Re: Ultra low profile tyres for sedate drivers only?

#31

Adrian wrote:

Quote:

Bod <bodron57 (AT) tiscali (DOT) co.uk> gurgled happily, sounding much like they
were saying:

but there is no doubt that the difference in price between
'standard' tyres and ultra-low-profile tyres is quite dramatic -
and, IMO, an utter waste of money because on UK roads there is no
real advantage to ultra low profile tyres - but significant
disadvantages in terms of ride, road noise, and expense.

Yes, well. You're the man who doesn't see any reason to buy anything
but cheap shit teflonfred rubbish.

I thought the discussion was about the benefits (or not) of low
profile tyres?

Indeed. I'm merely pointing out that Kev's not exactly a newbie at
trying to claim his blinkered cluelessness is somehow the only right
answer.

I can give you a list of reasons why ultra-low profile tyres are a nonsense
on UK roads. So what are the *advantages* IYO?

I have a friend who bought a 5 series BMW about 12 months ago. It's a tidy
car, although I didn't rate the ride quality even when he bought it. Three
months after buying it he decided to 'smarten it up' and bought a set of
large wheels fitted with ultra-low-profile tyres. The next time I rode in
his car I was appalled - the ride quality was absolutely terrible - it felt
as though the tyres were solid rubber. When I asked him what had possessed
him to buy the wheels he just grinned and said; "When you've got a flash
car, you've got to have flash wheels to go with it haven't you?" And
*that*, sadly, is the thinking behind many purchases of ultra-low profile
tyres. He has since admitted that he had had no idea of just how the new
wheels and tyres would affect the ride quality - and he would never do it
again. He says that if he hadn't sold on his old wheels and tyres, he would
have put them back on again.

Kev

#32

Adrian wrote:

Quote:

"Ret." <xxx> gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

There is a development amongst manufacturers now to somehow
*assume* that owners want low profile tyres. Many 'upper-spec'
cars in a model's range have bigger wheels and lower profile
tyres. Why? Don't you think that prospective purchasers should be
given a choice (and given information on the implications of that
choice?)

We've been here before. You clearly don't understand the money
that's spent on market research and customer clinics by
manufacturers.

Do you really think that the average uk motorist fully understands
the implications of ultra low profile tyres?

I don't think the average UK motorist has the first clue, either way.
Or, tbh, much cares beyond "they look good, innit". Don't forget -
the larger rims/lower profile tyres tend to be OPTIONAL. Not
standard. People are choosing to pay extra for them.

I think you will find that most higher spec models of new cars are now
fitted with larger wheels as part of the spec and not as an option.

Kev

#33

"Adrian" <toomany2cvs (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote

Quote:

Hey, here's a novel idea... How about "not hitting kerbs" and "looking
where the fuck you're going"?

<cough>

Golfs have lowish profile tyres don't they? :-)

#34

"Clive George" <clive (AT) xxxx-x (DOT) fsnet.co.uk> gurgled happily, sounding much
like they were saying:

Quote:

Hey, here's a novel idea... How about "not hitting kerbs" and "looking
where the fuck you're going"?

cough

Golfs have lowish profile tyres don't they? :-)

No, not really.

It's just that the tyres on that side are a fuck of a long way away.

#35

"Ret." <xxx> gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Quote:

Adrian wrote:
"Ret." <xxx> gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

There is a development amongst manufacturers now to somehow *assume*
that owners want low profile tyres. Many 'upper-spec' cars in a
model's range have bigger wheels and lower profile tyres. Why? Don't
you think that prospective purchasers should be given a choice (and
given information on the implications of that choice?)

We've been here before. You clearly don't understand the money that's
spent on market research and customer clinics by manufacturers.

Do you really think that the average uk motorist fully understands the
implications of ultra low profile tyres?

I don't think the average UK motorist has the first clue, either way.
Or, tbh, much cares beyond "they look good, innit". Don't forget - the
larger rims/lower profile tyres tend to be OPTIONAL. Not standard.
People are choosing to pay extra for them.

