Tyre upsizing is a fairly standard procedure especially if the tyres that are supplied by the carmaker don’t suit the customers wants or needs. In reality, many enthusiasts immediately take their new car to a tyre dealer for upgrading. Some do so to increase aesthetics, while others do so to change the dynamics of driving, especially cars in Malaysia that have to go through unpredictable weather and road conditions.
While tyre upsizing gives a vehicle a bold stance, it also provides performance disadvantages even though there’s the joy of a resolute appearance. Therefore, before upsizing their tyres, vehicle owners may want to consider several factors such as price and the effect it has on car performance.
By mounting tyres with a greater diameter on wheels of the same size or larger, up-sizing means moving away from the manufacturer-recommended tyre size. Up-sizing affects the speedometer, meaning it allows the vehicle’s computer to be reprogrammed. Additionally, the wheel assembly is weighted down by bigger tyres, which can affect fuel economy and put undue stress on the powertrain and brakes. Up-sized tyres may also rub the wheel well, brake callipers, or vehicle frame if designed or mounted improperly, potentially wearing down any sections they grind against.
Benefits of Upsizing
1. Better grip
Simply put, upsizing implies installing the car with wider tyres which enables the car to have a larger contact patch with the road. This allows for a better distribution of the car’s weight to make the car more planted, particularly at high speeds.
2. Better braking
Reliable braking will make all the difference between a safe and an ill-fated journey. Thanks to their more gripping nature, wider tyres help to bring the car to a stop in a shorter distance and shorter time. This way, even in situations that require you to press hard on the brakes, you can keep your loved ones safe.
3. Better cornering capability
A thumb rule for upsizing is that the associated sidewall height needs to be decreased with the increase in tyre width to maintain the centre of gravity. In contrast to low profile tyres, tyres with tall sidewalls produce more flex. When turning a corner at high speeds, this could result in the car feeling shaky. By providing better traction due to a wider contact patch and lower sidewall, upsizing reduces the issue with flexing.
Suspension plays a vital role in the car being cornered. And when the car is going at high speed, wider tyres appear to have slimmer sidewall flex that helps the driver to corner better.
4. Overall Control
Concerning its balance, stability and traction, tyre upsizing increases the overall performance of a vehicle. For vehicles that have an understeering or oversteering nature, this may prove to be an advantage since wider tyres help the driver balance the vehicle properly, thereby making driving safe and secure.
5. Customization & Curb Appeal
A common trend among truck drivers is bigger tyres, typically followed by bigger rims and higher suspension. Although some people want the off-road benefits that come with wider tyres, the big wheels are just about style points sometimes. One way to customize the look and sound of your driving equipment is to change your tyre size.
Downside of Upsizing
1. Reduced fuel economy
Although wider tyres give more traction, your car’s fuel economy is affected by them. The more gripping nature of improved tyres leads to greater rolling resistance (resistant tyre rolling force), which takes more engine revolutions to put the car into motion. All this contributes to a rise in fuel consumption, and the impact of stop-start traffic will be even more pronounced.
2. Heavier steering feel
Cars with upgraded tyres are more likely to have heavier steering. In certain circumstances, this is due to the additional weight of larger tyres and even wider wheels. This could change the accuracy of your steering, thus affecting the characteristics of handling.
3. Bumpy ride quality
Upsized tyres typically have a lower sidewall and the reduced sidewall height makes it less efficient for tyres to withstand undulations and bumps, resulting in passengers having a bumpier journey. This is why passenger car manufacturers abstain from using low-profile tyres on their vehicles.
4. Damage to wheel arches
A lot of upgraded tyres tend to stick out of the arches of their wheels. Such tyres sometimes end up reaching the wheel arches over bumps and potholes, although they can look cool to others. There’s also a concern that while driving, these oversized tyres rub against the kerb.
5. Wrong Speedometer Reading
Incorrectly done, tyre upsizing can influence the reading in the speedometer of your vehicle. In selecting the correct tyre to upsize, car owners must exercise caution. Tyre experts suggest that tyres be upsized proportionately; that is, the increase in tyre width should be similarly proportionate to the decrease in the sidewalls of the tyre. If the diameter of the upgraded tyres is greater than that of the original tyres, many other modern systems such as ABS, ETC, ESP and TPMS can affect the reading of the velocity meter and hinder output.
Suspension plays a vital role in the car being cornered. And when the car is going at high speed, wider tyres appear to have slimmer sidewall flex that helps the driver to corner better.
6. Higher Cost
Depending on factors such as the type of vehicle and tyres used, tyre upsizing can be a costly proposition for others. Larger wheels and tyres, though, in general, mean further costs for the owner of the vehicle.
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