Thin car tires - beautiful but risky
Thin car tires add a sporty look but are easily damaged by rocks, so drivers have no choice but to replace them.
Tires are the parts of the vehicle that are in direct contact with the road surface. This part plays the role of transmitting traction to help the vehicle move and slow down when braking. This is also part of the suspension system, when operating, this part is also subject to load, friction, abrasion, high temperature and high pressure.
What is a low-profile tire?
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A simple way to determine tire sidewall thickness is to look at the ratio of the tire sidewall height to the tire tread width (the part of the tire that contacts the road surface). |
The sidewall is understood as the rubber part from the outer edge of the rim to the road surface. A simple way to determine the thin sidewall is based on the ratio between the height of the tire sidewall and the width of the tire tread (the part of the tire that contacts the road surface). Normally, according to the calculation of the tire manufacturer, thin-wall tires have a ratio between the height of the tire sidewall and the width of the tire tread of 50% or less.
Drivers can see the specifications on the tire, for example P235/40R18, which means the tire sidewall height is 40% of the tire's 235 mm width, equivalent to 94 mm.
Advantages of thin-wall tires
The low-profile tire has the advantage of enhancing the appearance of the vehicle, giving it a sporty look. In addition, low-profile tires often have a large tread width, helping to increase road grip.
The thinner the tire sidewall, the more precise the vehicle's handling and the more realistic the driving feel, especially when cornering sharply or at high speeds. Low-wall tires have a wide tire surface, so they give the vehicle better grip, but also make more noise. In addition, low-wall tires require larger rims, allowing you to install larger brakes and better brake cooling.
Disadvantages of thin-wall tires
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Thin tires for large rims are easily punctured and cannot be patched, so users must replace them with new tires. |
In terms of durability, low-profile tires have a similar lifespan to conventional tires, under good conditions of use and storage, because the tread and cord structure between low-profile tires and conventional tires are not much different. However, low-profile tires wear out faster because they are often used for high-performance vehicles or for more severe working and traveling conditions.
In addition, because the cushion between the rim and the road surface is small, the driver can clearly feel the uneven surface of the road. Tires are also part of the vehicle's suspension system, so with the suspension system designed to adapt to vehicles using thin tires, you can choose large rims and thin tires if you want your car to have a sportier appearance. And if the shock absorbers do not meet this requirement, if you replace large rims and thin tires, the inside of the car will be noisier when moving.
On the other hand, with thin-walled tires, drivers must pay attention to checking tire pressure more often. Because the wall is thin, if the tire is too low, even if the car only runs over a small pothole, it can cause strong vibrations, causing the wheel rim to quickly wear out. One of the things that makes Vietnamese drivers most frustrated is that the road surface has too many scattered bricks and stones, and just touching the tire wall can easily "cut" it into a mark, leading to a flat tire or a torn tire.
In all these cases, the tire must be replaced and cannot be patched. Furthermore, thin-wall tires are more expensive than regular tires./.
