MOTORING NEWS - If you want to jazz up the appearance of your vehicle with an impressive set of wheels, Matthys Ferreira has some advice for you.
Many people in the after-market accessory industry admit that nothing truly uplifts the visual elements of a car like larger wheels.
The American motoring magazine Car & Driver conducted an interesting test. They compared the performance results of fitting wheels with the same design but different sizes (16/17/18/19 inches) and tyres on a Golf with that of the Golf’s standard wheels and tyres. With the heavy 19” setup, fuel consumption increased by 10 per cent, four per cent slower in acceleration, and it offered less lateral grip and comfort on the road.
It is also suggested by those in the know that higher-profile tyres are quieter, more comfortable, cheaper, more fuel efficient and will be less prone to aquaplaning.
15 things to consider when you want to fit larger wheels:
- Choose, fit and buy your wheels from a reputable supplier.
- Heavier and larger wheels can damage the suspension setup of your car if not properly paired.
- Know the pitch circle and diameter of your wheels when making enquiries with a supplier.
- Larger wheels will increase your fuel use and influence what is referred to as ‘rolling diameter’ (odometer readings).
- Road noise is determined by the tyre you fit.
- Alloy wheels are stronger and lighter than steel.
- You may not recover your investment when selling the car.
- Want to upsize? For cars, the general rule is 10mm larger than the standard wheel; and for bakkies, it is 20mm larger.
- Stretching your standard tyre over a larger rim is not advised – at all. In fact, it may well be illegal.
- On steel rims, pothole damage is easier to repair than on mag wheels.
- The correct tyre to fit will also be determined by your application, the roads you drive on and the comfort you require.
- Low- and medium-profile tyres do not provide the same comfort as standard tyres.
- The larger the rim you fit, the wider the tyre and lower the profile.
- It is possible to fit magnesium rims and tyres equal to the standard fit on the car.
- Watch the off-set of the wheel. Off-set refers to how the suspension responds to the wheel movements (angle and force transmitted from the wheel to the suspension).
Aesthetics
Aesthetics are personal and often influenced by current trends. Add this reality to the availability of a wide range of brands, design and styles, and you will realise that it is not as easy as you’d think to choose the right wheels for your car. It can be fun, though... The most popular upsize for cars is from 13” to 15” or 17” wheels.
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