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What are the benefits of low profile tyres?
I often hear that low profile tyres are a silly fad, but in my limited experience I feel that the car actually is more responsive and steers better. The tyres may wear faster and generate more road noise, and the ride quality may be more jarring, but many perceptive drivers accept this as a small price to pay.
Asked on 16 June 2012 by RP, via email
Answered by
Honest John
In extreme cases, this is true. A Renaultsport Megane 265 is better on the track on 19-inch wheels than it is on 18-inch wheels and you wouldn't want a Porsche 911 991 on anything less than 295/30 R20s. But to put a Vauxhall Vectra on 19-inch tyres or a Ford Focus on 18-inch tyres is just ridiculous. And, as excellent as the Ford Mondeo may be, it doesn't handle as well on my favourite roads on 40 profile 18-inch tyres as my Mazda 5 1.6d did on 55 profile 16-inch tyres (as strange as that my seem).
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