What is the difference in tire sizes?
2 Answers
The differences in tire sizes can be summarized in two main aspects, as detailed below: 1. Distance variation: Larger tires cover more distance with each rotation of the connected drive shaft compared to smaller tires. Conversely, smaller tires cover less distance per rotation. 2. Traction difference: Larger tires have a greater contact area with the road surface, enhancing vehicle traction, while smaller tires have a smaller contact area, resulting in weaker traction. Automobile tires can be categorized into pneumatic tires and solid tires based on their structure. Most modern vehicles use pneumatic tires, which are further divided into high-pressure, low-pressure, and ultra-low-pressure tires based on internal air pressure. Low-pressure tires are commonly used across various vehicle types.
The original small tires on my city commuter car feel particularly smooth and fuel-efficient, with low noise levels, making long drives less tiring. However, after switching to larger-sized tires once, the visual appeal improved significantly, and the car's grip became stronger, giving me more confidence when turning. But the road bumps became noticeably more pronounced, especially over speed bumps where the vibration was intense, and fuel consumption increased, reducing the distance covered per tank by several dozen kilometers. My suggestion is to choose based on your typical driving conditions: if you mainly drive on highways, larger tires are suitable; for mostly urban driving with frequent traffic jams, smaller tires offer more comfort and cost-effectiveness. A significant difference in tire size can affect the suspension's lifespan, so avoid random upgrades.
