What are the pros and cons of 21-inch wheels?
3 Answers
Wheels, also known as rims, steel rings, or hubs, are cylindrical metal components that support the tire from the inside and are mounted centrally on the axle. The pros and cons of 21-inch wheels are as follows: Pros: The wheel diameter is longer, the aspect ratio is lower, and the steering becomes lighter, providing better road feel and handling. Cons: Reduced comfort, overly sensitive steering that can easily veer off when encountering uneven roads; excessively wide tires make the car particularly unstable on rough roads, increasing the risk of rim scratches; the tires are too thin, making driving over manhole covers feel like there's no suspension, resulting in significant tire noise; and fuel consumption will greatly increase.
I upgraded to 21-inch wheels purely for aesthetics, but the actual experience has been quite mixed. High-speed cornering feels rock solid, like the car is glued to the road, and braking distances are shorter—especially noticeable when driving on mountain roads where steering precision improves significantly. The downsides? Even going over a manhole cover makes me nervous; the tire sidewalls are so thin I'm always worried about bulges. Once, I ran over a fist-sized rock and instantly ruined two tires—4,000 RMB gone in a blink. Road noise is also noticeably louder, forcing me to crank up the music on highways. After the upgrade, I had to adjust the suspension, or else the ride became unbearably bumpy. Parking requires extra caution to avoid curbs, and even car wash attendants hesitate to use machines on the wheels.
As a car owner who frequently takes family trips, the 21-inch wheels have indeed been a headache. Although they provide better stability at high speeds, I have to slow down to a crawl every time I go over speed bumps, and complaints from the kids in the back seat still follow. The tire aspect ratio is too low, and even the seams in the asphalt road are clearly transmitted to the seats, causing backaches after long drives. The cost of replacing tires is also shocking—tires of the same brand cost nearly twice as much as 19-inch ones, with four tires amounting to half a month's salary. Once, when I had a nail puncture, the repair shop said they didn’t dare to patch it and directly told me to buy a new tire. The tire noise is particularly annoying too, with a loud clattering sound when the windows are open, giving me a headache.
