Are bigger wheels good for your car? Or just all show but no go?

A simple way to give your car a fresh look is to fit it with a set of new wheels. It is the easiest form of “modification” and window shopping the right fit for your car can be fun. While the design/pattern of the wheel is subject to individual taste, one common “upgrade” is to go for wheels with a bigger diameter.

Bigger wheels are aesthetically pleasing and give the car a more athletic look. Even manufacturers seem to agree to this and fit bigger wheels on range-topping variants. If the car was a person, fitting on bigger wheels is the aesthetic equivalent of not skipping leg day.

When upsizing the wheels, the outer diameter of the tyre needs to be maintained. So, bigger wheels equal lower side profile. Upsizing your wheels in a video game may have had no effect on your ride and handling, but the real world doesn’t let you do things without consequences.

So, what are the consequences of upgrading to bigger wheels?

There’s the good and bad, and we’ve got them listed for you here

Good – Better feedback

None of us are the great Caroll Shelby, but a lot of us make it our business to make performance our business. A great benefit of bigger wheels is improved performance, especially in the corners.

Bigger wheels = lower side profile = less tyre flex

Now, tyre flex is not a bad thing (in fact it has its own benefits), but less tyre flex does reduce the wobbles in the corner and provide a crispier feedback if that’s what you’re looking for.

Too stiff of a tyre side wall is also not a good thing, so make it a point to strike a good balance.

Good – More space for bigger brakes

As high-performance cars evolved over the years, they became more powerful, larger, and heavier (for safety reasons). Their wheels got bigger too (from the factory), and it was more than just an aesthetic upgrade. Bigger wheels give more space for bigger brakes, which is important to accommodate the increase in power and weight.

Good – It just looks good

Bigger wheels can give your car a more domineering stance. With the right sized wheels, even the cutest of city cars can look decently aggressive.

They’re the aesthetic equivalent of the human legs (or arms). 

And now let’s get “sensible” talk about the bad ..

Bad – Weighs more (if compared to smaller wheel of equivalent material)

Compared to a 14” stock steel wheel, a 15” alloy wheel could weigh less. So, this argument only applies if the material and manufacturing method are kept constant.

Let’s say you decide to put the 15-inch wheels of the Perodua Alza on a Perodua Axia. It’s going to weigh more. And more weight equals more rolling resistance, which equals more load on the engine, which equals higher fuel consumption, slower acceleration, bla bla bla...

Although generally true, the topic of weight has to take into consideration the combined weight of the wheel and tyre. I don’t know what setup you’re running (and wish to upgrade to).

So, if adding unsprung weight to your car makes you lose sleep at night, go ahead and weigh your wheels and tyres for peace of mind.

A bigger but lighter wheel (with constant outer tyre diamater) could actually be better.

Bad – Less comfort (NVH)

Lower profile tyres can be noisier and ride harder, but I’m pretty sure you didn’t care anyway.

That’s why some modern luxury car brands don’t ride as well as they used to anymore.

Bad – higher risk of damage

Since there is less tyre to protect your wheel, they are more susceptible to damage.

Bad – higher cost

You get less rubber for your money since low profile tyres have a higher price tag. But that’s just the way it is. You could say it’s because of economics of scale, “supply & demand”, or exclusivity. They just cost more.

Conclusion

Bigger wheels with low profile tyres are great if you want more feedback or if you wish to put bigger brakes on your car. Do take note that some wheel sizes are also just way too big for the car that you have.

“Driving engagement” usually comes at the cost of comfort, so the balance is really up to your preference.