Low Profile Tires

[hostage]

I am very curious why it seems almost every vehicle comes with low/lower profile tires. I completely understand the idea of better handling and the ability to put larger brakes on sports cars, though it seems odd to put them on your run of the mill sedan or SUV. They cost more, aren't as durable, and have a harsher ride. My fiance's car hits a pothole, then it needs an alignment. We have a lot of pot holes up here in the snow belt. It seems no matter what car you buy, if you want leather, they will also add in low profile headaches into the car as well. I have owned my SUV for 3 years and have yet to get an alignment, my fiance has had about 3 or 4 at least.

I hate it when people follow form instead of function! They look pretty on the show room, though ugly after people rub their rims on the curb. Also I always chuckle at these big SUV's with BIG rims that have itty bitty brakes on them. They are like athletes on steroids.

Sorry for the rant, at the tire shop.

-Hostage

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Low Profile Tires

Because they look so pretty Most of the pickups seem to come with 20's and car tires, had to look around a bit when I got mine to get one with the 17's

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Low Profile Tires

Yup, I have been to the rim repair shop twice and had a tire replaced due to pot holes on LP tires. I have 40's on my car and it seems that there is only about 2 inches of tire between rim and road. It doesn't take much to bottom them out.

 

[rbh]

Re: Low Profile Tires

Less side wall, better handling???

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Low Profile Tires

I love my little s 10 its only got 190,000 on it and on the third set of tires and 28 mpg, rides nice and handles very well.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Low Profile Tires

It's all about the bling. Dumb, IMO.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Low Profile Tires

Less sidewall, will result in less flex in a tire..

But it will greatly contribute to back doctor bills!

 

[bigdee]

Re: Low Profile Tires

It is just a fad over functionality.....nothing else. You can argue less sidewall flex,larger brakes but it is all hokes-pokiest BS.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Low Profile Tires

Bigger rims mean lower profile tires so they fit in the wheel wells...sharper cornering and handling but harsher ride....My old Buick Roadmaster still has it's 15" tires with tall, fat, smooth-riding sidewalls...think I'll just stick with these although they're way out of style...but then, I'm mostly out of style anyway!

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: Low Profile Tires

It is just a fad over functionality.....nothing else. You can argue less sidewall flex,larger brakes but it is all hokes-pokiest BS.

I wouldn't say that...moving from the factory 15'' wheels to 17''s from the '99-04 Mustang GT on my Reatta I was able to installer bigger rotors, calipers, and pads which the factory wheels couldn't clear. Parts bolt on from the GM parts bin but I use a "'97 Aurora" when getting parts. Braking went from decent to amazing. Cornering is also lightyears better...car still holds on when it would have been in the ditch

 

[bigdee]

Re: Low Profile Tires

I wouldn't say that...moving from the factory 15'' wheels to 17''s from the '99-04 Mustang GT on my Reatta I was able to installer bigger rotors, calipers, and pads which the factory wheels couldn't clear. Parts bolt on from the GM parts bin but I use a "'97 Aurora" when getting parts. Braking went from decent to amazing. Cornering is also lightyears better...car still holds on when it would have been in the ditch

I just don't see the point in compromising a street car for track use when the car will probably never see a racetrack. Nascar does not even use tires close to these absurd aspect ratios...they use from 52% to 62% aspect ratios with 6.5? sidewalls. AND they have only 15" wheels and room for plenty of brake.

 

[QC]

Re: Low Profile Tires

There is probably a positive impact on CAFE ratings as well

 

[bigdee]

Re: Low Profile Tires

there is probably a positive impact on cafe ratings as well

*****ditto******

 

[sam60]

Re: Low Profile Tires

Yep, it is a bit overkill to see 22" rims on a soccer Mom's mini van that won't ever take a corner at an unsafe speed.

I see a bunch of pickups used as commute vehicles that have off-road fenders, nerf bars all around and quick access spare tire mounts in the bed that will never see dirt.