I think you will find that most higher spec models of new cars are now
fitted with larger wheels as part of the spec and not as an option.

Really?

So if I look at the specs of <say> Merc C-class, I won't find that 16"
rims are standard on the vast majority of versions?

Yes, the profile varies as tread width varies - according to engine size
- but I'm sure you'll understand that that doesn't mean the sidewalls
become any shorter, so there's no difference in the protection they offer
the rim. I'm also sure you'll also understand that a C350 on 195s would
not be a particularly great idea...

#36

Adrian wrote:

Quote:

"Ret." <xxx> gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Adrian wrote:
"Ret." <xxx> gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

There is a development amongst manufacturers now to somehow
*assume* that owners want low profile tyres. Many 'upper-spec'
cars in a model's range have bigger wheels and lower profile
tyres. Why? Don't you think that prospective purchasers should
be given a choice (and given information on the implications of
that choice?)

We've been here before. You clearly don't understand the money
that's spent on market research and customer clinics by
manufacturers.

Do you really think that the average uk motorist fully understands
the implications of ultra low profile tyres?

I don't think the average UK motorist has the first clue, either
way. Or, tbh, much cares beyond "they look good, innit". Don't
forget - the larger rims/lower profile tyres tend to be OPTIONAL.
Not standard. People are choosing to pay extra for them.

I think you will find that most higher spec models of new cars are
now fitted with larger wheels as part of the spec and not as an
option.

Really?

So if I look at the specs of <say> Merc C-class, I won't find that 16"
rims are standard on the vast majority of versions?

Mercs are an exception - almost everything is an option on a Merc. I'm
surprised that you get wheels at all on the base cars...

If you look at the Citroen C5 you will find base models have 16" wheels -
and higher spec models have 18" wheels as standard.

Similarly with the Vx Insignia - base model is 16" and then it works up
through 17" and 18".

This from the spec on an Insignia Elite:

Standard Features:
•Dual-zone electronic climate control with heat-relective windscreen and
humidity sensor
•18-inch 13-spoke alloy wheels with 245/45 R 18 ultra-low profile tyres.

So not an option - a standard feature that, if given an informed choice,
most buyers would turn down I would suggest.

Kev

#37

"Ret." <xxx> gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Quote:

Similarly with the Vx Insignia - base model is 16" and then it works up
through 17" and 18".

This from the spec on an Insignia Elite:

Standard Features:
•Dual-zone electronic climate control with heat-relective windscreen and
humidity sensor
•18-inch 13-spoke alloy wheels with 245/45 R 18 ultra-low profile tyres.

So not an option - a standard feature that, if given an informed choice,
most buyers would turn down I would suggest.

Really?

Interesting that you pick the Elite spec, since the next one down in the
range - SE - offers 17" rims as standard with 18" as an alternative at No
Extra Cost. I guess nobody ever ticks that box, eh? And even fewer people
would pay the £460 extra to go to 19".

Makes you wonder why Vauxhall bother offer 'em, doesn't it?

Hmm. Go down to the S or Exclusiv spec, and I wonder why the low-CO2 tree-
hug ecoFlex diesel estate has 17" rims instead of the 16" of the rest of
the range...? Oh, yes. It's the heaviest and most powerful body/engine
combination at that spec level. I guess the 16" 60-profiles just can't
quite cope with a ton and three quarters and 160bhp...

But surely the REALLY important spec change between Insignia trim levels
has to be "Visible exhaust tip" on SE-spec... But not if you go for the
pikey-spec engine. This is important when you're choosing your new
company car, y'know. Got to be seen to be better than Smithers from the
Southern region sales team. People have died for less.

#38

Adrian wrote:

Quote:

"Ret." <xxx> gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Similarly with the Vx Insignia - base model is 16" and then it works
up through 17" and 18".

This from the spec on an Insignia Elite:

Standard Features:
•Dual-zone electronic climate control with heat-relective windscreen
and humidity sensor
•18-inch 13-spoke alloy wheels with 245/45 R 18 ultra-low profile
tyres.

