Wide wheels, whats the deal?

[Golf Houso]

Its been some time since I've been introduced to the concept of wide wheels, staggered fitments and low offsets on VAG cars but one question still remains... Do they actually do anything at all besides look fantastic?

I know they look great and allow to run a wider tire, but considering they are larger wouldn't they weigh more and reduce the performance of the vehicle? And then theres the issue of excessive stretch and other affiliated problems...
Am I the only person that thinks its all a bit mad :bluesbro:?

Now I'll go back to brood with my new 15x6's

[Mrk_Mickey]

If you're using widened wheels without too much stretch, I'd imagine a logical explanation to justify this would be that there is more tyre area gripping to the road which must give you better handling characteristics that come with wider tyres :)

As for stretch, although it can be considered dangerous by some (obviously not the drifters :eek:!) one of the ideas behind stretching is so that the tyre has less flex in its sidewall due to the sidewalls being pulled apart :) and of course because it looks fantastic it adds 20+ HP to your vehicle j:

[KI11Z]

. . . one of the ideas behind stretching is so that the tyre has less flex in its sidewall due to the sidewalls being pulled apart :) and of course because it looks fantastic it adds 20+ HP to your vehicle j:

also to fit the extra wide wheels+tyres into your guards and i believe somewhere overseas in wicked dub land that so long as the tread of your tyre is inside the arch its legal so they run rims wide with poke and stretch the tyre so that it stays legal :nana::moonie: (correct me if im wrong)

[DubSteve]

Am I the only person that thinks its all a bit mad :bluesbro:?

Yep.........

[ScienceVR6]

uber low offsets also have the effect of giving you a wider track. very good if you want a wider track, or think it feels like your car is going to fall over.

[malteser]

If you're using widened wheels without too much stretch, I'd imagine a logical explanation to justify this would be that there is more tyre area gripping to the road which must give you better handling characteristics that come with wider tyres :)

This is what I initially thought as well until I was told otherwise in a Physics lecture at uni. A smaller footprint should give more grip, as there's less surface area for the weight to be spread.

Try putting an eraser on a folder or something on the smaller side and see the angle at which it begins to move. Then try it with the broader side of the eraser and you'll see what I mean.

But, then a larger tyre will spread the heat around more so you'll get less wear. I'm sure there's a reason why car companies, F1 teams etc. run wider tyres...

My brain hurts now... :duh:

[WABIT]

If you're using widened wheels without too much stretch, I'd imagine a logical explanation to justify this would be that there is more tyre area gripping to the road which must give you better handling characteristics that come with wider tyres :)

As for stretch, although it can be considered dangerous by some (obviously not the drifters :eek:!) one of the ideas behind stretching is so that the tyre has less flex in its sidewall due to the sidewalls being pulled apart :) and of course because it looks fantastic it adds 20+ HP to your vehicle j:


also to fit the extra wide wheels+tyres into your guards and i believe somewhere overseas in wicked dub land that so long as the tread of your tyre is inside the arch its legal so they run rims wide with poke and stretch the tyre so that it stays legal :nana::moonie: (correct me if im wrong)


these comments are both 100% true (even the +20HP gain!!) :nana:
although the wider you bring the wheels out, the less of a turning circle you have

those quotes have all the answers you need mate :drinkbeer:

dom

[Water Boy]

Staggered offsets are cool... But im still not convinced :duh:

[thestu]

having wider wheels looks mint but it also puts a lot of strain on those lil wheel bearings...especially on the front and especially if the wheel has a large positive offset :(

[rayray086]

It's all about looking good really... factory had it right.

[Mrk_Mickey]

This is what I initially thought as well until I was told otherwise in a Physics lecture at uni. A smaller footprint should give more grip, as there's less surface area for the weight to be spread.

Try putting an eraser on a folder or something on the smaller side and see the angle at which it begins to move. Then try it with the broader side of the eraser and you'll see what I mean.

But, then a larger tyre will spread the heat around more so you'll get less wear. I'm sure there's a reason why car companies, F1 teams etc. run wider tyres...

My brain hurts now... :duh:

Dude, that's a very interesting point actually. I'd have never thought of this!
At the end of the day, there are heaps of variables in handling. Sidewall flex, tyre height, tyre width, comparison of wheel-to-wheel length to standard, blah blah blah. It's a lot to accomodate.

If my heavy lump of beautiful machinery let me use smaller tyre sizes for more stretch, I'd do it. It's the simple fact that my car's a fatty I have to get to that 86 load rating!!!

[ScienceVR6]

A wide tire, so i am told, has the samew contact area as a narrower tire (to a point) when the weight of the car is added. I narrow tire wil deform the sidwall and tread area, and lay out a square pattern on the ground. a wide tire won't deform as much, unless you run realy low pressures, and wil create a narrower, rectangle contect patch.

[zjm]

wider tyres generally have a larger contact area with correct pressure
and when it rains they have to pump out more water if it cant move it all youll start to float (aquaplane) and the lighter your car the worse it gets
eg polos mk1s and mk2s etc

[Mrk_Mickey]

this gives me very silly ideas......:D

[Bubu]

Also narrow tyres grip better over uneven surfaces. Rally cars dont use really wide tyres for that reason.

If you are after grip go for wider tyres! I have heard the example about weight over a given surface area and it is true.
Think of a woman wearing high heels or a football boot, they would sink into soft dirt/sand/mud easier than a flat shoe. But then think of the football player or woman in heels tying to walk up something smooth like a slippery slide at a childrens' playground.

So at then end of the day it depends on what type of road surface you drive on. Most of the time you have to come to a compromise between the two.

[Preen59]

Look, it's this simple..

Wide wheels are cool. Really cool.

And if you don't like wide wheels, then you're a deprived human being and your parents don't love you. :nana:

[GoLfMan]

Look, it's this simple..

Wide wheels are cool. Really cool.

And if you don't like wide wheels, then you're a deprived human being and your parents don't love you. :nana:

ohh AMEN BROTHER j: :bowdown:

[Mrk_Mickey]

Look, it's this simple..

Wide wheels are cool. Really cool.

And if you don't like wide wheels, then you're a deprived human being and your parents don't love you. :nana:


You just relayed the almighty wise words of God himself! :bowdown: j: