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Tire Service Blog

Should You Get Larger Wheels?

Americans have a love affair with their cars.  We remember our first car and the freedom it allowed us.  The cars that disappointed us sometimes left us feeling personally betrayed.  Even though it was difficult for some cars, we always wanted them to look pretty – or cool – or tough.  Some psychologists say that when we have the opportunity to own our “perfect” vehicle, it is a reflection of who we are.  Yes – we love our cars.  While there are many upgrades we look at for our cars, one question often arises:  “Should I get larger wheels?”

Larger Wheels

We’ve all seen them – the cars with the big wheels – they look sporty.  We see those cars and we look at our own with the regular factory wheels on it and we wonder if we should get larger wheels.  In case you get confused about the lingo (as some do), wheels are the “rims” as some call them – they are the things that bolt onto your car that hold your tires.  There are many things to consider when contemplating larger wheels.  Any change to the manufacturer’s design of the vehicle will affect your vehicles performance and could cause unsafe performance.  Some manufacturers have already tested and approved multiple wheel diameters, so it is best to ask your tire expert (that’s us) before you make the move to larger wheels.

Plus Two

This sort of upgrade is often the one you see on cars that have low-profile tires.  Why is it called Plus 2?  It simply refers to your wheel size.  There are plus 1 options and plus 2 options, etc.  Plus 2 is a common upgrade and consists of this method:  Let’s say your wheel diameter is 14” (the diameter is the measurement straight across the center of your wheel from one edge of the circle to the other) and you want to upgrade to a 16” wheel.  You’ve just added two inches to the diameter of your wheel.  That would mean your old tires no longer fit onto the wheels so you need larger tires.  However, instead of increasing the outside diameter of your tire, it stays the same.  Because the outside diameter of the tire stays the same and the wheel diameter increases, the tire shows two inches less distance between the edge of your wheel and the outside edge of your tire – low-profile.  Remember, there will be adjustments to other components of your car such as your suspension/stability system needed – so talk to one of our tire experts for their advice before proceeding.
 

Other Options

Maybe you don’t want larger wheels, but wider tires instead.  Of course, with wider tires, you may also need wider wheels – this is called plus zero.  Why do this?  Wider tires mean more rubber in contact with the road, and that could mean better grip and better handling.  However, as we mentioned, changing the manufacturer’s design could have adverse effects so discuss it with us first.  The bottom line is:  there are many different configurations of wheel and tire diameters and widths available.  All of these options will change the way your vehicle looks and handles.  Drop by and chat with us – wheel steer you right!
 

For a look at how different wheels may look on your car, you can play with the super cool wheel tool on our website!  Then come on it or give us a call at (505) 327-0286.


Written on Thursday, November 8, 2012 by Treadworks
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