as youtube. :roll:

So the attraction is that people like to see dumb crap and post "WTF THIS IS STUPID NOW WATCH"? haha.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Lower sidewalls provide better grip & handling around curves because they don't compress as much.

That isn't necessarily true. You can adjust suspension settings to attain basically the same level of handling or better. More rim tends to make a heavier wheel which is counterproductive to good handling.

Admit it, it's mostly for asthetics and because the marketing gurus who design cars/wheels/tires make you want to buy the latest shiny 20" wheels.

BTW-Some forms of racing limit the profile of the tires the manufacturers can use. In F1 they run quite a bit of sidewall but the cars are very very stiffly sprung so the rebound characteristics of the tire are very important to the setup of the car.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Larger wheels allow larger brakes, which is the draw to larger tires. Lower profile tires have much less sidewall flex which means that they keep their shape better and therefore grip better in corners (obviously there's a point at which they become too short, but most tires don't approach that, even really extreme ones).

If you're not running on a track though, it's pretty much just looks because there's no real value on the street.

ZV

Braking is still a function of tire grip though. The only thing bigger brakes do is reduce fade under repeated hard use.

How big are the rims in an F1 car, the best braking cars on the planet? Hell, those cars can decelerate at 1G just by letting off the throttle...that's all aerodynamics though. Add in braking ability and they can generate 3-4Gs under braking.

 

[skyking]

Usually wider, the low profile tire will cover more area and let you hit all the potholes and bumps, instead of missing a few.
The tires then efficiently transmit the sweet impact to the car and you, allowing for better road "feel" and an enhanced driving experience.

 

[mugs]

They look better TO AN EXTENT, but people take it WAY too far. Wheels larger than what you'd typicaly find as a factory option on a sports car generally look stupid.

I like the wheels/tires on a TSX: IMG_8628.JPG

When they get so big you only have about an inch of tire, that looks retarded. Some people just aren't capable of restraint - something can look good in moderation, but look tacky in the extreme.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: SampSon
I don't see many professional racecars using low profile tires at all.

That's a result or rules. There is a restriction on maximum wheel diameter and in order to get the tire diameter large enough so that it works with gearing the sidewalls have to be taller. That's why F1, IRL, CART, and NASCAR cars run tires with higher profiles. Watch an ALMS (American LeMans Series) race and look at the tires on those cars. They're all low-profile because the rules allow them. Additionally, F1 tires are so wide that they actually are low profile.

An F1 tire is 660mm in outer diameter. The maximum wheel diameter is 332mm. This means that the sidewalls are 328mm in total. This is a 164mm sidewall height. An F1 tire is 380mm wide for rear tires and 355mm wide for front tires. That means that F1 tires are 380/43 R 12.9 (we'll call it 380/45 R13 for convenience) rear and 355/46 R 12.9 (again, we'll call it 355/45 R 13 for convenience). That means that F1 tires are actually 45-series tires, which is definitely considered "low-profile". They're just so much wider than street tires that they're taller (45% of 380 is a lot more than 45% of 225).

ZV

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Larger wheels allow larger brakes, which is the draw to larger tires. Lower profile tires have much less sidewall flex which means that they keep their shape better and therefore grip better in corners (obviously there's a point at which they become too short, but most tires don't approach that, even really extreme ones).

If you're not running on a track though, it's pretty much just looks because there's no real value on the street.

ZV

Braking is still a function of tire grip though. The only thing bigger brakes do is reduce fade under repeated hard use.

How big are the rims in an F1 car, the best braking cars on the planet? Hell, those cars can decelerate at 1G just by letting off the throttle...that's all aerodynamics though. Add in braking ability and they can generate 3-4Gs under braking.

Never said that larger brakes make the car stop harder, just that they are why larger wheels are usually chosen. You're absolutely right that larger brakes (and even multi-piston calipers) really just prevent fade, though there is some leverage advantage to be had on larger diameter rotors it's typically not significant.

ZV

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: SampSon

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Lower sidewalls provide better grip & handling around curves because they don't compress as much.

I don't see many professional racecars using low profile tires at all.

not in nascar maybe but ever look at European DTM racing? or GT races? all cars have low profile tires.

as to answer the OP's question, many people get low profile tires when they step up the wheel size. this way the wheel+tire diameter is nearly the same as stock which minimizes speedometer discrepancy.

i have low profile tires - 235/40 ZR 18s. the handling of my car is much much better with these low profile tires than with my stock tires. yea the ride is a bit harsher...but thats the price you pay

 

[RCN]

They allow me to use 17' rims and still have the proper strut movement without having that fat tire look..........

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: RCN
They allow me to use 17' rims and still have the proper strut movement without having that fat tire look..........

And also allow your car's "appearance" decrease your performance.

bling, bling, yo!