tire performance vs rim size?????

saltshaker · #1 (**permalink**) 11-22-2011, 06:35 AM

is there a difference in the performance of the car if a narrower rim is used on the same tire...example: 295/50/15 on a 10' rim vs 8.5" rim or for fronts 235/60/15 tire on a 7" rim vs 8" rim ?
Jon

bobcowan · #2 (**permalink**) 11-22-2011, 09:25 AM

Absolutly. If the tire is on the correct rim width, it will maintain a flat contact patch through a wider range of pressures. Since pressure changes with temps, you'll get better performance throughout the temp range. Differant tires of the same size have differant requirements, so check the manufacturers info about that.

Silverback51 · #3 (**permalink**) 11-22-2011, 10:14 AM

If you look at the Tire Rack site they give a range of wheel sizes for a specific tire size. Going beyond the specified wheel size will have all kinds of effects on the handling. And none of them will be for the better.

Also, the lower the aspect ratio of the tire, the more critical the wheel size is.