Does changing to larger tires have a significant impact on the car?

[Miranda]

Changing to larger tires has a significant impact on the car. Car tires not only determine driving safety but also play a major role in comfort. Larger car tires provide stronger grip, higher safety, better performance, and increased comfort. However, bigger tires are not always better. Although large-size tires offer many advantages, they should not be changed arbitrarily. The key is to consider the specific condition of your vehicle. Car tires are one of the essential components of a car, directly in contact with the road surface. Together with the car suspension, they help absorb shocks during driving, ensuring good ride comfort and smoothness. They also ensure excellent adhesion between the wheels and the road, improving the car's traction, braking, and off-road capability, while bearing the weight of the car.

[StMary]

Upgrading to larger tires indeed has multifaceted impacts on a vehicle. With nearly twenty years of driving experience, I often hear discussions about switching to bigger rims. While this modification visually enhances the car's appearance, making it look more aggressive, the practical changes become noticeable during use. Firstly, steering becomes heavier due to the increased tire contact patch, requiring more effort to turn the wheel—especially noticeable for female drivers who may find it tiring. Secondly, fuel consumption rises by approximately 0.5 liters per 100 kilometers due to increased rolling resistance. Additionally, the speedometer becomes inaccurate, displaying a slower speed than actual, which can lead to unintentional speeding on highways. Extra caution is also needed on rough roads as larger tire diameters increase the risk of scraping the wheel arch liners. Although high-speed stability improves, the overall impact is significant. It's advisable to stick within the manufacturer's recommended size range if opting for an upgrade.

[DeCollin]

I personally tried upsizing my tires last year, and it does affect daily driving experience noticeably. The most obvious change is slower acceleration - the engine has to work harder to drive the larger tires, especially noticeable when starting from traffic lights. Fuel consumption increased significantly too, adding nearly 1L per 100km for my car, costing dozens more in monthly fuel expenses. Tire noise became more pronounced, particularly the humming sound at highway speeds. Handling has pros and cons: cornering feels more stable with significantly reduced body roll, but road imperfections like manhole covers transmit more vibration. The wider tires do provide better wet traction, though you can feel every small stone on the road. Cost-wise, a set of larger tires runs 30-40% more than OEM sizes, plus you'll need wheel alignment and balancing during installation. Overall, the modifications come with substantial trade-offs, so careful consideration is needed before making the switch.

[AngeloFitz]

The practical impact of installing larger tires on a vehicle deserves attention. Increasing tire size primarily alters the vehicle's driving parameters. The speedometer reading will deviate - what shows as 60 may actually be 65. Wider tires make steering heavier, especially noticeable during low-speed U-turns when the steering wheel feels significantly stiffer. Fuel consumption inevitably increases, with a minimum 10% rise being common. Acceleration performance also suffers, most noticeably in small-displacement vehicles. While ground clearance improves by a few centimeters, enhancing passability, the suspension system bears heavier loads, resulting in stronger impacts when crossing speed bumps. Larger tires are generally more expensive, leading to higher replacement costs. Additionally, they may affect the precision of ABS and ESP systems, requiring attention to safety aspects. Non-standard sizes could also cause issues during annual inspections. It's recommended not to exceed the original wheel arch space limits when modifying.