The first thing that comes to our mind when we wish to modify our cars into their beefy attractive versions is probably a tyre upsize and some nice looking alloy wheels. While the latter definitely has its own complexities, today our focus will be solely on explaining the nitty-gritties of tyre upsizing. Is tyre upsizing really no cause for concern or is there more to it than meets the eye?
Let's talk about the positives first. So how does upsizing help?
1. Appearance
There's no doubt that upsizing gives your tyres that extra height and width which certainly looks good on almost any vehicle. Here's a Maruti 800 with upsized tyres just to prove the point.
2. Better grip
Wider tyres essentially mean a wider contact patch which translates to more grip. Since the tyres are wider and more rubber from the tread is in contact with the ground, it's no surprise that as long as your upsize is not too extreme, you will definitely feel your car tyres inspire more confidence in corners and help you ease through them as compared to before.
3. Better Handling
A major reason for better handling are the lower levels of sidewall flex in upsized tyres. Since the tyres are wider, the sidewall flex is less as compared to stock tyres and the lower levels of flex along with the added grip from the contact patch gives you much better handling.
Also See: Upsizing Tyres For Maruti Suzuki Swift: All You Need To Know
So now that we have talked about the good, its time to discuss some of the not so nice aspects of upsizing. A small warning to all the upsize fans out there. Things might get a little ugly...
1. The Cost
It's no news that bigger tyres certainly cost more money. The larger the upsize, the more money you are likely to spend on upgrading your tyres and rims. Is it worth paying all that money for a little bling? We think not.
2. The Weight
Larger tyres are bound to weigh more than your stock tyres. And it honestly does not take a rocket scientist to understand that more weight on all the four wheels of your car is definitely going to affect your car's mileage, acceleration, and performance.
3. A Harsher Ride
It's important to understand that tyre sidewalls play a huge role in absorbing shocks and making your drive more comfortable and stable. Since upsizing reduces the height and thickness of your tyre sidewalls, the ability of your new tyres to absorb shocks is also significantly reduced. To make up for this reduction in shock absorption and strength, layers of reinforcements are required to be used in the construction of the tyre to maintain its strength. This will result in a much harder tyre that is bound to provide a bumpier and harsher ride, which not only makes it uncomfortable for you but also puts more wear on your car's suspension components.
4. Harder Steering
A consequence of the extra weight and the bigger contact patch is also a heavier steering. The axle bears the brunt of the extra load which is transmitted to the steering of the car. So be ready for a workout every time you drive.
5. The Wear and Tear
Upsized tyres not only lead to more wear and tear for your tyres but also your car. A car's suspension is designed for a specific rim size and when you upsize the tyres, the dynamics of the suspension change too. It is not able to absorb as much shock as before, and worst-case scenario, your wheel wells too might not be deep enough to accommodate the tyres during bumps. This will make the tyres scrape against your wheel wells, absolutely ruining your suspension and giving you major alignment issues.
6. Lower Fuel Efficiency
As you increase your tyre size, fuel efficiency takes a hit too. Heavier tyres and larger contact areas also mean more rolling resistance, which means every time you drive your car, the engine needs to put more effort to overcome the extra friction. This is bound to lower the mileage your car offers.
7. A Messed Up Speedometer
Tyre upsizing can also hamper your electronics. This is because a lot of your car's electronics like the speedometer, for example, are calibrated according to the rotation of your tyres. Since upsizing tyres changes the size of the tyre, the tyre covers a different distance when it rotates and the feedback to the electronics becomes very different due to the size difference. This messes up the electronics on your car which obviously do not understand that the tyre size has changed. Not just the speedometer, if the upsize is significant, it can also mess with the ABS or electronic systems like traction and stability control.
Image credits: Extreme Performance, carfromjapan.com
