Are Wider Tires Better? Wide tires vs. narrow tires

Considering factors affecting a car’s performance, you can not ignore the important role of tires. Needless to say, high-standard and suitable tires can make your ride smoother and safer. 

As there are different types of tires, it is not an easy task at all to choose the one that suits your car best. Which one should you opt for between a wide tire and a narrow one.

Wide tires do not fit all types of cars. If you do not realize the pros and cons of wider tires, you may buy inappropriate tires and end up wasting money for nothing.

Are Wider Tires Better? 

Wide tires vs. narrow tires – which one is better? It is not easy to answer the question as wide or narrow tires have both advantages and disadvantages. The answer may vary due to different driving conditions or car types. 

If you often drive under extreme conditions in the winter, narrow tires are perfect options. On dry or rough roads, wide tires perform better than narrow ones.

You also have to trade off something when changing to larger tires for some car types. As tire width goes with suspension, you need to modify your suspension. Otherwise, wider tires may not ensure your safety on the road.  

If you insist on upsizing your tires, you can follow the suggestion. You can safely upsize your tires 20mm wider than your stock on the original rim. Note that you should ask the mechanic when upsizing the tires to ensure larger tires work well with your car.

Benefits Of Wide Tires 

Better Traction & Gripping

If you expect better traction, you must ensure a wider contact area or put more pressure per square inch on the road. On the other hand, this type offers better traction and grip as they can make up for a broader contact area compared to narrow ones. 

Conversely, an increase in contact area can result in lower force onto the road surface – narrow tires can gain an advantage over wide ones regarding traction and grip on the road surface.

Overall, both tires have their plus point and minus point. You can decide which one you choose based on the type of road. If you drive on a dry road, wide tires offer more grip than the other. 

Enhanced Cornering

Another bonus point of wide tires is superior road handling and cornering. Wider tires have stiffer sidewalls and better thread; therefore, they can minimize vehicle roll-in corners. 

Sporty Appearance

Many people love wider tires as they make the car look sporty and strong. With the bigger tires, your car can steal attention on every road.

Disadvantages Of Wide Tires 

Before picking wider tires, you should consider some drawbacks here:

Consuming More Fuel 

The less friction a car generates, the less steering effort it makes. With less steering effort, cars need less fuel. However, wider tires tend to produce more fuel than narrow ones, so cars with wide tires consume more fuel. 

Wider or thick tires make the car heavier, leading to a heavy engine workload. When the engine works more, more fuel is needed. 

More Difficult To Steer

Wider tires have larger contact areas so they can cause difficulty in steering and handling. Every sharp turn takes you more time to steer and return to the center.

More Time for Acceleration

The wide tire is not a good choice if you prefer quick acceleration. Wider tires add more weight to your car, which decreases the car’s acceleration. When you want to accelerate your car, you will wait longer. 

Tires Worn Quickly 

A tire’s longevity depends on the way the brake works. The wider tires put more pressure on the braking system. Under pressure, the brake has to work more, leading to a decrease in tires’ durability. 

Arising Speedometer Error

Changing tires can influence a car’s embedded technology and especially its accuracy. For example, there is an error arising with the speedometer reading. The case does not happen too often, but it causes trouble for users. 

Safety System Affected

Upsizing tires can impact other electronic safety aids in your car, such as ABS, EBD, or traction controller. These devices may become less accurate. Sometimes, you may have some problems like delayed notifications. 

Not Cost-efficient

Larger tires are more expensive to be installed. In addition, their longevity is shorter than the narrow ones. You will have to replace tires more frequently, which costs you more.

Frequently Asked Questions 

What happens if I put wider tires on my car?

Do not use tires that are too wide for your car. Otherwise, the wheels will bulge in the middle of the tread. As the tires may rub on the fender or suspension components, this may lead to damage. 

Do bigger tires affect torque?

The answer is no. Tire diameter is independent of engine torque. Although changing the gear impacts the torque at the wheels, tire size will not affect a car’s torque. 

Do bigger tires give a smoother ride?

The answer is yes. The large low-profile tires are a good companion during your journey. They can bring you a smooth driving experience when you drive a car through a dip or bump on the road. 

The wide tires perform well even in wet driving conditions, as they have sipes that trap or remove water from the contact surface so the car can run stably and handle well on wet surfaces. 

Final Thoughts

Get the wide tires if you prioritize aesthetic appearance and better grip, traction, or cornering performance. 

Make sure to consider safety at the very first before making a decision. It is suggested that you ask for advice from mechanics to know which tire suits your car best