These days not only are there more choices of car types than ever before.  There are also more ways we can go about buying a new car too.  In fact we don’t even have to buy one to have one with leasing becoming such a big thing. There are Electric cars, Plug in Hybrids, Normal Hybrids, Petrol, Diesel and more to come like hydrogen fuel cell cars too.

On top of all that we have more to choose from in terms of size and shape than ever before minis, super minis, SUVs, MPVs, estates, tourers, hatch backs and more. We are totally overwhelmed with choice and to cap it all off there is still the option list to think of even when you have finally settled on the fuel type, drive type and shape.

But…there is one option that often gets overlooked and getting it wrong can be a real pain when you finally get used to living with the car and that’s the wheels!

The Old Days

Even just 15 years ago alloy wheels were common but not as common as they are today, go back another 10 years and they were a luxury choice. These days pretty much all cars come with them and being the consumer focused people, we are we love this right!? Well, yes and no! but most people are not aware of the negatives.

The Wheel Trap

The issue is not so much that alloy wheels are the norm, no its all about size and what that means as a driver. Size….really does matter when it comes to wheels.

You may think all wheels are the same size, but they are not. Even on the same car you can choose different sizes. It is important to understand the actual circumference of the total wheel and tyre is the same it is just the size of each part can change and it has a big effect on the car. Here is a beginners guide that may prove useful – https://haynes.com/en-gb/tips-tutorials/beginners-guide-wheel-sizes

Big Wheels

If you opt for larger wheels you will then have thinner tyres. So, a 19-inch wheel will have thinner tyres than a 16 inch wheel. What difference does this make? Read on!

Low Profile

Big wheels and small (or low profile) tyres certainly look cool.  But they come at a price. If you were a race driver they would be perfect.  The tyre wall is smaller so when going into a corner at 90mph there is less rubber to bend and move thus keeping the car more stable. But you are not a racing driver…so that’s not much use. The reality of low-profile tyres and big wheels is the driving experience will be a lot more bumpy and harsh.  It will mean you get tired on longer journeys more quickly and passengers will feel it too.

But there is another cost too! We have a lot of potholes and general road damage in this country.  Big wheels are much more likely to get damaged because there is less tyre to help cushion the bumps. Wheel repair expert Jon Kemp from Wheels R Us says “we see so many customers who opted for bigger wheels with more pothole damage than we do those with smaller wheels. We know they look better, but they get damaged a lot more often”.

Smaller is probably Better, and Cheaper

Not only do smaller wheels get less damage but they are nearly always cheaper at the point of purchase. So, if you are leasing or buying a car the smaller wheel option will be less. But it doesn’t stop there! The tyres you get for smaller wheels despite being taller tend to actually be cheaper.  This is because they are made with different strengths in mind. On top of all that “normal” tyres may actually give better economy figures compared to low profile tyres so smaller wheels might help there too!

So, the next time you are looking at new cars, don’t let the big wheels fool you into thinking they are the best choice. They look good but are they worth the discomfort, the risk of damage and the cost in both purchase and tyres?

If you are thinking about buying a new car my blog post about important things to know about car finance might come in useful.