Do wider tires improve ride comfort?
12-17-2009, 02:50 PM
#1
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Do wider tires improve ride comfort?
This may be a stupid question, but does having a wider tire improve how the car feels over bumps, imperfections and such? I'm thinking because there is more rubber, that means there's a larger contact patch that absorbs impact. Also, wider tires can ride over certain cracks and holes, instead of falling into them, like a thinner tire would.
Share some feelings and experiences you've had when going from our OEM 225 and 245 tires, to a wider setup.
Share some feelings and experiences you've had when going from our OEM 225 and 245 tires, to a wider setup.
12-17-2009, 02:57 PM
#4
NO. Because of the need to maintain the overall height of the tire, when you go with a wider tire you have to use a lower profile. That results in a stiffer sidewall.
Various brands and models of tires will ride differently, some will be hard and harsh, others will be softer. Keep in mind that a soft ride means that the car won't handle was well.
As for more rubber - all that does is increase the chance of hitting something, and more of anything across a larger surface area means that you get more result, not less. Wider tires weight more, so they will inherently make your ride harsher.
Various brands and models of tires will ride differently, some will be hard and harsh, others will be softer. Keep in mind that a soft ride means that the car won't handle was well.
As for more rubber - all that does is increase the chance of hitting something, and more of anything across a larger surface area means that you get more result, not less. Wider tires weight more, so they will inherently make your ride harsher.
12-17-2009, 03:03 PM
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NO. Because of the need to maintain the overall height of the tire, when you go with a wider tire you have to use a lower profile. That results in a stiffer sidewall.
Various brands and models of tires will ride differently, some will be hard and harsh, others will be softer. Keep in mind that a soft ride means that the car won't handle was well.
As for more rubber - all that does is increase the chance of hitting something, and more of anything across a larger surface area means that you get more result, not less. Wider tires weight more, so they will inherently make your ride harsher.
Various brands and models of tires will ride differently, some will be hard and harsh, others will be softer. Keep in mind that a soft ride means that the car won't handle was well.
As for more rubber - all that does is increase the chance of hitting something, and more of anything across a larger surface area means that you get more result, not less. Wider tires weight more, so they will inherently make your ride harsher.
yes he speaks the truth
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12-17-2009, 04:21 PM
#8
I think the proper statement would be "I have cheap tires so my ride has improved". "cheap" tires will have softer sidewalls, thinner tread, etc. to make them lighter and more flexable.
I remember when Toyo tires were real popular a few years ago as people starting replacing the OEM Bridgestones. Everybody raved at how much better their car rode. Then they tried to track them or had to make an emergency manuever and they shockingly discovered how soft the sidewalls were. Steering response was terrible.
I remember when Toyo tires were real popular a few years ago as people starting replacing the OEM Bridgestones. Everybody raved at how much better their car rode. Then they tried to track them or had to make an emergency manuever and they shockingly discovered how soft the sidewalls were. Steering response was terrible.
Last edited by DavesZ#3; 12-17-2009 at 04:25 PM.
12-17-2009, 04:23 PM
#9
Very good lesson to be learned here. ALL tires have something called rolling resistance. It's a function of the compound and the amount of rubber meeting the road. While you get great traction with wide tires, you also pay a penalty in gas mileage. When I went from 18" 225/245 OEM tires to 19" 255/285 tires I saw my gas mileage drop about 2mpg. Several months later, I was lucky enough to get it back by changing my trans and diff fluids to synthetics.
12-17-2009, 04:53 PM
#12
I think the proper statement would be "I have cheap tires so my ride has improved". "cheap" tires will have softer sidewalls, thinner tread, etc. to make them lighter and more flexable.
I remember when Toyo tires were real popular a few years ago as people starting replacing the OEM Bridgestones. Everybody raved at how much better their car rode. Then they tried to track them or had to make an emergency manuever and they shockingly discovered how soft the sidewalls were. Steering response was terrible.
I remember when Toyo tires were real popular a few years ago as people starting replacing the OEM Bridgestones. Everybody raved at how much better their car rode. Then they tried to track them or had to make an emergency manuever and they shockingly discovered how soft the sidewalls were. Steering response was terrible.
12-17-2009, 05:31 PM
#14
I wasn't correcting your grammer or spelling, I was rebutting your argument. Read both yours and mine again. You stated that "you don't have cheap tires so you ride has improved". I'm saying your ride has improved because of cheap tires. High quality, high performance tires will likely ride worse than cheap ones.
I would never claim to be an english scholar - I know my spelling an grammar suck occasionally. It's natural, I'm an engineer.
I would never claim to be an english scholar - I know my spelling an grammar suck occasionally. It's natural, I'm an engineer.
Last edited by DavesZ#3; 12-17-2009 at 05:32 PM.
12-17-2009, 09:14 PM
#16
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I think you ask a very good question, and I would like to add my experience.
When I went from 225/45-18” front and 245/45-18” rear to 245/40-18” front and 275/40-18” rear (and wider wheels with the wider tire setup), I did notice better handling; but not much (if any) improvement in ride quality. The upsizing also cost me in less mileage, and the tire noise was greater.
What is more interesting is that my winter tire/wheel setup (225/55-17” all-square studless snow tires) provides a significantly more comfortable ride than my wider summer-performance tire setup on 18” wheels (no matter how wide the summer performance tires).
My experience is that higher sidewalls (and even with a narrow tire) provide a softer ride than wider tires with a lesser sidewall height.
--Spike
When I went from 225/45-18” front and 245/45-18” rear to 245/40-18” front and 275/40-18” rear (and wider wheels with the wider tire setup), I did notice better handling; but not much (if any) improvement in ride quality. The upsizing also cost me in less mileage, and the tire noise was greater.
What is more interesting is that my winter tire/wheel setup (225/55-17” all-square studless snow tires) provides a significantly more comfortable ride than my wider summer-performance tire setup on 18” wheels (no matter how wide the summer performance tires).
My experience is that higher sidewalls (and even with a narrow tire) provide a softer ride than wider tires with a lesser sidewall height.
--Spike
12-18-2009, 10:52 AM
#17
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