wider tires

[npoe1]

I wanted to know what difference could make to get wider tires for a car. Does somebody know?

 

[Howard]

For one, they're worse in rain, snow, and ice.

EDIT: Less susceptibility to narrow pot holes.

 

[Riverhound777]

More surface area for better traction.
Lower gas mileage due to increased drag.
Higher replacement cost.

 

[alimoalem]

Originally posted by: Riverhound777
More surface area for better traction.
Lower gas mileage due to increased drag.
Higher replacement cost.

qft

 

[imported_Truenofan]

they are in fact, worse in the rain and snow. you can hydroplane easier with wider tires, and in the snow, you go over instead of kinda cutting through it. there is more grip for more things you want to do(go speed racer), and if you expect heavy braking in the future, it will definitly help out on that(since what stops your car is actually your tires). but given the additional weight of the tires, yes you will probly accelerate slower(but not that noticably) and require a gallon or so more gas depending on the size of the tire your going from, to what your going to.

Edit: not seriously due to increased drag, if at all.

 

[steppinthrax]

This is called "plus" sizing tires. Like if your car takes P195 and you go P205 your doing +1 size up. If you go one size down your doing -1 sizing. It's not recomended and can cause problems later.

 

[drnickriviera]

Originally posted by: steppinthrax
This is called "plus" sizing tires. Like if your car takes P195 and you go P205 your doing +1 size up. If you go one size down your doing -1 sizing. It's not recomended and can cause problems later.

Err I thought plus sizing was when you increased the rim diameter 1" you use the appropriate size tire to maintain the same circumference so your speedometer isn't screwed up

 

[exdeath]

I can't wait to get 10.5" rear wheels on my car again. The previous one came with 17x9" on the front and 17x10.5" on the rear and I just henceforth assumed that was stock, but stock is 9" all around. The rear slides around all over the place with the 9".

Some Nitto 315/35/17 555s are in my future. 10.5" wheels with about 12" of rubber on the road. Weeee.

What is snow anyway? I've never heard of it much less seen it. Do they have it in Arizona?

 

[DougK62]

Originally posted by: steppinthrax
This is called "plus" sizing tires. Like if your car takes P195 and you go P205 your doing +1 size up. If you go one size down your doing -1 sizing. It's not recomended and can cause problems later.

LOL

 

[SVT Cobra]

Originally posted by: exdeath
I can't wait to get 10.5" rear wheels on my car again. The previous one came with 17x9" on the front and 17x10.5" on the rear and I just henceforth assumed that was stock, but stock is 9" all around. The rear slides around all over the place with the 9".

Some Nitto 315/35/17 555s are in my future. 10.5" wheels with about 12" of rubber on the road. Weeee.

What is snow anyway? I've never heard of it much less seen it. Do they have it in Arizona?

Stocks are 10 dude.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: exdeath
What is snow anyway? I've never heard of it much less seen it. Do they have it in Arizona?

I know there's a white powder, but I wouldn't roll it up into a ball and throw it at someone if I were you.


I'll attest to the higher cost. I have 285/60R16's on my car from the stock 255/65R16s. They do perform a bit better and look better. But I gotta fork over about 600-700 bucks every time I get a set. In either size, there's not much options. Stock has "crappy highway tires" and the larger size has "Was high performance in 1982" options.

They don't perform as good in rain, but do better on gravel, muddy, and dry pavement. Wet grass is still a hazard either way.

Oh, and if anyone thinks about putting 295/65R16 Eagle GT-IIs on the back of a Dakota, don't. They fit, but that's where upsides end. 285/60R16's are better in every way that you can tell from the driver's seat. The only thing they're good for is making smoke.

 

[GoatMonkey]

I've heard that the Nittos don't last very long. I think the 2003 Cobras had 17x9 from the factory. They need more than that. I've got more than that on a regular GT and it still gets a good bit of wheelspin.

 

[exdeath]

Originally posted by: SVT Cobra


Stocks are 10 dude.

Nope. 17x9 on all 4s. I had to recheck the factory specs myself. I always thought it was 17x9 on the front and 17x10.5 on the rear but thats just what my 'vert came with years ago.

Maybe you got after market 'stock clone' wheels too?

 

[exdeath]

Originally posted by: GoatMonkey
I've heard that the Nittos don't last very long. I think the 2003 Cobras had 17x9 from the factory. They need more than that. I've got more than that on a regular GT and it still gets a good bit of wheelspin.

Yeah, now add IRS into the picture. I'd go wider but 10.5" seems to be the max without doing any cutting or welding.

They are ok if you aren't doing burnouts and peeling out all the time. And with gas prices and the type of car that is, $150 a pop on rear tires every 10-15,000 miles isn't THAT great of a cost, all things considered. Most people here blow more than that on a video card every 3 months :laugh:

They are nice and sticky in the Arizona summer though.

 

[SVT Cobra]

Originally posted by: exdeath
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: SVT Cobra


Stocks are 10 dude.</end quote></div>

Nope. 17x9 on all 4s. I had to recheck the factory specs myself. I always thought it was 17x9 on the front and 17x10.5 on the rear but thats just what my 'vert came with years ago.

Maybe you got after market 'stock clone' wheels too?

