Tire width vs performance?

[Topshelfs30]

An interesting question came to mind this morning. Lets say you have an 8 inch rim which can take a 215mm tread up to 245mm tread. Which gives you the best steering responce: a tire that fits perfect(225, 235), a tire which fits snug(215), or a tire which has more surface area but is wider than the rim(245) Or does the tire width not matter, but the surface area is the most important factor.

[rjundi]

My only guess is that if you go wider you to the extreme you compromise the sidewall strength and then start to loose response since it will flex more. My guess is the proper width or slightly wider with the sidewall being properly supported is better.

[sexylegacy]

That and I believe anything wider than a 235 and you start rubbing the fenders unless you roll them. Even 235 is pushing it I understand, but will still clear. Of course, that also depends on your wheel offset and if the car is lowered.

[EL PAALO]

I prefer a 245 on an 8.5 so the sidewalls aren't as sloppy.

[sickdrift]

I'll throw someting in too.

 

An interesting question came to mind this morning. Lets say you have an 8 inch rim which can take a 215mm tread up to 245mm tread. Which gives you the best steering responce: a tire that fits perfect(225, 235), a tire which fits snug(215), or a tire which has more surface area but is wider than the rim(245) Or does the tire width not matter, but the surface area is the most important factor.

 

 

If you're looking for best compromise of adhesion and sharp steering I would first research all the tires you’re interested in. Find the tire that will best serve your needs. Where I live you can generally count the amount of days it rains a year on two hands, so here it would be safe to choose a year round summer tire. But you may need an A/S or M+S. Once you have found the tire that best provides the best tread design for your needs, and the best tread compound for spirited driving go to the manufacturers website and look at the sizes you’re considering and find the tire that best fits the wheel width you’re using. Most provide an “ideal” wheel width that will keep the sidewalls at the angle the tire was engineered to operate at. So the correct amount of flex, enough to warn you before loss of traction, but still give you confidence when pushing the limits. And by not going wider you will retain quicker steering response. But keep in mind, that if you purchase a well designed tire, with excellent rubber compounds that is designed to fit the wheel you have, you will more likely have better traction than a lesser quality, wider tire that has too much flex and maybe not as much tread area as you think, and crappy rubber compounds.

 

 

Laurence