# Why are wheel hubs getting wider, and tyre rims getting narrower? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 31, 2004, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-wheel-hubs-getting-wider-and-tyre-rims-getting-narrower/247883 "2004-05-31T03:39:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-wheel-hubs-getting-wider-and-tyre-rims-getting-narrower/247883/1 "2004-05-31T03:39:43Z")
I’ve noticed this happening for the past couple of years, and wonder about what the benefits might be. Somehow I don’t think it’s to save on rubber. It makes a lot of cars look racier, but I don’t think it’s been restricted to sports cars. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-wheel-hubs-getting-wider-and-tyre-rims-getting-narrower/247883/2 "2004-05-31T03:44:22Z")
I’m not sure we’re on the same page with your use of the term “rims.” Do you possibly mean sidewall heighth? ---
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-wheel-hubs-getting-wider-and-tyre-rims-getting-narrower/247883/3 "2004-05-31T03:48:26Z")
I think he means the diameter of the wheel (the metal portion) is larger while distance from the edge of the wheel to the edge of the tire is smaller. I have noticed this too. It seems that the sportier the car the more this holds true. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-wheel-hubs-getting-wider-and-tyre-rims-getting-narrower/247883/4 "2004-05-31T04:01:30Z")
I guess there is some clarity needed. I read ths as simply hub diameter vs wheel diameter, excluding the rubber tire. In other words, the spokes are getting shorter proportional to the overall diameter. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-wheel-hubs-getting-wider-and-tyre-rims-getting-narrower/247883/5 "2004-05-31T04:04:31Z")
**flight** has it right. The hub part of the wheel (i.e. the part that the hubcap makes up) has been getting wider in diameter, and therefore the distance between that and the edge of the tire, which I have called the rim, is narrower. I’m surprised you aren’t more aware of what I’m talking about. Maybe it’s not that common everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-wheel-hubs-getting-wider-and-tyre-rims-getting-narrower/247883/6 "2004-05-31T04:09:00Z")
Clarification is needed. I thought the OP was asking about wheel/rim width (not diameter) combined with the lower profile tires (sidewall height). ---
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-wheel-hubs-getting-wider-and-tyre-rims-getting-narrower/247883/7 "2004-05-31T04:09:34Z")
I got a Ford Focus SVT a few months back. It is a souped up version of the Focus. This effect is very noticeable on my car. ---
**Author:** ![iamme99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/57b2e6/32.png) [@iamme99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamme99)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-wheel-hubs-getting-wider-and-tyre-rims-getting-narrower/247883/8 "2004-05-31T04:12:49Z")
1. It looks sportier 2. The car handles better (less sidewall flex when cornering) but the downside is that the ride is a lot harsher with thinner tire sidewalls. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-wheel-hubs-getting-wider-and-tyre-rims-getting-narrower/247883/9 "2004-05-31T04:15:55Z")
OK It’s just a combination of larger diameter wheels and low profile tires. The auto mfgs have been increasing the wheels size for some years now. Used to be that most full size cars always had 14 inch wheels and compacts had 13 inch. Now 16 inch is more of the standard and some are even larger. As for the low profile tires, other than there being less space for the sidewall to “roll” while in a negotiating a curve, I’m at a loss as to what the advantage is (other than simply looks). ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-wheel-hubs-getting-wider-and-tyre-rims-getting-narrower/247883/10 "2004-05-31T04:19:25Z")
Guanolad what you are talking about is the trend towards what are called lower profile tyres (ie less sidewall to the tyre) and consequent increases in wheel diameter. The less sidewall the less flex in the tyre. The less flex, the better handling but the harsher ride. What I can’t answer is whether there is a trend towards sportier less comfortable cars, or whether tyre/suspension technology is improving such that you can get away with lower profile tyres while still achieving comparatively good ride. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-wheel-hubs-getting-wider-and-tyre-rims-getting-narrower/247883/11 "2004-05-31T04:56:15Z")
