What are the effects of increasing tire diameter?
3 Answers
The effects of increasing tire diameter include: 1. Reduced tire grip, leading to slipping on wet roads; 2. Increased likelihood of tire deformation, causing uneven wear; 3. Impact on offset distance and vehicle suspension; 4. Dulled handling response and decreased steering precision. The functions of tires are: 1. To protect automotive components from severe vibrations and premature damage, adapt to high-speed performance, and reduce driving noise; 2. To support the entire weight of the vehicle, bear the load, and transmit forces and moments in other directions; 3. To transmit traction and braking torque, ensuring good adhesion between the wheel and the road surface, thereby improving the vehicle's power, braking, and off-road capabilities.
Last time I replaced my car tires with a larger diameter model, I encountered some unexpected issues. Initially, I thought it would look cooler, but in reality, the speedometer became inaccurate; when it showed 60 km/h, the actual speed might exceed 65 km/h, which made me a bit worried about speeding tickets. Acceleration also slowed down, especially when starting from traffic lights—the engine had to work harder, and fuel consumption increased a bit, reducing the distance I could travel on a full tank. Additionally, the suspension system seemed to wear out more, and the tires wore down faster. A mechanic friend mentioned that oversized tires might affect braking distance. Now I’ve learned that before changing tires, it’s best to check the car manufacturer’s manual—matching the right size is key. Don’t make the same mistake I did by focusing only on appearance.
As a car enthusiast who frequently engages in racing, I'm accustomed to tinkering with car parts. After switching to larger diameter tires, the handling immediately changed. There's a noticeable boost in the sense of speed, with the actual speed exceeding the displayed speed by 5-10%, making straight-line driving more exhilarating. However, the downsides are evident: reduced agility in corners, noticeable body sway, sluggish acceleration requiring extra engine effort, leading to a roughly 5% increase in fuel consumption. I also observed that the odometer undercounts distance, affecting maintenance intervals. If you're fond of this modification, it's highly recommended to upgrade the suspension system to balance safety and performance.
