Many drivers don’t consider the size of their vehicle’s wheels and tyres. Usually, people think different wheel sizes are for cosmetic purposes. However, the wheel size and the tyre size matter. Using improper tyres can be costly and dangerous.
Larger tyres result in more vehicle grip on the road. As the width of car tyres increase, more surface area is covered on the road. This increases the vehicle’s ability to manoeuvre and handle. As for wheels, they have been increasing in size for decades.
Before the 2000s, 15-inch diameter wheels were standard on all vehicles. Later on, by the early 2000s, 17-inch wheels became a common, premium option. From the 2000s, bigger wheels became a status thing from the aftermarket and most auto manufacturers started offering cars with bigger wheels.
Different Wheel Sizes Explained
Let’s go through different car wheel sizes in detail.
15-inch wheel size
Modern cars don’t use 15-inch wheels any more. That said, you can still find them on some off-road trucks and SUVs. Generally, they are part of a dedicated off-road package because they allow tyres with big sidewalls. This is considered an advantage when it comes to grip in soft terrain and when rock crawling.
The tyre walls’ height also helps stop the rims from getting damaged by stones and rocks and cushions the vehicle from massive impacts. When it comes to big impacts, wheels with smaller diameters are less likely to buckle. Here are the different types of wheel damages and repairs.
In the car aftermarket and on track, you’ll often find 15-inch wheels where lower rotating mass and the diameter of the wheel are factored into the gearing ratio. Budget cars make use of 15-inch wheels because of their relatively low weight and cost.
16-inch wheel size
Economy cars and sports cars make use of 16-inch wheels. The cost of the wheels and tyres is economical. As for SUVs, the 16-inch wheel size brings the advantage of thicker tyre walls to fill out the wheel arch.
17-inch wheel size
17-inch wheel sizes are pretty common these days. For sports cars, there is a balance of price, the size offers more rotating mass, there is more unsprung weight, and a taller final gear. Moreover, there are many tyre options available in the market for 17-inch wheels.
These wheels have more room for cushioning. The tyre treads of 17-inch wheels offer better manoeuvrability and road grip when compared to larger 19-inch or 18-inch wheels and tyres.
18-inch wheel size
Usually, 18-inch wheels are used in road cars and crossovers that require fuel economy. Even though 18-inch wheels are costlier but are considered in many sports cars and regular cars that are on the freeway for longer durations.
Generally, there is no drastic difference in the ride quality of 17- vs. 18-inch wheels. The only difference depends on the sidewall and your suspension setup.
As for race cars, Formula 1 recently moved from 13-inch wheels to 18-inch wheels. It’s a major change that brings a whole new set of dynamics for engineers, racing drivers and mechanics who have to carry more weight during a pitstop. The wheel size was changed for more front grip.
19-inch wheel size
The 19-inch wheels and tyres have a high cost. That said, the speed of cars with 19-inch wheels is fast. This is because the side wall height is decreased as the wheel size is increased. As a result, the handling of vehicles with 19-inch wheels becomes sharper offering better ride quality.
20-inch wheel size
20-inch wheels are commonly used on crossovers and SUVs for the style. However, they also offer excellent on and off-road performance. Plus, they are used in sports cars and supercars. The rotating mass of these is more, which makes up for good handling and manoeuvring. That said, wheels that are 20-inch or more are expensive and don’t offer the best fuel economy. The main difference between steel and alloy wheels, is that the latter is offered in larger sizes ranging from 20 inches and beyond.
That is all about the different wheel sizes. Bigger wheels are generally associated with improved stability and a shorter range of braking distance. However, the bigger the wheel size, the lower the fuel economy. This is because bigger wheels increase the maximum car load resulting in increased mileage.
That said, various auto manufacturers made a lot of improvements to different wheel sizes for a better and safer ride experience for drivers and passengers.
Besides, if you’re looking to buy wheels for your car, here is a list of auto accessories and parts in the UAE including wheels of different sizes.
Stay tuned to UAE’s top auto blog for more on car wheels, tyres and other car parts.
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