Can You Put Bigger Car Tyres on Your Vehicle?
Many people have a curiosity about fitting bigger tyres in their vehicles. But is it possible to do? Well, it depends on a bunch of factors. Before you buy that new set of wheels, there are a few things you should know about fitting bigger tyres Radstock on your car.
While there are many benefits to having bigger tyres, potential buyers should consider how bigger tyres can affect their vehicle’s stability, fuel economy, safety, and speedometer accuracy, among other important pros and cons of using bigger tyres.
Bigger Tyres or Bigger Wheels: What Should You Choose?
We always recommend that you follow your manufacturer’s recommendations for tyre selection and sizing. However, some drivers choose to slightly deviate from their vehicle’s original tyre and wheel size for aesthetic and performance reasons.
Plus-sizing
The most common reason for upgrading to plus-size tyres is for stylistic choice. Our expert technicians can give you guidance on whether and how your vehicle’s tyres should be plus-sized. But, most of the time, this is only done for a stylistic choice.
Up-Sizing
Up-sizing involves deviating from the manufacturer-recommended tyre size by fitting tyres larger in diameter on wheels that are the same size or bigger. Increasing the size of the tyres can impact the speedometer and require reprogramming the vehicle’s computer.
Using larger tyres will weigh down the wheel assembly, which may affect the fuel economy and put unnecessary stress on the powertrain and brakes. If you installed it incorrectly, up-sized tyres may also rub the wheel well, vehicle frame or brake callipers, leading to wearing down any parts they grind against.
What Happens When You Put Bigger Tyres on Your Car?
As we said earlier, the best you can do is to follow your vehicle manufacturer’s guidelines for tyre selection and sizing as right-sized tyres support stability and performance. If you want to change your tyres from their original size, ensure that the new tyres meet or exceed your vehicle’s load-carrying capacity at the ideal inflation pressure.
Check before that the larger tyres you want to fit in your car are compatible with your wheels and rim size and that they don’t rub against the sides of the wheel well or callipers.
Pros & Cons of Bigger Tyres on Trucks & SUVs
PRO: Increased Clearance
The most common benefit of using larger tyres is the extra ground clearance it creates between your car underneath and the ground. This is important for off-road enthusiasts who need that extra ground clearance in rough terrain.
More ground clearance also helps drivers see farther, both on and off the road. Upgrading the tyre size can mean fighting bigger tyres, such as 40-inch tyres adding a few extra inches of diameter.
CON: Added Costs & Adjustments
Up-sizing your truck tyres is not an easier job than just installing larger tyres on the wheels. In some cases, you will have to install new wheels that must be compatible with your larger tyres.
If the tyres you want are too big for your wheel well, you may have to install a lift or levelling kit to make more space for them, which could affect your vehicle’s wheel alignment in the future.
While new rims and lift kits are often a desirable and popular addition to bigger tyres, they also represent extra costs that you must consider in your decision.
Using a set of bigger tyres means you need to change both the speedometer and possibly the tyre pressure target data to accurately show the correct speed, the corresponding correct miles driven and any target PSI changes with your new wheels.
You don’t need to change much with the TPMS besides swapping in the new wheels and relearning positions. Some vehicles allow access to the Electronic Control Module (ECM) to change the tyre size in the computer so it shows on the odometer and speedometer.
PRO: Better Off-Road Performance
Some people think that because bigger tyres result in higher ground clearance, and offer better off-road handling. With deeper and broader treads on tyres that can girp uneven terrain and lose terrain, max traction tyres are tough enough to go wherever the trail takes you.
CON: Lower Fuel Economy
Using bigger tyres will definitely lower your vehicle’s fuel economy. Bigger more and more aggressive tyres are best for backcountry trails but can be noisy and inefficient on urban roads. A deeper and wider tread can increase your vehicle’s rolling resistance, which means your car has to burn more fuel to generate extra power to overcome the stickiness of all that extra traction.
PRO: Customisation & Curb Appeal
Bigger tyres usually go along with bigger rims and higher suspension, which are a popular trend among truck drivers. While some people want to off-roading benefits that come with bigger tyres, sometimes the big wheels are all about styling. Changing your tyre size is one way to customise the look and feel of your vehicle.
CON: Potential Voided Warranty
Apart from style points, some manufacturers will advise against increasing your vehicle tyre sizes. Some manufacturers will even void your vehicle warranty if you modify your suspension with larger Continental Tyres Radstock and a lift kit.