> [@](#): > > 4 Chrome 20’s, Tires & > SPINNERS $2500.00 Style, to many. 😉 Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-wheel-hubs-getting-wider-and-tyre-rims-getting-narrower/247883/12 "2004-05-31T05:08:03Z")
If you run your car on the track (like I do), low profile tires (or tyres, if you prefer) do make a difference to handling and lap times. For street cars it’s just for looks, since even in “exuberant” driving on twisty roads the difference is not likely to be noticed by the average driver. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-wheel-hubs-getting-wider-and-tyre-rims-getting-narrower/247883/13 "2004-05-31T05:15:46Z")
Well, that’s kind of what I thought. Like rear spoilers and extra headlamps, it’s all just superficial coolness amplifiers. Though I hope they aren’t detrimental to inner city driving. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-wheel-hubs-getting-wider-and-tyre-rims-getting-narrower/247883/14 "2004-05-31T05:18:59Z")
Escalade w/Performance Package. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-wheel-hubs-getting-wider-and-tyre-rims-getting-narrower/247883/15 "2004-05-31T06:20:20Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Well, that’s kind of what I thought. Like rear spoilers and extra headlamps, it’s all just superficial coolness amplifiers. > > Though I hope they aren’t detrimental to inner city driving. Big rims _are_ detrimental to innter city driving, assuming your inner cities are like mine and have bad potholes. As the wheel gets bigger and the tire gets smaller, the ride gets worse and your chances of breaking a wheel on a pothole go up. ---
**Author:** ![lektrikpuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/47e85d/32.png) [@lektrikpuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lektrikpuke)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-wheel-hubs-getting-wider-and-tyre-rims-getting-narrower/247883/16 "2004-05-31T07:01:39Z")
I live up a winding mountain road that I must travel every day to get to and from work. I assure you that the “average” driver will notice the benifits as the “average” driver is a maniac. Not only does it increase performance, but it increases gas mileage. Believe it or not, it’s not just for looks. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-wheel-hubs-getting-wider-and-tyre-rims-getting-narrower/247883/17 "2004-05-31T07:03:14Z")
The low profile tyres can get incredibly expensive as well. ---
**Author:** ![iamme99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/57b2e6/32.png) [@iamme99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamme99)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-wheel-hubs-getting-wider-and-tyre-rims-getting-narrower/247883/18 "2004-05-31T08:03:59Z")
> [@1920s Style "Death Ray"](#): > > The low profile tyres can get incredibly expensive as well. Strange isn’t it that less rubber costs more? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-wheel-hubs-getting-wider-and-tyre-rims-getting-narrower/247883/19 "2004-05-31T13:55:03Z")
What the tire is lacking in sidewall, it is making up for in width. I doubt that there is that much less rubber in a super low profile tire. Whiloe it is true that you can bust a rim on a pothole with LP tires, it is much more common to put a hole in the sidewall of a $400 tire. The sidewalls of some high performance tires seem to made out of tofu or someothe equally puncture resistant subtance. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-wheel-hubs-getting-wider-and-tyre-rims-getting-narrower/247883/20 "2004-05-31T14:07:20Z")
> [@lektrikpuke](#): > > Not only does it increase performance, but it increases gas mileage. According to [this site](http://www.fleet-central.com/af/edit_test.cfm?rank=48), low-profile tires actually _decrease_ gas mileage, along with tread life, and the reasons given make sense: > [@](#): > > Although low profile, higher speed-rated tires have better handling characteristics; they also have a shorter wear life. A higher speed-rated tire gets more traction because it has a stickier tread, but consequently, the increased friction causes it to wear faster. Most standard tires have an average tread life of about 40,000 miles, varying by fleet application and how a person drives. A low profile tire, on the other hand, gets an average of 5,000-7,000 miles less life. The increased road grip also decreases a vehicle’s fuel economy mileage. In addition, lower profile tires are also more vulnerable to road damage. A nail hole in the sidewall is not repairable, while a tread area repair will affect the speed rating of the tire. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-wheel-hubs-getting-wider-and-tyre-rims-getting-narrower/247883.md?page=2)