Is Wider Better

…a skinnier rim protects even further. What is the advantage of choosing a wider wheel? What if you haven't had bad luck with scuffed rims in the past or rarely have to parallel park? From a performance standpoint. you're better off picking a wider rim because it gives you a slightly larger…

…car or truck. Is wider better? Often times, it is. We have found that many vehicles can benefit from an increase in tire width. In the post, "Wider Tires on Your BMW 3 Series?", we discussed options for upgrading tires to a wider size on this popular sports sedan. Using a wider size on the…

…Better winter traction from a narrower rear tire * Ability to rotate the tires for longer wear * Simplicity of installation with all four tires being the same * Generally a lower price in a more common front tire size Advantages to a staggered set-up: * Better straight-line dry traction from a wider…

…tread design. It depends on how much water has to be removed, how much weight is pressing down on the tires and how efficient the tread design is at evacuating water. While deeper water, higher speeds, lighter vehicles, wider tires, less tread depth and less efficient tread designs will cause tires…

…then the car goes faster, is safer, and has better ride quality. Shock absorbers play a key role in a suspension's function and have a large impact on the car's overall handling and ride quality. Although called "shock absorbers," a better term is "dampers" as their job is to damp or control the car…

"Why does Tire Rack recommend narrower tires for winter use?" It's all about physics. Wider tire sizes have to plow through the snow which causes more resistance and a tendency to float. A narrower option, with a smaller contact patch, has more weight per square inch that helps the tire…

…how a particular wheel style and finish will work with your vehicle's color. Speaking of color, the black painted Monarch is painted flat black. You can get a better idea of how flat by comparing its finish with a gloss black wheel like the HRE P47 (on the right): I can see the Monarch as a good…

…but the Toyo Proxes RA888 provides slightly better grip than the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup and a little bit of a better value. The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup's main advantage is more consistent grip from lap to lap, therefore it may be the better choice for a longer event. Toyo Proxes RA1s are…

…tires become more responsive as their tread depth wears away (which is why tires are shaved for competition and track use), a tire will become more likely to tramline as it wears. Wheels can influence tramlining as well. Installing wider tires or a "Plus Size" tire and wheel package usually requires…

…is the wheels. Prius c One, Two and Three come with 15" steel wheels and hubcaps. Has drabness from those plain wheel covers caused your eyes to wander over to our Upgrade Garage? Unfortunately, the 175/65-15 Original Equipment Bridgestone Turanza EL400-02 won't accommodate any wheels wider…