Is Wider Better

…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…

…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…

…tire is smaller, which will reduce traction and handling. For a better understanding, read "Air Pressure - Correct, Underinflated and Overinflated." Where is that sweet spot? There are a couple areas that I see confusion set in when dealing with this topic. The first is that 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…

…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…

…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…

…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…

"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…

…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…

…therefore stopping distances on ice and snow can actually be longer than their two-wheel drive brethren. This is where a good set of winter tires can make all the difference. To gain a better understanding of why four-wheel drive isn't all you need this winter, read "Why Electronic Drivers'…