I've noticed lots of small cars are now wearing big wheels and tyres. Like
Clios and Corsa's with 185/55 x 15.

Are manufacturers overdoing it a bit - the owner has to replace these more
expensive tyres eventually, and they quite often lead to increased road
noise.

"Paul S" <anybody (AT) anyone (DOT) plus.com> wrote

Some of the larger tyre sizes are cheaper as they are more common.

Would a wider tyre wear as quicly as a narrow one?

Paul S <anybody (AT) anyone (DOT) plus.com> wrote:

I'd tend to agree that they're over-tyred - the Ibiza hire car I had
last week was a basic 1.2 on steel wheels..... wearing 195/60 x 15s.

Why does a poverty supermini need bigger tyres than most hot hatches of
the 80s and 90s did?
--
SteveH 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - Hongdou GY200 - Alfa 75 TSpark
Alfa 156 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI SE - COSOC KOTL
BOTAFOT #87 - BOTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #

"SteveH" <steve (AT) italiancar (DOT) co.uk> wrote

Because wide tyres, and/or wide wheels are more fashionable.
Also because in general, wider rubber equals better grip.
Mike

Mike G <metier (AT) lycos (DOT) co.uk> wrote:

Yes, it's a fashion thing.

A 1.2 Ibiza certainly doesn't need more rubber on the road than my 75,
ffs.
--
SteveH 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - Hongdou GY200 - Alfa 75 TSpark
Alfa 156 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI SE - COSOC KOTL
BOTAFOT #87 - BOTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #

"SteveH" <steve (AT) italiancar (DOT) co.uk> wrote

Fashion is not dictated by need. If it were, many of those that make a
living from it would be out of business.
Mike.

Mike G wrote:


Thanks all. You've confirmed my thoughts. Seems it's the tyre
manufacturers/retailers that are benefiting. I bet the average motorist
doesn't realise this is happening.

Incidentally, I drove a Focus 1.6 LX the other day that had 185/60 x 14's
on, which is fair enough for that size of car, but contrast that with the
185/55 x 15's on the Clio.

"Paul S" <anybody (AT) anyone (DOT) plus.com> wrote

Rolls Royce I doubt you would tell the difference in noise levels between a
small tyre and a larger one.

In article <45fc87e7$1_3 (AT) mk-nntp-2 (DOT) news.uk.tiscali.com>,
trev (AT) fpiproject (DOT) co.uk says...
better handling? or better grip in the dry from a wider typre? (and
worse grip in the wet, unless you make up for that with a better tyre
design)

--
Tim Vincent(t.a.vincent (AT) freewheeling (DOT) com)

Trevor wrote:
Not always the case & in wet / damp conditions a light car on wider
wheels can have a greater tendency to skid / aquaplane.

You certainly can .... although I agree not to an unbearable extent.