Just wondering, i have the stock 16's so i have some micheline 215/55 R16's, but if i was to upgrade to lets say 18's, do i have to be more careful with how i drive. Do the tires wear easier, just wondering

thanks

bryan

 

only if you get a false sense of security in your own mind around certain turns..

the larger wheel base actually increases handling.. thus making your car safer..

 

Ditto


Plus if you get heavy rims then that will slow you down a bit and you might not drive as fast.

Remember wider is better..

 

tire wear length will decrease considerably, much less rubber on a low profile 18in tire.

 

Wider isn't better for rain and ice though. Tires should last about the same, but that's if you already use performance tires. Most 18" tires are more performance oriented (V or Z rated) rather than your normal 16" touring tires i.e. Michelin XGTs or MXV4s.
-hype

 

Depending on how you drive will determine how long your tires will last you. I had my tires since Oct 2000 and I still have not replaced them. The pic in my sig shows you how much tread I have left. Also certain tires are made of different rubber compounds, I know I got the Nitto EXT NT555's for the rubber is made of which will last longer vice the softer/gummier compound which will cost you alot more, wear faster but will grip very well.

 

JAY25,

your sig PIC is BADASS

DW

 

I agree ...

 

Thanks for the compliments, I am just trying to influence folks that 245/40 fits thats all!!

 

Nothing is better for ICE. (well except chains or riding in just rims) Wider can still provide the same if not better performance under rainy conditions, given the type of tire you use was designed correctly.

 

Proof, that thinner tires should be used for winter driving >>
Yes the compound and tread of the tire makes a difference, but if you are getting 18" wheels you are probably going to get a Z rated performance tire with a large contact patch. A 235/40/18 tire is more likely to hydro and feels a lot less stable in the rain than a 215/55/16 of the same model.
-hype

 

That was a joke right?

 

You see mzmtg, lower profile tires have less rubber on the sidewalls so it is logical that they won't wear out as quickly

Yeah .. I was staring at that one as well. It should be the composition of the tire that determines the wear rate. Hence there is a treadwear rating on the tires.

From kumho's website:
Treadwear Performance vs. Grip/ Handling/ Traction Performance.....
The treadwear-traction trade-off has been a focus in Tire Performance-Enhancement Technology for decades. Tire companies have been trying to reduce the trade-off between treadwear & traction through the development of new rubber, new tread designs, and new tire construction techniques. Basically, a tire will wear-out quickly if it is providing maximum grip to the road. This is due to the tread rubber being torn from the tire (on a microscopic level), while it is adhering to the road surface. An excellent treadwear tire minimizes the amount of rubber being removed at the road surface; thus providing long tread life, but less road gripping traction.