[NAC] wide wheels with rather narrow tires

[Todd Young]

You make a valid point, except that Formula 1 tires are special race
tires, made to be mounted as such. Street tires are made to be mounted
on specific width tires for the tread width. By mounting a narrow tire
on a wide rim, you are creating a stress condition that the tires were
NOT designed for, therefore opening up the possibility of premature
failure. You can also create a condition where the tire bead is not
properly seated on the rim, again opening up the possibility of failure.

Tires should be mounted on a rim where the rim width is at most +/-1
inch of the tread width. 

Peter Berrevoets wrote:
> 
> Look at the tires on a Formula 1, Indy car or go-kart and you will see the
> same kind of fitment.
> 
> For street use directed toward pure handling and performance with the right
> suspension set-up, any axial motion of the wheel related to the contact
> patch is undesireable (IMO).
> 
> 225/60 on a 7" wide rim give you lots of tire roll and in hard cornering you
> can end up with the contact patch on part of the sidewall. Undesireable to
> say the least as this setup will also give you a bit of "wallowing" on the
> highway when lane changing or on uneven pavement. Comfortable, soft ride is
> the plus as the sidewall flex takes up much of the small shocks from road
> surface irregularities.
> 
> 205/60 on an 8.5" wide rim will keep the contact patch on the treaded
> portion of the tire until it loses traction and slides. Desireable for
> predictability in hard cornering or even heavy crosswinds! Ride quality
> suffers because you now feel every grain of sand as the sidewalls are under
> tension and offer no cushioning. My idea of ultimate 'road feel'.
-- 
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Todd Young 		WAM!NET Inc.
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