Big Wheels < Small Wheels

Yummy ^ Vaguely Sad ^

Penis envy ^

Whatever is the opposite of penis envy.

Grotesque ^

Want to touch the lady ^

And then of course, the classics.

Mmmmm.

I may vomit.

I love big wheels. Must be a leftover from playing with hotwheels as a kid.

I'm digging all the NC Miata's I've seen with 18s and wide 35 series tires.

I'm with the OP, smaller is often better. It's funny how many people I come across who swear that larger wheels are the hot ticket for handling, even though most race cars still rock an appreciable sidewall.

The Scion is the best example of that above.

My truck restoration research is filled with 20+ on the 67-72 GM stuff. It looks absolutely ridiculous next to a nice 15" rallye wheel.

^Didn't GRM do a test showing the shorter, stiffer sidewall helped handling?

They plus-sized, if I remember correctly. If it's the BMW test, I think the 18s were best, the 19s a little worse and the 17s a little behind the 19s.

And as Tuna said, I really doubt the factories would run their race cars with too tall sidewalls just so they could use smaller than stock wheels.

What would be really interesting to see would be a, for example, 225/50/15 vs a 225/50/16 vs a 225/50/17 etc.

tuna55 wrote: The Scion is the best example of that above.

Where's the Scion?

DaewooOfDeath wrote: They plus-sized, if I remember correctly. If it's the BMW test, I think the 18s were best, the 19s a little worse and the 17s a little behind the 19s. And as Tuna said, I really doubt the factories would run their race cars with too tall sidewalls just so they could use smaller than stock wheels. What would be really interesting to see would be a, for example, 225/50/15 vs a 225/50/16 vs a 225/50/17 etc.

We did a similar test to what you're looking for. May 2012, page 125. https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/issues/details/194/

The shorter tire on a bigger wheel was better.

There are times when bigger IS better. Like:

Good

Unbelievably bad:

seems to me that take ground/brake clearance and looks out of the equation, and 98 percent of the time, smaller is better. Lower weight, lower cg. What's not to like?

I've thought about making two sets of quick release fenders for my next Locost. Run big, intimidating wheels and tires that look somewhat period correct for 50s race cars around town, then take them off and put on 13 x 10s for the track.

sethmeister4 wrote:

tuna55 wrote: The Scion is the best example of that above.

Where's the Scion?

Holy Crap that Genesis looks just like an FRS - oops

I tend to agree with the OP in many cases, but not universally...

I like 15's or 16's with massive rubber... I'm anti gangster I guess that's from growing up with mud trucks and farm implements.

HNNGGGGGGGGGGGGG Touring car fitment. LIKE

tuna55 wrote: I'm with the OP, smaller is often better. It's funny how many people I come across who swear that larger wheels are the hot ticket for handling, even though most race cars still rock an appreciable sidewall. The Scion is the best example of that above. My truck restoration research is filled with 20+ on the 67-72 GM stuff. It looks absolutely ridiculous next to a nice 15" rallye wheel.

Can't really compare like that, due to tire differences.

Swank Force One wrote: HNNGGGGGGGGGGGGG Touring car fitment. *LIKE*

This!

Nearly all cars look amazing like that.

Big Wheels will ALWAYS be cool.

z31maniac wrote:

Swank Force One wrote: HNNGGGGGGGGGGGGG Touring car fitment. *LIKE*

This! Nearly all cars look amazing like that.

I'l just go ahead and provide indisputable proof to this statement right now. It doesn't get any more concrete than this:

In reply to Swank Force One:

Want... Camry?

Swank Force One wrote:

z31maniac wrote:

Swank Force One wrote: HNNGGGGGGGGGGGGG Touring car fitment. *LIKE*

This! Nearly all cars look amazing like that.

I'l just go ahead and provide indisputable proof to this statement right now. It doesn't get any more concrete than this:

do not like

I tend to like relatively small wheels (16-18") and relatively high aspect ratios (45% or more).

However, if a car had big wheels with low-profile tires from the factory, and it's a well though-out part of its overall design, I think that can be good.

When I see a truck, or an old muscle car or cruiser with big wheels / low profile tires, it makes me want to vomit.

tuna55 wrote:

Swank Force One wrote:

z31maniac wrote:

Swank Force One wrote: HNNGGGGGGGGGGGGG Touring car fitment. *LIKE*

This! Nearly all cars look amazing like that.

I'l just go ahead and provide indisputable proof to this statement right now. It doesn't get any more concrete than this:

do not like

Your brain does not work the same way as mine

big wheels require big tires ( even if they're short) that all equals $$$$$$$ and #######'s

needless to say, but I hate um ...

I like the wheels which fit the tire I want to run.

tuna55 wrote:

sethmeister4 wrote:

tuna55 wrote: The Scion is the best example of that above.

Where's the Scion?

Holy Crap that Genesis looks just like an FRS - oops

I thought so, too. Weird.

In reply to nocones:

I like the wheels / tired fitted on that car, but WTF is supposed to be painted on the side? It looks like a big, coiled up white dog turd.