What difference does the width of the tire make?

Why do people think wide tires are better? Why do luxury cars use wide tires? What is the difference between the width of tires?

Look at the width of the tire sidewall

First of all, you need to know how to understand the basic information of the tire. The tire sidewall will have the identification information of the tire width and aspect ratio. For example, the tire specification in the above picture is 245/45ZR18, 245 refers to its cross-sectional width, 45 refers to its aspect ratio, also called height-to-width ratio, that is, the tire thickness is 45%, and ZR refers to the speed level, with a maximum speed of 240km/h.

The so-called width and narrowness

The width of ordinary mini car tires is 125~160mm, the width of small car tires is 165mm~195mm, and the tires of compact cars are 195mm~225mm. Those above 225mm are generally called wide tires.

The difference between the width and narrowness of tires

1. Visual perception It has to be said that the wider the tire, the stronger the visual impact. Young car owners like to choose wider tires to "add weight" to the tires. Especially for SUV owners, the whole car looks more domineering and cooler after changing to wide tires.

2. Practical performance It is not difficult to imagine that the wider the tire, the larger the contact area with the road, and the stronger the grip. The tire is not easy to slip when braking or accelerating, the braking distance is short, the acceleration response time is also shorter, the extreme maneuverability will be better, the safety will be more guaranteed, and the car will drive more steadily. On the contrary, the narrower the tire, the smaller the contact area with the ground, and the grip will be worse than that of wide tires.

Of course, the wider the tire, the better. The biggest advantage of narrow tires over wide tires is that they have outstanding economic performance and better fuel saving. At the same time, because of the small friction area, the noise generated during driving is also smaller. Generally, small cars will be adapted to narrow tires with small displacement. If you blindly pursue wide tires, you will not be able to run fast with a "light body and heavy feet", which will inevitably affect power and fuel consumption.

3. Tire prices are generally more expensive due to cost materials. The price of wide tires is generally higher. A tire with a width of more than 215mm costs more than a thousand yuan, while a tire with a width of 185mm or 195mm may be bought for a few hundred yuan. For example, the Michelin Grand Prix 4 with a width of 255mm is twice as expensive as the 205mm.

Whether the tire is wider or narrower, the service life is basically the same. The wider the tire, the higher the price, and the longer the use time. In terms of economy and car cost, narrow tires are more suitable for ordinary car families.

Different car series have different choices

Different car series will choose tires of different widths because of their different pursuit of performance. For example, Japanese cars mostly choose tires with a width of 205mm or 215mm, narrow tires, while German and American cars mostly choose tires with a width of more than 235mm.

The reason why Nissan cars choose narrower tires is because the Japanese pay more attention to fuel saving and pursue the ultimate economic performance. In addition, less friction and lighter driving are also factors they consider.

German and American cars pursue straight-line stability and comfort in the car, so wide tires are their main choice. Wide tires can withstand greater lateral forces, have stronger grip, and have stronger braking and acceleration capabilities when the car is driving, as well as stronger straight-line stability. Performance cars and luxury cars use wide tires more often. For the ultimate driving experience, they probably don't care about fuel consumption.

However, as a family car, there is no need to choose tires that are too wide. For daily transportation, you don't pursue extreme sports and don't often drive intensely, so there is no need to replace the original narrow tires with wide ones. When buying a new car, there is no need to choose a high-end or a certain model for wide tires.