They can't keep getting bigger forever, can they? When will they start getting smaller?

8/24/2013 12:28:15 PM

The economy cars and fuel sippers still ride on 15-17" wheels. It isn't the 13" of the past, but I don't see them growing much. I also don't see much larger than 20s for standard production on most cars.

8/24/2013 12:43:08 PM

When the wheel well opening keeps getting bigger the rims will as well

8/24/2013 2:04:06 PM

not only are the wheels steadily getting bigger, but the sidewalls are still staying huge, so the overall diameter is getting bigger as well.

finding wide and short tires is becoming damn near impossible. i have very few 225/45/16s and 245/45/16s to choose from now among others

8/24/2013 5:39:57 PM

finding a 15" tire is damn near impossible

8/24/2013 7:05:14 PM

The entire reason for all this big wheel crap comes down to those fucking retarded European Pedestrian Crash regulations, that require there be open space between the hood and top of the engine. Since the front of the car usually looks chunkier as a result the auto designers enlarge the styling for the rest of the car, and that includes wheels/tires as well b/c otherwise they would look really small.

So thanks Obama you damn EU for this crap.

I honestly can't think of any car that comes stock on 15's anymore, outside of a Hyundai Accent/Chevy Spark, etc. 16's to 18's is the normal it seems.

8/26/2013 10:25:02 AM

that's wrong

8/26/2013 11:37:07 AM

No, it is (with the exception of sports cars). It's been stated by automotive designers for years.

8/26/2013 12:27:23 PM

cars were already getting bigger and wheel size was already being driven by consumers when the EU pedestrian laws passed

[Edited on August 26, 2013 at 12:34 PM. Reason : its driving design, but not preference for wheel size. that started before. ]

8/26/2013 12:33:51 PM

I bought a 245/50/R14 recently. Walmart said it wouldn't fit on their machine.

8/26/2013 5:25:05 PM

Really the only thing that matters is that are the rims big and do it ride good

8/26/2013 6:01:52 PM

The thing that frustrates me too is they haven't come up wins way to keep wheels light either. So we are just Rollin on 20s that weigh 34lbs trying to get better gas mileage all while pissing it away with giant wheels.

8/27/2013 6:33:18 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDWFs3_R49g

Best wheels ever

8/27/2013 11:48:18 AM

They can't be light, the avg nigger would just curb them p and crack the shit out of them

[Edited on August 27, 2013 at 6:14 PM. Reason : I'd like o see how those wheels old up with a large amount of g force going down a mountain]

8/27/2013 6:12:07 PM

^^^ It's pretty damn gay.

Quote :

"cars were already getting bigger and wheel size was already being driven by consumers when the EU pedestrian laws passed"

Well I do agree with that having a hand in where we are today. Part of this is also because of braking hardware which has gotten significantly larger across the board for most vehicles. Anything with rotors over 11" in diameter is gonna necessitate 16" (possibly even 17") wheels to get it all to fit. And with some sports cars equipped with 14-15" rotors, 20" wheels are practically required.

[Edited on August 28, 2013 at 9:37 AM. Reason : ^]

8/28/2013 9:37:38 AM

Brakes are probably the biggest driving force for larger wheels. Most cars still have a small gap between wheel and caliper on standard equipment. The cars are getting heavier and brake cooling is being taken away in favor of aerodynamics, so brake packages naturally get bigger to compensate. The sizes will probably plateau at 17" and 18" as the cars grow into the optional offerings of today and hybrids with regenerative braking become more prevalent.

9/8/2013 12:20:06 PM

As long as cars are getting bigger, the wheels will get bigger

It has nothing todo with how the front of the car looks or is shaped.

9/8/2013 1:02:06 PM

Want some cheese with that whine?


The model T had 21s

9/8/2013 3:57:49 PM

Carbon fiber 21s no less...

9/9/2013 11:13:13 AM

You cant lose with 22s

9/9/2013 12:09:39 PM