2y ago

Can we please just go back to using smaller wheels and tires?

arstechnica.com

“And now, a rant about wheels and tires that are too big.”

[Dormant community] electricvehicles @lemmy.world

elskertesla @lemmy.world

2y ago

Can we please just go back to using smaller wheels and tires?

arstechnica.com /cars/2023/08/can-we-please-just-go-back-to-using-smaller-wheels-and-tires/

29 comments

Honestly I'm kinda bummed that EVERYTHING about cars is getting bigger- not just tires and wheels. I like small cars, small trucks, etc :/
Honestly the same is true with phones, the market keeps moving towards bigger and bigger phones
- Agreed. I like my cars small. If I ever become a gazillionaire, I will drive a Nash Metro converted into an EV.
  
  I will drive a first gen miata. Maybe EV converted or LS swapped. I love the little pop up and down headlights 🥺 they make me happy
- this. My 99 forester SUV is half the size of a modern one, but is still a 5 seater with plently of space in the hatch
  
  No it's not.
  The dimensions are almost the same between the two...
  99 Forester Length: 175.2 inches Height: 65 inches Width w/o mirrors: 68.3 inches Rim size: 16 inches
  23 Forester Length: 182.7 inches Height: 68.1 inches Width w/o mirrors: 71.5 inches Rim size: 17 or 18 depending on trim
  They are less than 10 inches different in every aspect.
  I keep hearing people say cars are getting bigger bigger bigger, but they aren't. There are still plenty of normal sized cars out there. People just have this strange perception of them.
  Yes, in absolute fairness there are some cars that are bigger, like they do seem to be marketing larger trucks and less of the really capable small trucks like the S10 or in nowaday terms a Ford Maverick. But this whole consensus on how cars are just getting so big is a stretch.
- Dreading the day my pixel 5 dies and I have to shop for something the same size
  
  Yeah, I think the zenphone is the only option I'm aware of with decent specs. Xperia may still have a small phone option, and I'm not sure what size fairphones have generally been but I know they're planning to release the fairphone 5 before too long.
  I'm still using a pixel 3 with a crap battery 🙃
- Is it a case of the market is telling you what you want cause it wants you to want what will make it money?
  
  No it's because fuel economy regulations are higher on smaller vehicles, and less stringent on bigger vehicles. Car companies would rather make monster trucks than pay a small tax.
  https://youtu.be/azI3nqrHEXM
I mean if you ran over a nail, more sidewall isn't going to save you. But yeah one inch smaller diameter rim helps a ton in having a comfortable ride and hitting potholes and stuff like that.
The problem is that people keep on buying the larger wheels.
Laughs in 185/55/R15.
I can bash my car over bumps and save money doing it.
EDIT: Weight ruins everything. You go through more rubber, more fuel, more oil, more brakes and add premature wear on engine and suspension components. You also get less acceleration, worse handling and longer stopping distances - all while pumping out more noise and emissions. Weight has zero upsides unless you're playing carmageddon.
You should get the smallest car that gets you by, not the largest car on your budget.
Larger wheels allow larger brakes, to a point.
- Which are only needed as a result of bigger and heavier cars.
  
  Bigger and heavier cars are a result of improved crash test ratings, so it's a worthy trade-off
  
  Batteries are heavy, for now
Anything less than 40 series is just too low profile for daily driving, with 40-50 series being the sweet spot for sports cars, and 45-55 for economy cars or muscle cars. 65-85 is for trucks obviously.
If you are truly driving a track focused car then by all means, a 30-35 series tire will give you better feel than a 40-45, but at the expense of harshness over every expansion joint or pothole or dimple on the road.
I'm fine with smaller wheels, but as a Prius owner, I'm tired of my car being SO low to the ground. I can't park in my own shitty driveway because my car eats shit on the curb of it no matter my angle of approach.
Absolutely! Please! This low profile look is horrible.
I drive a 3/4 pickup with 16" tires. It's a 1970 c20.

29 comments