| Re: [GMCnet] Bigger Tires [message #107322] |
Thu, 02 December 2010 14:06  |
Richard Brown
Messages: 281
Registered: May 2009
Karma: 1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
I have asked that question, myself. Here's the answer I got. It was originally done on Formula 1 cars to allow the use of larger brakes to be fitted.Other types of racing followed suit. Some people put them on for looks, but the only practical reason to fit them is to allow bigger disc brake rotors to be fitted while keeping tire diameter within reason with low-profile tires. Ride quality sucks with low-profile tires, but handling improves up to a point because shorter sidewalls deflect less in corners. I think that 90% of the big rims are fitted for looks, but it started out as a practical solution to a problem.
Personally, I'm a believer in the idea that a vehicle should stop better than is runs. Every inch of stopping distance reduced counts.
Richard & Carol Brown
PO Box 941
Lindale, TX. 75771
1974 GMC Eleganza SE (DILLIGAF)
wings77sporty@sbcglobal.net
(903)881-0192
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Richard & Carol Brown
1974 Eleganza SE
1174 Hickory Hills Dr.
Murchison, TX. 75778
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Bigger Tires [message #107339 is a reply to message #107322] |
Thu, 02 December 2010 19:01  |
 |
USAussie
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Richard,
I reckon the Escalades, Navigators, and Big Pickups with huge wheels and
standard brake rotors look absolutely ridiculous!
I reckon it goes along with people that like to drive HUGE vehicles like
this to impress people!
Their vehicles scream "LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME!
Regards,
Rob M.
USAussie
-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
[mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Richard Brown
Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2010 2:06 PM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Bigger Tires
I have asked that question, myself. Here's the answer I got. It was
originally done on Formula 1 cars to allow the use of larger brakes to be
fitted.Other types of racing followed suit. Some people put them on for
looks, but the only practical reason to fit them is to allow bigger disc
brake rotors to be fitted while keeping tire diameter within reason with
low-profile tires. Ride quality sucks with low-profile tires, but handling
improves up to a point because shorter sidewalls deflect less in corners. I
think that 90% of the big rims are fitted for looks, but it started out as a
practical solution to a problem.
Personally, I'm a believer in the idea that a vehicle should stop better
than is runs. Every inch of stopping distance reduced counts.
Richard & Carol Brown
PO Box 941
Lindale, TX. 75771
1974 GMC Eleganza SE (DILLIGAF)
wings77sporty@sbcglobal.net
(903)881-0192
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Bigger Tires [message #107351 is a reply to message #107339] |
Thu, 02 December 2010 23:06 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
|
Senior Member |
|
|
I agree with you, Rob.
Another problem with low profile tires that no one's mentioned is wheel
damage. I visited "my" welder yesterday and found him, as I often do,
welding a wheel which had road damage. That one was probably 10" wide, with
about 8" of offset. Right in the center between the rims was a big "star
burst" hole from hitting a rock or other debris. More common is chunks out
of the rims. The deflection available with low profile tires simply doesn't
provide much protection for the wheels.
Since we have an unusually large proportion of "...LOOK AT ME.." cars here,
There are almost always a couple fancy wheels in the shop awaiting repair.
$50-$100 for repairing a $300-$500 wheel isn't my idea of stylish -- not to
mention the inevitably destroyed tire.
Ken H.
On Thu, Dec 2, 2010 at 8:01 PM, Rob Mueller <robmueller@iinet.net.au> wrote:
> ...
I reckon the Escalades, Navigators, and Big Pickups with huge wheels and
> standard brake rotors look absolutely ridiculous!
>
> I reckon it goes along with people that like to drive HUGE vehicles like
> this to impress people!
>
> Their vehicles scream "LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME!
>
>
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
|
|
|
|
GMCforum
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
