What are the effects of upgrading to larger wheels?
2 Answers
Upgrading to larger wheels mainly has the following impacts on a car: 1. When increasing the wheel size, the outer diameter generally remains unchanged, but it necessitates the use of tires with a lower aspect ratio. This improves tire grip and handling performance, but reduces comfort. Additionally, the rolling resistance of the tires increases, leading to higher fuel consumption. 2. It affects the annual vehicle inspection. The inspection requires the vehicle to remain in its factory condition, and upgrading the wheels and tires is considered a modification. In areas with strict regulations, passing the inspection can be difficult, and the original wheels may need to be reinstalled. 3. Improper wheel replacement can compromise safety. The center bore of the wheel is crucial—this is the large hole in the middle of the wheel. If the wheel's hub bore is too large, hub centric rings must be used to prevent wheel wobble at high speeds. Other factors like PCD (Pitch Circle Diameter) and offset are also important. If the offset is too large after replacement, it may cause friction with the car body.
I previously upgraded to larger rims on my own car mainly for aesthetics, but I noticed significant changes in driving dynamics. In the city, driving on uneven roads became much bumpier, with more body bounce and noticeably reduced comfort. With the original rims, the thicker tire sidewalls absorbed impacts better, but now with thinner tires, every speed bump feels painful, making long drives more fatiguing. Fuel consumption also increased slightly due to the heavier rims, and acceleration feels slower. Additionally, the speedometer might be inaccurate now, showing higher than actual speed—so be careful not to exceed speed limits. The most annoying part is faster tire wear; noticeable tread wear appeared after just about 10,000 kilometers. Unless you're specifically into car modifications, I'd recommend avoiding unnecessary upgrades to save money and hassle.
