Wheel Size
Mercedes Porsche Mechanic | Midtown Auto Repair | Services | Sacramento
P. 916.382.7700
As a maintenance auto shop, we are always going to tell you that one of the best ways to take care of your tires is to have them regularly rotated and rebalanced. However, one thing that we do not discuss as often as we should is the fact that the wheels you have on your vehicle have more of an impact than you think. Today we are going to talk about the pros and cons of different wheel sizes and which ones are best for your vehicle.
To begin, the bigger the wheels are the cooler it tends to look. The bigger the wheels the more aesthetically pleasing it is. There is just something about big wheels that makes it attractive. The benefit of this is that having big wheels on your vehicle can give you a better resale value when it comes time to sell. Larger wheels also offer better traction and more control on curves simply because there is more surface area grabbing the road and less give. The downside is that the larger the diameter of the wheel, the more difficult it is to meet the load requirements for a safe and reliable wheel. Bigger wheels can lead to unsprung weight and can cause excessive wear on the struts or shocks, bearings, spindles, and brake systems.
With smaller wheels your vehicle is going to get better mileage. They are also going to offer better acceleration because the vehicle does not have to work as hard to get them to turn. Sure, with bigger wheels your vehicle is able to hold onto the road better but when it comes to accelerating as fast as possible, smaller wheels are the way to go. However, keep in mind that with less rubber on the road that means longer braking distances, making for dicier quick stops.
When all is said and done, it is your vehicle and your preference. You can do whatever you want because your vehicle is yours. But if you are wondering what the best wheels are for your vehicle, the simple answer is the ones that it was designed for. When engineers build a vehicle and design the engine output and how everything works together, that also includes the wheel size. The ones that it comes with are the best ones for your vehicle, plain and simple.
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