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Are wide tires better than narrow?

Viknesh Vijayenthiran

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Vik is an Editor at High Gear Media and contributor for a number of sites within the High Gear Media network. He was a co-founder of... More

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Are wide tires better than narrow?

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Most would immediately assume that the widest piece of rubber you can wrap around your wheels is the ideal choice but according to research conducted by Germany’s ADAC regulatory body, the answer depends on your personal expectations. Either tire has its own advantages and disadvantages and is optimally suited for different driving styles.

The ADAC used a Kia Cee’d with five different tire combinations, examining brake and handling on wet surfaces, aquaplaning and behavior on dry roads. Other issues examined included comfort, noise and rolling resistance.

The key finding is what we’ve known all along, wide tires show their strength on both wet and dry surfaces. In brake tests from 100km/h, the wide tires improved stopping distances by 5.2m. However, aquaplaning occurs at a speed of 69km/h for wide tires as opposed to 80km/h with the narrower tires. Narrower tires were also better for comfort and lower noise.

The end result is that wide tires offer better handling performance at the expense of comfort and economy.