subject: Why 18 Inch Rims Work For Your New Vehicle [print this page] In the automotive industry the move to larger wheels and tires has become all the rage. 18 inch rims are no longer uncommon. Many vehicles come with 18 inch wheels directly from the factory. There is a large line of SUV's and pick up trucks that roll on factory 18 inch rims.
Many types of cars also have a standard option of 18 inch wheels from the manufacturer. They look great and add visual appeal to the car, but they do a lot more than that as well. It all has to do with the sidewall as you get a better flex when you have a bigger wheel.
These benefits add up if you have an SUV or pick up truck. If you are using your vehicle for towing, for example, you will be able to carry a heavier load with the rim wrapped in a lower profile. This option can limit the amount of flex you have on the sidewall. This means that you will have a more stable ride and the vehicle will be safer to drive. The best thing to do is check the load rating on the tire before you begin.
For those who enjoy four wheel drive action and venture off the beaten path, the 18 inch rims give you and aggressive tread. A lower profile tire taken off road could result in major damage to the rim. Off road needs flex and a bigger rim gives it to you.
In the sports car and sport sedan market, 18 inch rims are almost common place. Back in the muscle care era of the 60's and 70's the cars had lots of power and could go in a straight line very quickly on their 15 inch wheels. Much care had to be taken when entering a corner however. The sidewalls on the tires were not up to the side forces during high speed cornering. In today's market, straight line speed is only half of what buyers are looking for in a new car. If the vehicle won't go around a corner as fast as it will go in a straight line then the buyer will keep looking until he finds a car that will.
Much time and money has been spent by the automotive industry to develop cars that will deliver what the buyers want. One thing that they found was that the 15 inch wheels of yesteryear were too small. With 18 inch rims and a low profile tire matched to a sport tuned suspension, they were able to achieve the desired result. The tire is the only contact point between the car and the road. Even with the best sport suspension system, if the tire doesn't stick to the road, the car will still not handle. The small sidewall on the low profile tire reduces the flex and keeps the tire glued to the road.
All of this technical explanation is great and it is good to know. But visually the bottom line is that the 18 inch rims look great on your vehicle. The boring tire goes out the window with this option on it. You can get nice rim accents and your vehicle will look great. These rims can come standard in many vehicles, but if you don't get them you can by purchasing them after your sale in an aftermarket available online.
