Low Profile Tires - For Looks Or Performance Or Both - By: Gregg Hall

Every where you look these days it seems you will see a certain type of tire more and more. A lot of people want a sporty, racer look to their vehicle and just the sound of the words 'low profile tires' impart sentiments of intense and speedy to mind. But do you actually know what low profile tires really are, and are they the most effective option for your particular automobile? You might just find that there's a lot more to consider in regards to your vehicle's tires than just appearance.

The low profile variety are more distinguishable than their higher counterparts, being lower and wider than high-profile tires, but the thing to remember is that when you are moving down a highway at 80 miles an hour, looks aren't as important as performance and safety. Considering the fact that all that's keeping your automobile on the road is four pieces of rubber adding up to a square approximately the size of a pizza box, good tires are a crucial consideration.

What matters in a tire is the amount of contact and grip your car has between the tire rubber and the road. Higher-profile tires have a longer and narrower contact patch with asphalt, whereas low profile tires have a contact patch that is broader, but shorter. So what does all that mean for you and your vehicle in plain English? Essentially,it means that your car will handle and perform differently on the road with these types of tires. Cars with wider tires have more cornering force, while higher tires have the distinct disadvantage of not being capable of deflecting side loads and the steering of the car is not as responsive in curves.

Another reward that comes with low profile tires, besides cornering force, is that the rubber uses less of the overall diameter of the wheel and tire, which signifies that the wheel itself can be bigger. What this means for you, as a driver is that bigger wheels means bigger brakes, and stopping ability is a crucial thing to have when you're driving fast.

Of course, as with anything there are disadvantages to installing these on your car. A vehicle that was configured with a narrower tire in mind will not be nearly as stable with low profile tires installed on it. In addition, wider tires with shorter sidewalls incline to have a rougher ride on bumps in the road, and virtually seem to look for out the worst parts of the road. A harsh ride isn't just tough on riders; it's also hard on the tires and your automobile.
Just about everyone today drives on straight highways and they don't require the additional cornering force that low profile tires provide. However, if you reside in a region that has a lot of tight turns and necessitates enhanced control, low profile tires could just be what you are looking for in tire load capacity and handling features of your vehicle. In any case it all comes down to a personal decision.

About the Author

Gregg Hall is an author living with his beautiful wife and family in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about tires as well as tires and wheels at http://www.tiresandwheelsdirect.com

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