when did those stupid trogolodytes who first made cars/jalopies realize that their car tires sucked and needed big ones like today
Speak English much?
I’d say about the time when people realized certain roads sucked, or a show of machismo perhaps. In any case, I smell a thread move.
Well, it depends on what you mean by “big ones”. Very early tires, like on a Model T, were large in diameter, but had narrow tread and short sidewalls. My guess is that they couldn’t make tires with greater surface area without sacrificing what little reliability they had, since this was before the age of steel belts and such. Also, a narrow tread is better for getting through snowy and muddy roads, of which there were more back then.
Beginning in the '50s, tires became smaller in diameter, but had high sidewalls and wider treads. Technology had improved, and these tires were more reliable and longer-lasting. The increased width improved handling and grip for high-speed driving that was not common in the early years of the automobile.
In the '80s, manufacturers continued to widen tire treads and wheel rims. By the early '90s, they had begun increasing the diameters of the wheel rims and shortening the tire sidewalls. This improved steering response and handling, but led to a rougher ride and more frequent wheel damage. This continues to be the trend today…wheel rims are getting larger and wider, and tire sidewalls are getting shorter. I am not a big fan of “low profile” tires, because I value high strength and reliability over precise handling. I have seen too many expensive tires and alloy rims destroyed by potholes and curbs, because the tire sidewall offered no protection. I run heavy-duty 15" steel rims and fairly beefy Goodyear tires on my Pontiac, and they have survived some gaping New Jersey potholes that probably would have eaten an 18" alloy rim for breakfast.
-Andrew L