Can I Put Bigger Tires On My Car? Are Oversized Tires Safe? CarBuzz
Can I Put Bigger Tires On My Car? Are Oversized Tires Safe? CarBuzz News Features New Cars Used Cars Sell My Car Shopping Tools Car Reviews Car Finder Compare Cars Best Cars Car Dealerships Used Car Reviews Car Advice Home Car Advice How Smart Is It To Put Bigger Tires On Your Car
Extra height, extra confidence: One of the biggest draws of SUVs and pickup trucks is the extra ride height they have over a traditional sedan or sports coupe. This extra ground clearance is what gives them the ability to go where most others types of cars can't. Bigger tires will raise your car even higher, which means extra ground clearance. But all this height also translates to a far more commanding driving position.Off-road chops: Having bigger tires when you're seriously into off-roading will help to a certain extent with traversing smaller ruts and rocks more easily. Bigger tires mean bigger tread patterns, which also imply a higher level of grip in various conditions. Specialist tires in this regard are also often bolstered with reinforced sidewalls and sturdier materials. These bigger tires also improve handling on dirt and gravel, and will also show benefits when you're coming to a sudden stop as there is a larger contact patch between the tire and the road surface. Big, bold, and beautiful: Most high-end SUVs and pickups come outfitted with large wheels but not for the reasons already mentioned. When you're spending so much money, you want people to take notice, and that's exactly what these big boys ensure. Now, tires aren't wheels, but there is no denying that big rollers in your arches draw attention and make a statement. The same is true when you're pimping out your truck - big wheels are much more noticeable. Cost of customization: It will always cost you something to replace your standard tires, but if you're switching out for bigger tires, expect to pay extra for the upgrade. The price may be even higher if the tires you choose are too big for the rims or the arches and you are first required to install a lift or make other adjustments. For example, you might need to fit larger wheels or upgrade the suspension entirely. We cover suspension and body lifts for your vehicle in detail, here. Budget: Bigger wheels are naturally heavier than smaller ones. This means bigger fuel bills on top of the price you have to pay for the tires. Luckily, tires are not the heaviest components of a car, so this is only a small factor. It can add up over the years, though. To find out how fuel-efficient tires can help save you money, click here. Additionally, depending on the modifications you make, your vehicle warranty could also be voided and potentially cost you money down the line. Odometer and speedometer readings: Just like the speedometer determined the speed you're traveling by measuring the distance of each wheel rotation, the odometer keeps track of how many miles you've covered. Theoretically, if you've upgraded to a substantially taller tire than the original, the rotation reading will be inaccurate. In this way, bigger tires will affect your speedometer reading. You can have a speedometer recalibration done by a professional, however. The golden rule when it comes to upgrading the tire size of your vehicle is that you can safely equip tires that are up to 20 millimeters wider on the original rim. If you want to go larger than that, you will need to upsize the rim, too.
How Smart Is It To Put Bigger Tires On Your Car
by Morgan Carter / 4.9 (43) Big wheels and tires look great on a chunky SUV or pickup, but what about other cars? Read in this article: Is Bigger Truly Better Pros And Cons Of Bigger Tires On Trucks And SUVs Pros and Cons How To Measure For The Biggest Tires You Can Fit On Your Truck FAQs If you think the factory-equipped tires on your car aren't getting the job done to your satisfaction, you may be wondering if you can put bigger tires on your car or truck. The latter, along with SUVs, are the most likely recipients of this kind of treatment as they look particularly bold riding and capable with bigger wheels and bulkier tires - they also have some extra room in their arches for larger items, too. It's also important to remember that bigger tires may not be compatible with the original rim you have fitted, so before you delve too deep down that particular rabbit hole, it helps to know how putting larger wheels or tires on a car can affect it.Is Bigger Truly Better
Cars are developed with a general tire size in mind that takes into account a balance of fuel economy, road comfort, and road-holding abilities. Opting for bigger wheels often decreases on-road comfort, but choosing a bigger tire can have some performance benefits. In general, however, bigger tires affect mpg negatively. But it's not just fuel economy that warrants a down- or up-sizing of tires. Bigger and wider tires offer better traction, which is why sports cars make use of them. And, special oversized tires and wheels that you often see on focused off-roaders are desirable for their traction and versatility benefits in the great outdoors. All of this means that bigger is only better when the need for a bigger tire or wheel is justified - if you need better performance or more traction, it can be better. But the trade-off will be more money spent at the pumps, and potentially more money spent to maintain, rotate, or replace such wheels. You can read more about performance and touring tires here. Pexels.comPros And Cons Of Bigger Tires On Trucks And SUVs
Unless you're fitting performance or touring tires, upsizing the tires of your sedan is most probably not very likely. However, when it comes to SUVs and pickup trucks such as the Honda Pilot or even something hardier like a Honda Ridgeline truck, there is much more opportunity - and reason - to fit bigger tires. Let's discuss how large tires affect the various characteristics of your average truck or SUV.Pros and Cons
What are some of the reasons you may want to consider larger tires on your truck or SUV?Extra height, extra confidence: One of the biggest draws of SUVs and pickup trucks is the extra ride height they have over a traditional sedan or sports coupe. This extra ground clearance is what gives them the ability to go where most others types of cars can't. Bigger tires will raise your car even higher, which means extra ground clearance. But all this height also translates to a far more commanding driving position.Off-road chops: Having bigger tires when you're seriously into off-roading will help to a certain extent with traversing smaller ruts and rocks more easily. Bigger tires mean bigger tread patterns, which also imply a higher level of grip in various conditions. Specialist tires in this regard are also often bolstered with reinforced sidewalls and sturdier materials. These bigger tires also improve handling on dirt and gravel, and will also show benefits when you're coming to a sudden stop as there is a larger contact patch between the tire and the road surface. Big, bold, and beautiful: Most high-end SUVs and pickups come outfitted with large wheels but not for the reasons already mentioned. When you're spending so much money, you want people to take notice, and that's exactly what these big boys ensure. Now, tires aren't wheels, but there is no denying that big rollers in your arches draw attention and make a statement. The same is true when you're pimping out your truck - big wheels are much more noticeable. Cost of customization: It will always cost you something to replace your standard tires, but if you're switching out for bigger tires, expect to pay extra for the upgrade. The price may be even higher if the tires you choose are too big for the rims or the arches and you are first required to install a lift or make other adjustments. For example, you might need to fit larger wheels or upgrade the suspension entirely. We cover suspension and body lifts for your vehicle in detail, here. Budget: Bigger wheels are naturally heavier than smaller ones. This means bigger fuel bills on top of the price you have to pay for the tires. Luckily, tires are not the heaviest components of a car, so this is only a small factor. It can add up over the years, though. To find out how fuel-efficient tires can help save you money, click here. Additionally, depending on the modifications you make, your vehicle warranty could also be voided and potentially cost you money down the line. Odometer and speedometer readings: Just like the speedometer determined the speed you're traveling by measuring the distance of each wheel rotation, the odometer keeps track of how many miles you've covered. Theoretically, if you've upgraded to a substantially taller tire than the original, the rotation reading will be inaccurate. In this way, bigger tires will affect your speedometer reading. You can have a speedometer recalibration done by a professional, however. The golden rule when it comes to upgrading the tire size of your vehicle is that you can safely equip tires that are up to 20 millimeters wider on the original rim. If you want to go larger than that, you will need to upsize the rim, too.