Difference Between Low Profile Tires And Other

seejaylk · January 29, 2010

hi..

can somebody explain what are the Difference between Low Profile tires and Other (i dont know the name) and what are the pros & cons of Low Prof tires..?

thanks in advance...

SpEeD FrEak · January 29, 2010

seejaylk said:
hi..
can somebody explain what are the Difference between Low Profile tires and Other (i dont know the name) and what are the pros & cons of Low Prof tires..?

thanks in advance...

Low profile tires have short side walls

Pros-low profile tires makes the ride stiff,improves handling(Cornering) and improves steering response

Cons-It reduces ride comfort and has more strain on the Suspension system (Wht ive heard)

If you dont travel on rough roads much go for it

MasterDon · January 29, 2010

I'm running 17 inch goodyear EF1's with 40mm profile

Pros

1.Improved handling(good grip,less wobble etc)

2.Better water treading,but this veries from tyre to tyre

3.Good looks IMO

Cons

1.Uncomfotable

2.Decreased fuel efficiency

3.Price

4.Can eff up your suspension system

5.More chance of damaging the inner/outer wall,my two left tyres busted when I entered a pothole at moderate speed,so I had replace both at 17k a pop.

6.Can confuse your speedometer and mileage meter if the original tyre diametre ratios are not retained.

seejaylk · January 29, 2010

Thanks for the quick reply guys....

Pericles · January 30, 2010

MasterDon said:
I'm running 17 inch goodyear EF1's with 40mm profile
Pros

1.Improved handling(good grip,less wobble etc)

2.Better water treading,but this veries from tyre to tyre

3.Good looks IMO

Cons

1.Uncomfotable

2.Decreased fuel efficiency

3.Price

4.Can eff up your suspension system

5.More chance of damaging the inner/outer wall,my two left tyres busted when I entered a pothole at moderate speed,so I had replace both at 17k a pop.

6.Can confuse your speedometer and mileage meter if the original tyre diametre ratios are not retained.

Quick question Don. Why less fuel efficiency? If the tire width and diameter stay the same, why would there be a difference?

shanX · January 30, 2010

Pericles said:
Quick question Don. Why less fuel efficiency? If the tire width and diameter stay the same, why would there be a difference?

Yeah, unless he meant the wheel weight factor

MasterDon · January 30, 2010

Pericles said:
Quick question Don. Why less fuel efficiency? If the tire width and diameter stay the same, why would there be a difference?

well machan if you want to add low pro tyres and still retain the original diameter at the same time,you have no choice but to increase the rim size...and unless you put in those light weight rims,they are quite heavy,so more weight more fuel...

but your somewhat right...the profile itselfs effect on fuel efficiency is minimal as far as I know.

JadeyBlitzen · January 30, 2010

shanX said:
Yeah, unless he meant the wheel weight factor

totally! even if the biggers wheels only weigh a coupla kilos extra at each end it affects the performance quite a bit thanks to the increased rotational mass and inertia. usually the theory is the increase in rotational mass is 10 times higher as opposed to fixed mass. so if you get wheels that weigh 5 kilos to replace ones that weigh 8 at each end on a 4wd car like an impreza that's similar to a weight reduction of 120kgs.

shanX · January 30, 2010

JadeyBlitzen said:
totally! even if the biggers wheels only weigh a coupla kilos extra at each end it affects the performance quite a bit thanks to the increased rotational mass and inertia. usually the theory is the increase in rotational mass is 10 times higher as opposed to fixed mass. so if you get wheels that weigh 5 kilos to replace ones that weigh 8 at each end on a 4wd car like an impreza that's similar to a weight reduction of 120kgs.

damn, mine weighed 15kg with tires lol, say tires would weigh 5kg? Would they be it too heavy for normal 1.5l sedan?

MeanGreenZ28 · January 31, 2010

http://www.popularhotrodding.com/tech/0810...arts/index.html

read that, it's a good read on sprung/unsprung weight vs. performance

Pericles · January 31, 2010

Interesting stuff. Didn't really think it'll have that much difference, but good points.

JadeyBlitzen · January 31, 2010

shanX said:
damn, mine weighed 15kg with tires lol, say tires would weigh 5kg? Would they be it too heavy for normal 1.5l sedan?

it IS! thats nearly 10kg for the wheel alone. mine are 7.3 each and i feel even thats too heavy for their size. anything around 5kgs would be ideal. its better to stick to 15"s for a car that size.

Pericles said:
Interesting stuff. Didn't really think it'll have that much difference, but good points.

i believe it makes a noticable difference. i adviced a friend to shop for lightweight wheels and he ended up fitting 5kg wheels to his 121. his car weighs 80 kilos more than mine but when we run i can't seem to shake him off even though we got the pretty much the same engine setup and almost similar gear ratios. and he confirmed the car feels quicker after the wheel swap.

shanX · January 31, 2010

JadeyBlitzen said:
it IS! thats nearly 10kg for the wheel alone. mine are 7.3 each and i feel even thats too heavy for their size. anything around 5kgs would be ideal. its better to stick to 15"s for a car that size.

15" it is

MasterDon · January 31, 2010

JadeyBlitzen said:
i believe it makes a noticable difference. i adviced a friend to shop for lightweight wheels and he ended up fitting 5kg wheels to his 121. his car weighs 80 kilos more than mine but when we run i can't seem to shake him off even though we got the pretty much the same engine setup and almost similar gear ratios. and he confirmed the car feels quicker after the wheel swap.

very true jadey...when i was in the market for a set of bigger alloys I tried on a normal 17" set and the car felt REALLY heavy...but after i got my current set which are lightweights,it is massively better...but it s still considerably heavier from the original smaller set.

seejaylk · April 3, 2010

hi...

Any idea about the price of low prof tires (205/50/16)...?

:unsure:

mirage7777 · April 3, 2010

i'm no expert --maybe the answer is the increase in weight.

but i think - it could be because the tyre grips the road more than normals. when it happens IMO - i think since there is more resistance for the vehicle to go forward [maybe initially -at a standstill only]-

came to this conclusion -when i changed from 13 to 15 - i installed low profiles - the tyres were picking up sand particle and splashing it against the mudguard - more than before.

Pericles said:
Quick question Don. Why less fuel efficiency? If the tire width and diameter stay the same, why would there be a difference?

Ralph · April 7, 2010

Guys,

adding 2 quick questions.

Currently I' running on 195/55/R15

Travelling 40% on rought roads (really uncomfortable) .

1. What is the best profile size for me ?

2.What will be the maximum profile size that I can go with out changing rim size.

Thanks In advance.

jerryda · April 8, 2010

Ralph said:
Guys,
adding 2 quick questions.

Currently I' running on 195/55/R15

Travelling 40% on rought roads (really uncomfortable) .

1. What is the best profile size for me ?

2.What will be the maximum profile size that I can go with out changing rim size.

Thanks In advance.

http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCalculator.asp

185/60R15 or 205/55R15.

jerryda · April 8, 2010

mirage7777 said:
i'm no expert --maybe the answer is the increase in weight.
but i think - it could be because the tyre grips the road more than normals. when it happens IMO - i think since there is more resistance for the vehicle to go forward [maybe initially -at a standstill only]-

came to this conclusion -when i changed from 13 to 15 - i installed low profiles - the tyres were picking up sand particle and splashing it against the mudguard - more than before.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/tec...e.jsp?techid=29