My bad depends if you got machined or chromed wheels.

 

[exdeath]

Originally posted by: SVT Cobra

My bad depends if you got machined or chromed wheels.

Should still be 9" either way, I don't think they would ship wider wheels than that with the stock IRS bolts in the wheel well like that anyway. Anything other than 9" front or rear are after market.

 

[exdeath]

Surprised nobody mentioned handling yet, considering how most of ATOT regularly dismisses straight line power for the twisties

Wider tires = slightly wider wheelbase and more lateral grip (thus g's) in corners

As far as safety I think it's rubbish. Having one tire or another does not make you superman when it comes to snow and rain. The driver has all the control over that. I wouldn't drive any faster or follow any closer in rain or snow with 7" wide street tires than I would with 12" drag radials.

 

[jtvang125]

Originally posted by: exdeath
Surprised nobody mentioned handling yet, considering how all of ATOT dismisses straight line power for the twisties

Wider tires = slightly wider wheelbase and more lateral grip in corners


As far as safety I think it's rubbish. Having one tire or another does not make you superman when it comes to snow and rain. The driver has all the control over that.

Not to mention most wide tires are also low profile (thicker, shorter sidewalls) and helps prevent sidewall flexing during cornering. Less flexing of the tires means more tire contact with the ground.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: exdeath
Surprised nobody mentioned handling yet, considering how most of ATOT regularly dismisses straight line power for the twisties

Wider tires = slightly wider wheelbase and more lateral grip (thus g's) in corners

As far as safety I think it's rubbish. Having one tire or another does not make you superman when it comes to snow and rain. The driver has all the control over that. I wouldn't drive any faster or follow any closer in rain or snow with 7" wide street tires than I would with 12" drag radials.

Uhh, there's a Best Motoring video where they tried to do three laps in the rain with slicks. They called it off after one lap. Even the Evo couldn't stay on the track.

Snow tires, all season, 3 season, and slicks handle weather MUCH differently.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: drnickriviera

Originally posted by: steppinthrax
This is called "plus" sizing tires. Like if your car takes P195 and you go P205 your doing +1 size up. If you go one size down your doing -1 sizing. It's not recomended and can cause problems later.

Err I thought plus sizing was when you increased the rim diameter 1" you use the appropriate size tire to maintain the same circumference so your speedometer isn't screwed up

Both wrong.

A "Plus Zero" fittiment is any tire that has essentially the same diameter as the stock setup.

A "Plus One" fittiment is essentially equivalent to a single step up in diameter.

A "Minus One" fittiment is essentially equivalent to a single step down in diameter.

Example:

Stock: 195/60 R15 (117mm sidewall height)

Plus Zero: 215/55 R15 (118.25mm sidewall height) Difference is so small in sidewall height that it's not important to speedometer/odometer accuracy.

Plus One: 195/65 R15 (126.75mm sidewall height)

Minus One: 195/55 R15 (107.25mm sidewall height)

ZV

 

[exdeath]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth

Uhh, there's a Best Motoring video where they tried to do three laps in the rain with slicks. They called it off after one lap. Even the Evo couldn't stay on the track.

Snow tires, all season, 3 season, and slicks handle weather MUCH differently.

Of course.

I don't do laps in the rain period. Regardless of what kind of tires I have. I was just making the point that better gripping tires are not a substitute for driver stupidity in less than ideal conditions. I'm just saying nobody should get a false sense of security because of having x or y tires, etc.

I see it all the time here in Arizona where people least expect it. The road ices over in the morning and people in their 4x4s with all weather tires, etc, are still going 65+ until they lock up their brakes and hit a dry patch.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: jtvang125
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: exdeath
Surprised nobody mentioned handling yet, considering how all of ATOT dismisses straight line power for the twisties

Wider tires = slightly wider wheelbase and more lateral grip in corners


As far as safety I think it's rubbish. Having one tire or another does not make you superman when it comes to snow and rain. The driver has all the control over that.</end quote></div>

Not to mention most wide tires are also low profile (thicker, shorter sidewalls) and helps prevent sidewall flexing during cornering. Less flexing of the tires means more tire contact with the ground.

Actually, wider tires don't really have shorter sidewalls. The aspect ratio is the percent of the tire's width that represents the sidewall height.

For example:

195/60 tires have a 117mm tall sidewall.
215/55 tires have a 118.25mm tall sidewall. The "lower profile" tire has a taller sidewall.

ZV

 

[AdamK47]

More room for more mods

 

[Apex]

Small distinction:

Wider tires give better grip on wet surfaces, HOWEVER (and this is a big one), they increase the tendancy to hydroplane in deeper standing water.

 

[JEDI]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: npoe1
I wanted to know what difference could make to get wider tires for a car. Does somebody know?
</end quote></div>

worse in stopping in rain/snow. (more surface area = more chance of hydroplaning)

good for stopping in dry pavement. (more surface area in contact w/dry pavement)

if u live in vermont (lots of snow), try to get a car that can handle motorcycle width wheels

edit:

the p190 width Traction T/A tires have 5 water grooves.

The p205 width Traction T/A have 6 water grooves :Q

hm...

not so sure about hydroplaning now...