Norm Peterson

Got to wonder how various police forces would feel about them. Maybe good for their cruisers. Maybe not so good if people being chased had them (spike strips might not work very well).


Norm

Carlos Pineiro

From the police chases I've seen, spike strips only work sometimes. Usually the guy being chased just winds up wrecking the car, lol.

I wondered about the holes filling up with snow that turns to ice when the car is parked. Hmmm.

Anyway, I never really liked 50 and 55 series tubless tires because they just run hotter and are not as safe as 60+ series tires. They just look cool because the thinner sidewall allows for a bigger chrome wheel.

I hope the facination with big wheels is short lived, not only because they require the tires that are super thin, but because bigger wheels weigh more.

If the Tweel becomes the next step in tire technology and all new cars are fitted with Tweels in a couple of years, we might look back at the "oughts" when there was a big wheel fad. People who spent $2k or more on those 18"-20" chome jobs might be looking to get $500 for the set in 2013 when everyone is riding on a tweel and those tractor wheel have become passe.

Just thinkin'

CP

Norm Peterson

You and me both, if probably for somewhat different reasons.

What I'd like to see is for the overall tire diameters come down a bit as well. The one thing about my '08 GT that rubs me a bit wrong is that everything was worked up around the idea of 27" tall tires (and there's still a little too much clearance in the wheelwells). Trouble is that the 2010's get 19" and I think the Challengers and Camaros have 20" available. It'll be a while.


Norm

65rangoon

video about them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcdmH_hVWBY

video says 10-15 years for high speed vehicles (car)

65rangoon

iirc it helps to a point but usually 18" wheels are the theoretical best size for performace.

i would think that a larger diameter is more so a better aspect for engineering as you have more surface area of the wheel touching the ground which in turn puts less stress/weight per square inch so the physical weight of the car can be higher

Norm Peterson

I think as far as street-driven cars are concerned, 18" is a compromise size between appearance on the one side, and weight, cost, ride quality, gearing, and getting the whole mess certified for emissions on the other.

The only good reasons for large wheels is if you need the room inside the "barrel" to fit the brakes that your use requires or to fit steering and suspension components. The rest of it may depend on the rest of your car and what sort of performance you're looking to improve (and what other aspects you are willing to compromise away in order to get that improvement).


Norm