Large wheels - good or bad?
Poll: Large wheels - good or bad?
Total Members Polled: 121
Discussion
I know, I know, I'm old school but am I alone in thinking large diameter wheels (I'm thinking 18" and above) actually look pretty crap, on the whole?
I realise there are inherent advantages to minimising tyre wall depth* but simply on aesthetics, I think a wheel completely filling a wheel arch makes it look like the vehicle is on stilts. It invariably looks awkward. That's not to say there aren't cars that don't suit it, but on the whole they're a pretty clumsy device.
I realise there are inherent advantages to minimising tyre wall depth* but simply on aesthetics, I think a wheel completely filling a wheel arch makes it look like the vehicle is on stilts. It invariably looks awkward. That's not to say there aren't cars that don't suit it, but on the whole they're a pretty clumsy device.
- although quite how useful those dynamic differences are on the road (as opposed to track), I question, not to mention the negative impacts they have on ride and I would think, by extension, handling or faith in pushing a car...
Aesthetically, large wheels often do look good but only up to a point. The trouble now seems to be that manufacturers (and aftermarket) seem to be trying to squeeze the largest wheels possible onto every car and they often look crap.
The only time I've ever tried a swap was going from 15" wheels to 13" on my Westfield. The car was miles better on the 13's and actually loooked a fair bit better too.
The only time I've ever tried a swap was going from 15" wheels to 13" on my Westfield. The car was miles better on the 13's and actually loooked a fair bit better too.
te on a Rover 200, but anything smaller on a modern car looks crap. As above, depends.
16" on my RZ looks right, I think anything bigger looks too big. I might change to 17" to get more choice of tyres, but I've seen a couple of pictures with 18" and they just look a bit ridiculous. Also a bit concerned because the car was designed with 16" wheels in mind, not too sure what effect bigger wheels would have.
On the other hand, my 159 looks OK on its standard 19" while the 17" wheels on other models look like castors. I suspect 18" is the right size for it.
16" on my RZ looks right, I think anything bigger looks too big. I might change to 17" to get more choice of tyres, but I've seen a couple of pictures with 18" and they just look a bit ridiculous. Also a bit concerned because the car was designed with 16" wheels in mind, not too sure what effect bigger wheels would have.
On the other hand, my 159 looks OK on its standard 19" while the 17" wheels on other models look like castors. I suspect 18" is the right size for it.
DrTre said:
I know, I know, I'm old school but am I alone in thinking large diameter wheels (I'm thinking 18" and above) actually look pretty crap, on the whole?
I realise there are inherent advantages to minimising tyre wall depth* but simply on aesthetics, I think a wheel completely filling a wheel arch makes it look like the vehicle is on stilts. It invariably looks awkward. That's not to say there aren't cars that don't suit it, but on the whole they're a pretty clumsy device.
I think it depends on the car in question. Big rims aren't the problem for me, over big ones that look horrid are though. But that's more a matter of taste and styling than actually saying all big rims look rubbish.I realise there are inherent advantages to minimising tyre wall depth* but simply on aesthetics, I think a wheel completely filling a wheel arch makes it look like the vehicle is on stilts. It invariably looks awkward. That's not to say there aren't cars that don't suit it, but on the whole they're a pretty clumsy device.
- although quite how useful those dynamic differences are on the road (as opposed to track), I question, not to mention the negative impacts they have on ride and I would think, by extension, handling or faith in pushing a car...
It really depends on the car. For me, the Mustang suits 20s and cries out for them but part and parcel of that is Ford's insistence on fitting high profile tyres that do nothing for the handling. Despite going from 8 x 17s to 9 and 10.5 x 20s, I can't say I've really noticed any deterioration in the ride or handling but then I chose light wheels. The other thing is that the Mustang is a style icon so dressing it up is part of the experience.
On the Golf, the stock 15s are fine. It might look better with bigger wheels but who cares, it's juts a Golf.
I was originally going to buy alloys for the Mondeo but the stock steelies and higher profile tyres actually make it a good wafter which is ideal for it's use.
On the Golf, the stock 15s are fine. It might look better with bigger wheels but who cares, it's juts a Golf.
I was originally going to buy alloys for the Mondeo but the stock steelies and higher profile tyres actually make it a good wafter which is ideal for it's use.
As others have said it depends on the car. PersonallyI thing the Audi A6 on its standard 16 or 17 inch wheels looks wrong, on 19 inch it looks much better. To my mind the wheels should fill the arch without making the car look like its on stilts. The problem is most manifest when big wheels are put on older cars, generally they look daft IMO
I voted "bad", mostly because I find that even when they are OE they often look too big. The car I think highlighted this for me was the previous Jag XK. The car is pretty and well proportioned but the wheels just look huge. Smaller wheels on the car would look worse because its been (I assume) designed around the big ones, but I still think it looks a bit like a (very pretty) surfboard wearing rollerskates.
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What is far worse is when someone fits huge aftermarket wheels which increase the car's ride height. That just looks daft.
What is far worse is when someone fits huge aftermarket wheels which increase the car's ride height. That just looks daft.
Engineer1 said:
Big wheels look ok with big brake discs, big wheels with small discs or worse yet drums just looks daft, as a rule of thumb if the centre of the wheel hides the brake then the wheel is too big.
Aesthetically, yes, but just as valid is the additiional air around the brakes to cool them.
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