XPost: comp.mobile.android, misc.phone.mobile.iphone   
   From: xenolith@optusnet.com.au   
      
   On 3/5/2022 4:13 pm, Andy Burnelli wrote:   
   > Xeno wrote:   
   >   
   >>> If they come with the vehicle stock, then it's my observation that, in   
   >>   
   >> Look at the *target market*. The manufacturer will put on the vehicle   
   >> what they think the public wants, not necessarily what is best for   
   >> *all-round use.   
   >   
   > You are correct in that my bimmer has wide tires and a lower profile ratio   
   > while my Toyota has tall tires and a higher profile ratio, where both would   
   > likely benefit from the substitution of wider tires & lower profile ratios.   
   >   
   > However, my rule of thumb is the same as what the tire shops do though,   
   > which is I never put on a "worse" tire (by the specs) than the OEM tire.   
   >   
   > In practice, that means it's never of a thinner width, and it's never a   
   > lower load range nor speed rating. The profile is up for grabs though,   
   > although I don't mess with the ratio as it changes other things too much.   
   >   
   >>> general, the choice by the manufacturer makes sense; but if they're   
   >>> aftermarket choices, often, in my experience, they don't make sense.   
   >>   
   >> Manufacturers are *market driven*.   
   >   
   > Yes. But we're talking _safety_ specifications, such as the load range.   
   >   
   > A reputable tire shop will even refuse to put a tire of just a lower speed   
   > rating than what the OEM tire was (ask me how I know this).   
   >   
   >>> Like putting low-profile tires on a SUV.   
   >>> That makes no sense from a performance standpoint.   
   >>   
   >> Low profile tyres make a lot of sense from a *highway* performance   
   >> standpoint.   
   >   
   > Hmmmm.... Are you sure? They make a difference in _steering_ of course.   
   > But how does a low-profile tire help in "highway performance" overall?   
      
   Less sidewall flex therefore more directional steering. IOW, they reduce   
   the slip angles. Given the tyres perform 10% or more of the springing   
   function, lower profile tyres will ride more harshly than the standard   
   profile tyre.   
   >   
   >> Low profile tyres make no sense at all in any sort of rough road/off   
   >> road scenario. So, for an *SUV*, standard profile tyres are a better   
   >> *compromise*.   
   >   
   > Well, back to _steering_, which is what I think of the purpose of   
   > low-profile tires, you don't _expect_ great steering response in a SUV or   
   > pickup truck, and, you have a different suspension in SUVs and light trucks   
   > (which, of course, is where low-profile tires have drawbacks).   
   > To me, the purpose of low profile tires is quick steering, and for that,   
   > they work fantastically well. But who is expecting quick steering out of a   
   > pickup truck that is also expected to haul heavy loads over rough ground?   
      
   Disregarding pick up trucks, most SUVs never see even a *gravel road*   
   much less go off-road.   
   >   
   > What else does a low-profile do fundamentally than provide quicker steering   
   > response?   
      
   Looks cool - so they say.   
   >   
   >>>   
   >>> It's a "fashion" statement just as the green dunce cap is on tires.   
   >>   
   >> Pretty much.   
   >   
   > Yup. But hey, I just looked at my own tire pictures, and look'it what I   
   > found!   
   >    
   >   
   > Note: I used to mount yellow to valve stem and then red to valve stem.   
      
      
   --   
   Xeno   
      
      
   Nothing astonishes Noddy so much as common sense and plain dealing.   
          (with apologies to Ralph Waldo Emerson)   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)