So not an option - a standard feature that, if given an informed
choice, most buyers would turn down I would suggest.

Really?

Interesting that you pick the Elite spec, since the next one down in
the range - SE - offers 17" rims as standard with 18" as an
alternative at No Extra Cost. I guess nobody ever ticks that box, eh?
And even fewer people would pay the £460 extra to go to 19".

If people do tick that box - I would suggest that it would be in ignorance
of the implications (like my friend who put the ULP tyres on his 5 series).

Quote:

Makes you wonder why Vauxhall bother offer 'em, doesn't it?

No it doesn't - there are certainly mugs out there who are prepared to pay
good money because they think the bigger wheels 'look better'.

Quote:

Hmm. Go down to the S or Exclusiv spec, and I wonder why the low-CO2
tree- hug ecoFlex diesel estate has 17" rims instead of the 16" of
the rest of the range...? Oh, yes. It's the heaviest and most
powerful body/engine combination at that spec level. I guess the 16"
60-profiles just can't quite cope with a ton and three quarters and
160bhp...

But surely the REALLY important spec change between Insignia trim
levels has to be "Visible exhaust tip" on SE-spec... But not if you
go for the pikey-spec engine. This is important when you're choosing
your new company car, y'know. Got to be seen to be better than
Smithers from the Southern region sales team. People have died for
less.

Indeed. There are upgrades and there are upgrades. I wouldn't want to go
down from my climate control to simple air-con. I like my heated seats in
Winter, and I also like my self-dimming mirror and automatic wipers. The
3-position memory driver's seat is a definite bonus when you pick your car
up after its MOT and the tester has cocked up your carefully derived seat
positioning - although I could just about live without that.

Kev

#39

"Ret." <xxx> gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Quote:

Interesting that you pick the Elite spec, since the next one down in
the range - SE - offers 17" rims as standard with 18" as an alternative
at No Extra Cost. I guess nobody ever ticks that box, eh? And even
fewer people would pay the £460 extra to go to 19".

If people do tick that box - I would suggest that it would be in
ignorance of the implications (like my friend who put the ULP tyres on
his 5 series).

We've already established that your friend is utterly fucking clueless.
Still, if all your friends are of such limited intellect, it does explain
quite a bit about your posts and your view of others.

Quote:

Makes you wonder why Vauxhall bother offer 'em, doesn't it?

No it doesn't - there are certainly mugs out there who are prepared to
pay good money because they think the bigger wheels 'look better'.

And yet so few people seem to ask Vauxhall for smaller wheels...

Quote:

Hmm. Go down to the S or Exclusiv spec, and I wonder why the low-CO2
tree- hug ecoFlex diesel estate has 17" rims instead of the 16" of the
rest of the range...? Oh, yes. It's the heaviest and most powerful
body/engine combination at that spec level. I guess the 16" 60-profiles
just can't quite cope with a ton and three quarters and 160bhp...

Quote:

But surely the REALLY important spec change between Insignia trim
levels has to be "Visible exhaust tip" on SE-spec... But not if you go
for the pikey-spec engine. This is important when you're choosing your
new company car, y'know. Got to be seen to be better than Smithers from
the Southern region sales team. People have died for less.

Indeed. There are upgrades and there are upgrades. I wouldn't want to go
down from my climate control to simple air-con. I like my heated seats
in Winter, and I also like my self-dimming mirror and automatic wipers.
The 3-position memory driver's seat is a definite bonus when you pick
your car up after its MOT and the tester has cocked up your carefully
derived seat positioning - although I could just about live without
that.

I wonder how many people disagree with you on any of those. Still, it
doesn't matter, because you're _right_ and they're _wrong_. I'm so very
happy for you.

#40

"Ret." <xxx> wrote

Quote:

The 3-position memory driver's seat is a definite bonus when you pick your
car up after its MOT and the tester has cocked up your carefully derived
seat positioning - although I could just about live without that.

Life is so very hard for you isn't it :-)