As a kid in the 60's, I've seen many rusted out 4 door cars with glass packs and leaf spring shackles. :facepalm:

I've put headers on some of my POS cars and thought that I really had someting when I was younger. I have a '64 Chevy with 20's (By previous owner)

It's all about personal preference to most I guess. I like stock rims and tall, meaty tires on my truck.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Low Profile Tires

It's a conspiracy between the car companies and the tire companies to cost us more $. 15 years ago, there were relatively few sizes of tires, and the tires would easily last 50,000 miles. And the tires cost $60 apiece.

You could actually go into Sears or WalMart or many gas stations and they'd have your tire in stock. Now, you can hardly even find a 14" tire, and about all they fit are Ranger 2wd trucks.

I've bought 19 tires in the last 2 years due to potholes and my daughter running my car thru a ditch. And those 17" and 18" tires are tough on the pocketbook. I also had to have 3 wheels on a Lexus refinished, and had to buy a used wheel online that warped in a pothole.

I went through a set of $250 each Bridgestone Potenza's with a 140-A-A rating in 25,000 miles. And performance brake pads ate my rotors @ 25,000 miles. I have no idea why Lexus would put such parts on a car except to compete with BMW on a test track.

Now, you've got to go into a tire store and have them check out your tires. Then, they'll order the tires and have you come back 8 hrs. later or tomorrow to have the tires installed. There's one tire distributor for a large city or region, and his wholesale prices are not always best. The local shop has to add his profit, and you're quickly paying too much for your tires.

Like I said, it's just a conspiracy. It's bad enough that automobiles cost $25,000 average, and then you're not driving but a 4 cylinder sedan--not something flashy.

 

[stackz]

Re: Low Profile Tires

all you have to do is measure the bolt pattern and backspacing and then go on ebay and buy some oem wheels with those specs in whatever size you want...then you can add your taller sidewall tires to your car. not hard.

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: Low Profile Tires

Lo Pro tires do have their advantages-to a point.

"Street" lo pro's can cause issues. Those "pretty" wheels the wife had to have that cost $2k can cause major issues.

The "Rolling resistance" is far less on a lo pro than your standard "fat" tire. Automakers are looking for every ounce of energy they can get to improve MPG.

I realize the lo pro message can get ridiculous. 22's on a 1988 Buick sedan? They ruin the ride quality on a vehicle not designed for them and actually make them dangerous.

I've never had an issue with lo pro's (factory) on my last two Lincolns. Both vehicles (20's) looked almost new at 50K and rode fine. No complaints. Both vehicles sporting well over 300 HP, the lo pro's added to the overall MPG of well over 22-average. With AWD.

I have over 100K miles of experience on Goodyear and Hankook lo pro's. Never one issue.

Disclaimer-----Both vehicles were designed with and designed to handle them.

I understand that everyone wants a simple 15" Fat Tire. However, think of this: how many fatties do you see on racing bicycles? Answer-NONE. As a casual bicycler, I cannot explain the difference, in peddling effort, between a Beach Cruiser and a Touring bike. Night and day.

That equates to rolling effort and fuel economy. Physics.

 

[jtmarten]

Re: Low Profile Tires

It is just a fad over functionality.....nothing else. You can argue less sidewall flex,larger brakes but it is all hokes-pokiest BS.

Not true. I wouldn't consider taking my Bimmer to 155-160mph with standard sidewall tires. As w (angular velocity) and l (angular momentum) increase along with p (linear momentum at the COM of the wheel), simple, gradual turns place alot of torque on the sidewalls. Based on the physics alone I'll stick with my LP staggered 18's.
I would not, however, ever buy a truck or SUV with LP tires.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Low Profile Tires

Not true. I wouldn't consider taking my Bimmer to 155-160mph with standard sidewall tires. As w (angular velocity) and l (angular momentum) increase along with p (linear momentum at the COM of the wheel), simple, gradual turns place alot of torque on the sidewalls. Based on the physics alone I'll stick with my LP staggered 18's.
I would not, however, ever buy a truck or SUV with LP tires.

Good point....for all those that travel at speeds of 155-160

 

[coolbri70]

Re: Low Profile Tires

I like both, on my vehicles I like tall sidewalls with white walls or raised white letters. However when I'm at work selling tires I like LP tires, people pay more for 1 tire than I spend on 2 sets and I get 4 %