Point of large tire on small wheel? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

chuckclanton · 03-24-2014, 06:34 AM

So.....Why does one put a larger than intended tire on a specific wheel? Example: 315mm on a 10in wheel. Seems one should pick the tire size first and then determine the best wheel size! However most are stuck with the wheels they have. Since the wheel and alignment determines the effective use of the tire, why ask more of the wheel than it can deliver! 11.5 in.tread width on a 10 in wide wheel still only gets you about 10 in of useful tread on the road, and probably puts the sidewall of the tire at a less than optimum angle! Of course the exception is truck and SUV tires as they need smaller wheels for the larger aspect ratios. Sidewall rollover due to too large of a tire on a wheel does not do good things for handling. Maybe in drag racing, on rear tires one could get a "slick effect" if the aspect ratio was large enough. If a Manufacturer recommended: 10,10.5,11.0 wheel width, I would use 10.5 or 11.0!

Trob85 · 03-24-2014, 07:45 AM

A lot of people don't know how to chose the right tire so that might be a factor. But it's a million different reasons rather it be that's all they could afford, they already had them laying around, or they're trying to get the most contact area on the road. And there are a ton of options out there even though it's recommended for an 11in (for example) wheel most manufacturers, like nitto, give a max and min wheel width. So a tire that's optimum for 11in wheels can also fit 10.5-12in wheels.

Denis · 03-24-2014, 08:01 AM

how wold one determine the recomended size tire for the size wheels?

2014CamaroZL1 · 03-24-2014, 09:00 AM

Look on the Tire Rack web site under a given tire size and it tells you the acceptable range of wheel widths.

ClawSS · 03-24-2014, 09:10 AM

And to throw the discussion sideways, Invo 315 is "narrower" than a Michelin PSS 315. Seems not all mm are the same mm.

Kent2010 · 03-24-2014, 09:39 AM

You blew right by the answer in your original post -- "stuck with the wheels they have". For a lot of us, tires wear out and must be replaced, but throwing down an extra $1000-$3000 for a new set of wheels is just not happening.

Also, there are those who are willing to give up ultimate handling for the look of a larger tire. the fact that nothing is gained in "useful" tread on the road, or that the sidewall is at "less than an optimal angle" is a tradeoff some are willing to make, especially on a purely street driven car.

The truth is: a LOT of what we do to our cars is for cosmetic purposes only -- should it really be THAT surprising that ths also holds true for tire decisions?

03-24-2014, 06:34 AM	#1
chuckclanton Drives: 2021 Camaro 2LT Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Mesquite, Nv. Posts: 490	Point of large tire on small wheel? So.....Why does one put a larger than intended tire on a specific wheel? Example: 315mm on a 10in wheel. Seems one should pick the tire size first and then determine the best wheel size! However most are stuck with the wheels they have. Since the wheel and alignment determines the effective use of the tire, why ask more of the wheel than it can deliver! 11.5 in.tread width on a 10 in wide wheel still only gets you about 10 in of useful tread on the road, and probably puts the sidewall of the tire at a less than optimum angle! Of course the exception is truck and SUV tires as they need smaller wheels for the larger aspect ratios. Sidewall rollover due to too large of a tire on a wheel does not do good things for handling. Maybe in drag racing, on rear tires one could get a "slick effect" if the aspect ratio was large enough. If a Manufacturer recommended: 10,10.5,11.0 wheel width, I would use 10.5 or 11.0!

03-24-2014, 07:45 AM	#2
Trob85 Svt lol Drives: 2011 ss inferno orange blown Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Topeka Posts: 2,312	A lot of people don't know how to chose the right tire so that might be a factor. But it's a million different reasons rather it be that's all they could afford, they already had them laying around, or they're trying to get the most contact area on the road. And there are a ton of options out there even though it's recommended for an 11in (for example) wheel most manufacturers, like nitto, give a max and min wheel width. So a tire that's optimum for 11in wheels can also fit 10.5-12in wheels. __________________ plasti dip is not a mod.......and a cold air intake doesn't make you fast!

03-24-2014, 08:01 AM	#3
Denis Drives: 2010 SS Join Date: May 2012 Location: Yorktown Heights, NY Posts: 7,695 View My Garage	how wold one determine the recomended size tire for the size wheels? __________________

03-24-2014, 09:10 AM	#5
ClawSS High-tech Redneck Drives: '10 CGM SS, '02 2500HD, '09 300SRT8 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 757	And to throw the discussion sideways, Invo 315 is "narrower" than a Michelin PSS 315. Seems not all mm are the same mm. __________________ "My friends call me Chris. Are you my friend?" 2010 CGM L99 2SS/RS - GPI SS3 VVT, BTR DoD Delete, Circle D 4c, BTR springs, Katech C5R Timing Chain, MRR-228 315/275, CAI, Elite catch-can, TSP 1 7/8" Headers + offroad pipes, Magnaflow 3", Pfadt springs, BMR LCAs, toelinks, trailing arms, cradle bushings, & sway bars w/ endlinks, Vitesse paddles, heritage grille, and an eBay splitter. Power upgrades by Race Proven Perf.; Tuning by ShorTuning.

03-24-2014, 09:00 AM	#4
2014CamaroZL1 Drives: 2014 CRT ZL1 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Central NJ Posts: 712	Look on the Tire Rack web site under a given tire size and it tells you the acceptable range of wheel widths.

03-24-2014, 09:39 AM	#6
Kent2010 Drives: Camaro SS Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 188	You blew right by the answer in your original post -- "stuck with the wheels they have". For a lot of us, tires wear out and must be replaced, but throwing down an extra $1000-$3000 for a new set of wheels is just not happening. Also, there are those who are willing to give up ultimate handling for the look of a larger tire. the fact that nothing is gained in "useful" tread on the road, or that the sidewall is at "less than an optimal angle" is a tradeoff some are willing to make, especially on a purely street driven car. The truth is: a LOT of what we do to our cars is for cosmetic purposes only -- should it really be THAT surprising that ths also holds true for tire decisions?