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Big wheels with skinny tires
Just heraing the TV ads for new pickups and SUV's they seem to be pumping the 20 inch wheel thing. This past weekend a new looking Lincoln (I think) SUV passed me that had real large wheels and tires that look to be no more than 3 in. high. It looked factory as the wheel wells seemed to match the tire diamater. Is this simply a style trend thing or do they serve a real purpose? Just curious. Frank.
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Big wheels with skinny tires
Frank,
Sure there's a purpose. It's so when your wife bashes the curb angle parking, it's that much easier to break one of those $1000 alloy wheels. 
Dave
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Big wheels with skinny tires
It's two things.
First, a lot of them are aftermarket add-ons, it's a style thing, same as wearing droopy drawers and shirts 8 sizes too big.
Secondly, some of the manufacturers are starting to catch on to something the racing world has known for years, big sidewalls are too flexible. In the quest to keep SUV's on their tires instead of their roof, they have been going to taller tires and stiffer suspension to try to eliminate some of the rollovers from happening.
Best of luck.
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Big wheels with skinny tires
I have a friend who has been an independent ag tire and also an auto, pickup tire dealer for a long time. he was telling me that with all the new sizes that have came on the market in the past few years it's just about impossible to keep enough inventory to cover everyones needs, I guess every business has it's challenges. Frank.
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Big wheels with skinny tires
Murf,
I hear you, however one of the original reasons people started buying SUVs was for traction in the snow. As some of these SUV's go to wide profile tires with almost zero sidewall aren't they turning them into monster sports cars that do not handle all that great in off road or slippery conditions, but can handle a track course great but with alot of vibration. I guess that matches better what current buyers actually do with them anyway.
Dennis
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Big wheels with skinny tires
I suspect that with the vast majority of SUV's out there, 'off-road' is not really an issue, they are basically just all wheel drive station wagons and driven as such.
There are some definite exceptions to the rule however, my other half has been thinking she might want an SUV, so I recently test drove a BMW X5 and a Benz ML500. These are both 350'ish horsepower machines that were designed and built with limited offroading in mind.
In fact the BMW comes with really fat 20" wheels that would look more at home on the 750 she is driving now. The salesman was quick to point out that this 'truck' would do 0-60mph in 6 seconds and with the flip of a switch the suspension could be re-tuned into "Sport Mode".
Now there's two things that would be high on my list of things to look for in an off-road machine.
Although I must admit, I do like them butt-heatin' seats on a frosty morning, darned cold leather interior.
Best of luck.
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Big wheels with skinny tires
I have the butt warmers in my Pilot, I got it to make a hit with my wife, and that it does.
The funny thing is that 20 years ago people started buying pick up trucks because they were cheaper and held their value longer and were more durable.
Trucks were cheaper because it was cheaper for manufacturers to build them because they did not have to worry about cramming things into small spaces as in car manufacturing and they tended to have fewer creature features. Those days are over! 
Dennis
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Big wheels with skinny tires
How does a truck, with those style tires, work in deep sand? Can they be aired down?
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Big wheels with skinny tires
Steve:
1. Very poorly.
2. No.
They have the "offroadability" of an Audi AWD. Airing down is to let the sidewall flex and conform over uneven terrain. Low profile tires do not flex, even at extremely low pressure (the theory behind run-flats), which is why they handle on the highway better.
This theory is why some older SUV's have tall sidewall tires (ie older Exploders) to allow the tire to slip laterally rather than grip and cause a rollover. Unfortunately, tire deflection at lower pressure causes "tripping" which is when the tire deflects too far to the side allowing the rim to contact the road surface thus kicking the vehicle over.
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Big wheels with skinny tires
Thanks, Makes sense to me. It seems like most of the SUVs are going that route. Something to think about if you're planning a trip to the Outer Banks.
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