Re: Why more 17& 18 inch wheels on new vehicles

Kwyjibo wrote:
> "Daryl Walford" <dwalford@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
> news:zsydnUnwaOFVH7jVnZ2dnUVZ_v3inZ2d@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> Pit wrote:
>>> Just doing some tyre kicking and notice  a lot more vehicles now
>>> coming out with 17 & 18 inch tyre sizes .
>>>
>>> In reality what are the advantages over 16 inch .Which have a lot less
>>> orphan sizes and far cheaper to  run .
>>> $98.00 for decent safe 16  inch tyre against $259 for  17 inch
>>>
>>> going through 2 or 3 full sets of tyres  a year   this all adds up .
>>>
>>> Serious question based on tyre size ignorance .
>> Bigger wheels allow bigger brakes, there is no other technical reason
for 
>> them.
> 
> Apart from better handling resulting from a smaller sidewall for the
same 
> rolling diameter and lighter weight of a larger alloy rim compared to
more 
> rubber.

Have you looked at F1 cars lately?
No sign of low profile tyres and they seem to handle ok.
As for weight an 18" rim with low profile tyres weighs more than a 14" 
rim without low profile tyres if the wheels are of the same design and 
construction.
For the mates Lotus 7 we have 13, 14 and 16" rims, on the track we 
always use the 13" because they are very much lighter.
I'm not so sure low profile tyres handle better, IMO they are more 
cosmetic than anything else.



Daryl